Sphingoids differing from sphinganine in their configurations at C-2 and/or C-3 should be named not as derivatives of sphinganine, but with fully systematic names [3], using the prefixes D-threo, L-erythro, as appropriate, e.g., D-threo-2-amino-1,3-octadecanediol, or (2R,3R)-2-amino-1,3-octadecanediol, for II (cf. Rule Carb-8 in [5]). (Cf. Lip-1.11, example [d]).
Comments. (a) The semisystematic names for the sphingoids are significantly shorter than the fully systematic names only if the terms chosen imply not only substituents but also configurations. Therefore, the name 'sphinganine' specifies the D-erythro configuration, and it is logical that the names of stereoisomers of sphinganine differing in configuration at C-2 and/or C-3 should not include 'sphinganine' as a root. This recommendation differs from that in the previous document [1].
(b) The configurations usually encountered have identical configurational prefixes only if a D/L but not if the R/S system [6] is used; e.g., C-3 is D and R in icosasphinganine (III) and D and S in 4D-hydroxysphinganine (IV). Whenever it is desirable to use the R/S system, the fully systematic name should be used with the specification of configuration at every center (and, when applicable, of the configuration at the double bond).
Examples:
(a) (2R,3R)-2-amino-1,3-octadecanediol, for II;
(b) (2S,3S,4R)-2-amino-1,3,4-octadecanetriol for IV;
(c) (2S,3R,4E)-2-amino-4-octadecene-1,3-diol for sphingosine (V) (See also Lip-1.11).
I Sphinganine [D-erythro or 2S,3R configuration implied] | II (2R,3R)- (or D-threo-)-2-Amino- 1,3-octadecanediol | III Icosasphinganine (formerly eicosasphinganine, see footnoted in Appendix A) |
IV 4D-Hydroxysphinganine (2S,3S,4R)-2-amino- 1,3,4-octadecanetriol; (phytosphingosine). | V Sphingosine; (4E)-sphingenine; trans-4-sphingenine; (2S,3R,4E)-2-amino-4-octadecene-1,3-diol; | VI cis-4-Sphingenine; (4Z)-sphingenine. |
IV was also called 4D-Hydroxysphinganine (as above but omitted from the main web version of the lipid document).
Lip-1.8 spinganine was also called 2D-amino-1,3D-octadecanediol.
Lip-1.11 last paragraph, example (a) read: 4D-hydroxysphinganine for IV, formerly known as phytosphingosine;
1. IUPAC-IUB Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature (1967) Eur. J. Biochem. 2, 127-131, also 12, 1 (1970); [see also Biochemistry, 6, 3287-3292 (1967); Biochem. J., 105, 897-902 (1967); J. Biol. Chem., 242, 4845-4849 (1967); Hoppe-Seyler's Z. Physiol. Chem., 350, 279-285 (1969) (in German)].
3. International Union of Biochemistry (1966) Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry (Sections A, B and C) 2nd edn, Butterworths, London. [See also Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry, Sections A, B, C, D, E, F, and H, Pergamon Press, 1979. Edited by J Rigaudy and S P Klesney.]
4. Mills, J. A. & Klyne, W. (1954) Progr. Stereochem. 1, 181.
5. IUPAC Commission on the Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry and IUPAC-IUB Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature (1971) Eur. J. Biochem. 21, 455-477, also 25, 4 (1972) [now revised as Nomenclature of Carbohydrates (1996) Carb-15 is now 2-Carb-24.1].
6. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (1970) J. Org. Chem. 35, 2849-2867; also Eur. J. Biochem. 18, 151-170 (1971) [now revised as Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry: Section E].