1,2-Dipalmitoyl-sn-Glycero-3-Phosphocholine (DPPC)

DPPC) is a phospholipid and the major constituent of pulmonary surfactant. It is also the only surface active component of lung surfactant capable of lowering surface pressure to near zero levels. DPPC is synthesized mainly through remodeling of phosphatidylcholine. It is thought that a lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC) acyltransferase may play a critical role in its synthesis. The identity of this acyltransferase has not yet been confirmed.

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is the major phospholipid of pulmonary surfactant and it is hypothesized that PC and its subspecies modulate the functions of alveolar macrophages. The most abundant of these subspecies is dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC).It is also used for research purposes in studying liposomes, lipid bilayers, and model biological membranes and in the formation of reconstituted HDL (rHDL) particles.