Choline Chloride is an organic compound commonly grouped with the B complex vitamins that plays key roles in many biological processes. It is a quaternary ammonium salt, containing choline cations and chloride anions. Choline is a precursor of the phospholipid sphingomyelin and lecithin. Choline has three primary metabolic functions: 1) precursor for phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis, 2) precursor to acetylcholine biosynthesis, and 3) methyl donor. Synthesis of choline is via methylation of dimethylethanolamine with methyl chloride. Phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin are components of biological membranes. Since it is a basic constituent of lecithin, choline chloride is found in many plant and animal organs. The compound plays a role in methyl group metabolism and can be used as a standard in methionine and choline metabolism. The compund can also act as a methyl donor in various metabolic processes and it also plays a role in lipid metabolism. Choline Chloride is commonly used as a media supplement for cell culture applications.
Choline Chloride is soluble in aqueous solution.
| Mechanism of Action | Choline serves as a precursor component to two major cell membrane components: phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin. In addition, choline also functions as a methyl group donor to several different substrates. |
| Microbiology Applications | Because of its role in normal cellular processes, Choline Chloride can be used as a cell culture media supplement. |
| Eukaryotic Cell Culture Applications | Choline was added to culture medium of in vitro-produced embryos to see if it altered the phenotype of blastocysts. Choline was found to alter the phenotype of preimplantation bovine embryos produced in vitro. Choline chlorine can act in a concentraiton-dependent manner to alter development, gene expression, and DNA methylation. |
| Plant Biology | Choline Chloride based solvents can be used in extraction media for extracting phenolic compounds. |
| References |
Brailoiu E et al (2019) Choline is an intracellular messenger linking extracellular stimuli to IP3-evoked Ca2+ signals through sigma-1 receptors. Cell Rep. 26(2):P330-337 Estrada-Cortés E et al (2020) Effects of choline on the phenotype of the cultured bovine preimplantation embryo. J. Dairy Sci. 103(11):10784-10796 PMID 32896407 Feng S et al (2024) Extraction and identiifcation of polyphenol from Camellia oleifera leaves using tailor-made deep eutectic solvents based on COSMO-RS design. Food Chem. 444:138473 PMID 38330599 Razboršek M et al (2020) Choline Chloride based natural deep eutectic solvents as extraction media for extracting phenolic compounds from chokeberry (Aronia Melanocarpa). Molecules. 25(7):1619 PMID 32244757 Xu H et al (2021) Comprehensive analysis of important parameters of choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvent pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass. Bioresour Technol 319:124209 |
