Phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance detection of unexpected phosphodiesters in muscle.

In the examination of intact muscles by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, a number of signals have been detected in the phosphodiester region (-0.5 to 0.5 ppm) of the spectrum which could not be correlated with the known common phosphates of muscle tissue. These signals arise from perchloric acid extractable compounds with several common chemical properties, one of which is a ready solubility in nearly anhydrous ethanol solutions. A component contributing to the major resonance has been identified as glycerol-3-phosphorylcholine. This characterization is based on both 31P nuclear magnetic resonance and chromatographic data.