The phosphatides of the latex of Hevea brasiliensis. 2. Purification and analysis

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Abstract
The statement of Bevan et al. (1951) that choline-containing phosphatides are separated from non-choline nitrogenous phosphatides by partition chromatography on cellulose could not be confirmed. Instead it was found that the removal of water-soluble impurities from latex lipid, which is usually difficult to achieve, was efficiently accomplished by this technique. Inositol, reducing sugar and substances containing N, P and metals, were shown to be present partly as water-soluble impurities in unpurified latex lipid preparations. The nitrogenous impurities contained certain known amino acids but did not contain ethanol-amine or choline. Evidence is presented which suggests that purified, undegraded latex lipid consists of (a) lecithin containing reducing sugar (51%); (b) metal phosphatidate containing inositol and reducing sugar (10.5%); phosphatidyl ethanolamine (3%); (d) triglyceride (representing fatty acid in excess of that attributable to phosphatide) (20%); and (e) unsaponifiables (15.5%). The enzymic liberation of choline from the lecithin fraction leads to the formation of free phosphatidic acid and its metallic salts. No other marked changes are apparent.