[learn_rasayan]

Hi :

Can anyone help me for this. What does "alpha" stand for in " alpha-linolenic acid"

Thanks a lot   

[Borek]

First carbon counting from functional group, beta will be the second, gamma third.

[learn_rasayan]

Thanks for the reply. But if we take "linoleic acid", it does not carry the name "alpha" eventhough it has functional group at the alpha carbon. But for "linolenic acid" it is called "alpha-linolenic acid"
Please clarify me. Thanks in advance

[learn_rasayan]

Hi :

Can anyone help me for this. What does "alpha" stand for in " alpha-linolenic acid"

Thanks a lot  :

[JGK]

could it be a holdover from the order of their discovery?


I couldn't find any reference to it being a function of structure. I did find reference to alpha, beta, gamma and delta linolenic acids. alpha, an omega-3 and gamma, an omega 6 sem to be the best known.

[Arctic-Nation]

Can't say I've searched hard for an answer, but I think that the alpha and gamma designations might be remnant from earlier days, before the advent of systematic naming. In that sense the terms much just distinguish between two isomers of linolenic acid, without any other implied information.

[edit: JGK beat me to it.]

[learn_rasayan]

Thanks. Even I thought of it. But I am not sure about it. Could it be related to crystal pattern? Alpha, beta, gamma and delta form of crystals?

Still looking for a solid answer.

Please!

[Borek]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_carbon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha-Linolenic_acid

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma-Linolenic_acid

Seems like I was wrong - in this case it is not a carbon designation. Obviously it is used to differentiate between various isomers, but no idea what it refers to.

[Med90]

http://www.biotopics.co.uk/JmolApplet/alphalinolenic.html
plz go thru this link. I hope it will be helpful.