Shorthand DB

The LIPID MAPS 'Shorthand DB' provides stable identifiers for lipids described at lower levels of resolution than the full-structure level contained within LMSD. Identifiers are provided with lipids at species and molecular species level (as described in Liebisch et al) which can be included in publications to point to a page which describes the molecule in question.

This tool supports identifiers for lipids where individual chains are of 38 carbons long or fewer, and may be oxygenated.

At species level / sum composition level

Headgroup followed by the total number of carbons and double bond equivalents (DBE) separated by a colon.

Notes:

For plasmalogen species, the P- accounts for one DBE in the vinyl ether.
For sphingolipids, specify the number of oxygens as these are variable in the sphingoid base

At molecular species level / where acyl chains are known

Headgroup is followed by number of carbons and DBE for each chain. These are separated by an underscore in the case where the sn position is unknown. Chains are ordered smallest to largest.

Notes:

In the case of triacyl glycerides (TG) where one chain is known but the not other two, TG 18:3_38:2 indicates one acyl chain has 18 carbons and 3 DBE, and the other two combine to 38 carbons and 2 DBE.

sn position level

The underscore becomes a forward slash and chains are ordered (sn1/sn2/sn3)

Notes:

In the case of ether lipids, the underscore is not used as the ether link is assumed to be sn1 and the ester sn2.
In the case of ceramides, the sphingoid base precedes the forward slash.