L-

In biochemistry, a symbol used as a prefix to indicate the spatial configuration of certain organic compounds with asymmetric carbon atoms. It is used if an organic compound has a configuration about an asymmetric carbon atom analogous to that of L-glyceraldehyde (the arbitrarily chosen standard), in which the hydroxy (OH) functional group is on the left side of the asymmetric carbon atom: an L-amino acid.

[From L(EVOROTATORY).]

pref.

Relating to the configuration of L-glyceraldehyde, a compound chosen as the basis for stereochemical nomenclature because it is the simplest carbohydrate that can form optical isomers: L-lactic acid.

L	L L Bean Capri
l	l arginine l citrulline