Phosphocholine is an intermediate in the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine in tissues. Phosphocholine is made in a reaction, catalyzed by choline kinase, that converts ATP and choline into phosphocholine and ADP. Phosphocholine is a molecule found for example in lecithin.
It is also used by nematodes and human placentas as a posttranslational modification to suppress an immune response by their hosts.
It is also one of the binding targets of C-reactive protein (CRP). Thus when a cell is damaged, CRP binds to phosphocholine beginning the recognition and phagocytotic immunologic response.
Phosphocholine is one of the natural constituents of hens' eggs (and many other eggs) which is often used in biomimetic membrane studies.
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