What Is The Meaning Of “sn” In The Lipid Name?

Lip-1.13. Stereospecific numbering (sn).

To specify the configuration of glycerol derivatives, the three carbons of glycerol are numbered stereospecifically. In the Fischer projection with a vertical carbon chain and the hydroxyl group on C-2 to the left, the top carbon is designated C-1. To indicate that this numbering carries stereochemical information—rather than conventional, non-stereospecific numbering—the prefix “sn-” (stereospecifically numbered) is used. Example. sn-glycerol 3-phosphate.

References

1. IUPAC–IUB Joint Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature. Nomenclature of Lipids. Biochem. J. 1978;171:21–35.

2. IUPAC–IUB Joint Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature. Nomenclature of Lipids. Chem. Phys. Lipids. 1978;21:159–173.

3. IUPAC–IUB Joint Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature. Nomenclature of Lipids. Eur. J. Biochem. 1977;79:11–21.

4. IUPAC–IUB Joint Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature. Nomenclature of Lipids. Hoppe-Seyler’s Z. Physiol. Chem. 1977;358:617–631.

5. IUPAC–IUB Joint Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature. Nomenclature of Lipids. J. Lipid Res. 1978;19:114–128.

6. IUPAC–IUB Joint Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature. Nomenclature of Lipids. Lipids. 1977;12:455–468.

7. IUPAC–IUB Joint Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature. Nomenclature of Lipids. Mol. Cell. Biochem. 1977;17:157–171.

8. IUPAC & IUBMB. Biochemical Nomenclature and Related Documents. 2nd ed. London: Portland Press; 1992. p. 180–190.

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