What are the differences between choline and acetylcholine?

Question

Accepted Answer

Basis of differentiation

Choline

Acetylcholine

Definition

Choline is an organic compound and essential nutrient found in both plants and animals

Acetylcholine is an organic compound which acts as a neurotransmitter

Chemical structure

Consists of an ammonium group having positive and 4 substituents on the nitrogen atom

Is the same structure as choline, except the oxygen atom is acetylated

Occurrence

Is in plants and animals

Is exclusively in found in animals

Molar mass

104.17 g/mol

146.21 g/mol

Functions

Is a source of methyl groups necessary for several steps in metabolism and involved in synthesis for phospholipids

Functions to transmit signals between nerve cells and other cells as a chemical messenger in the nervous and peripheral nervous systems

Type of compound

Is an ethanolamine

Is an ester

Basis of differentiation	Choline	Acetylcholine
Definition	Choline is an organic compound and essential nutrient found in both plants and animals	Acetylcholine is an organic compound which acts as a neurotransmitter
Chemical structure	Consists of an ammonium group having positive and 4 substituents on the nitrogen atom	Is the same structure as choline, except the oxygen atom is acetylated
Occurrence	Is in plants and animals	Is exclusively in found in animals
Molar mass	104.17 g/mol	146.21 g/mol
Functions	Is a source of methyl groups necessary for several steps in metabolism and involved in synthesis for phospholipids	Functions to transmit signals between nerve cells and other cells as a chemical messenger in the nervous and peripheral nervous systems
Type of compound	Is an ethanolamine	Is an ester