3monoacylglycerols

3-Monoacylglycerols, or sn-3-monoacylglycerols, are monoacylglycerols in which a single fatty acid chain is esterified to the third carbon of glycerol. They are one of three positional isomers of monoacylglycerol, the others being sn-1- and sn-2-monoacylglycerols. The attached fatty acid can vary in length and degree of unsaturation, giving rise to a family of molecules with different chemical properties.

In biological systems, triglycerides are hydrolyzed by lipases to yield monoacylglycerols and free fatty acids. Pancreatic lipase predominantly generates 2-monoacylglycerol, while 3-monoacylglycerols are produced in smaller amounts by other lipolytic pathways or during glyceride remodeling. Monoacylglycerols are typically substrates for further processing in the intestinal mucosa, including absorption and possible re-esterification, and they can be metabolized by monoacylglycerol lipase to glycerol and fatty acids.

Structural features of 3-monoacylglycerols include the presence of a chiral center at the glycerol backbone (at carbon 2), making MAGs stereochemically distinguishable; the sn-3 designation specifies the position of the acyl group rather than overall chirality. The exact position of the acyl group can influence interactions with enzymes and transport processes during lipid digestion and metabolism.

3-Monoacylglycerols have relevance in lipidomics and nutrition research as both native lipid species and as potential intermediates in lipid digestion, absorption, and remodeling. They are often studied alongside other monoacylglycerol isomers to understand positional effects on enzymatic activity and metabolic fate.