1-Palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) is a phospholipid with 16:0 and 18:1 acyl chains. This phosphatidylcholine can be used for liposomes to study the properties of lipid bilayers and other biophysical experiments with phospholipids.
Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is generally the most abundant lipid in animal cell membranes providing structural framework. PC is more common in the outer leaflet where it functions as part of the permeability barrier. PC is also the primary substrate of Phospholipase D enzymes which produce the signaling lipids – phosphatidic acid and lysophosphatidic acid.