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Reference data and database search

LIPID MAPS

Find lipid structures, classifications, nomenclature guidance and lipidomics analysis resources.

Platform-independentWeb applicationFree web service
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Overview

LIPID MAPS brings together curated lipid databases, mass-search tools and educational material, supporting consistent reporting and reference lookup.

What can this tool do?

Structure-database searching

Common uses

  • Check lipid abbreviations and structural classification.
  • Find mass-compatible lipid candidates and supporting references.

Scientific fit

Primary function

Reference data and database search

Data compatibility

Inputs

Compound list or annotations, Molecular structures

Outputs

Compound list or annotations, Molecular structures

Input formats

Other, Lipid names, identifiers, structures or mass queries

Output formats

Other, Lipid records and selected database exports

Scope and considerations

Designed for

  • Check lipid abbreviations and structural classification.

Not designed for

  • Resolving acyl-chain positions or double-bond locations from a mass-only match.

Important requirements

  • A lipid name, structure, identifier or appropriately specified mass query.

Considerations

  • Report the structural level supported by the experiment; database structures can be more specific than the measured evidence.

Access and documentation

Primary access

Free open-access resource; consult the terms for each database, tool or download.

Evidence and review

Documentation-based editorial review on 7 September 2026. Scope and limitations summarize the linked official sources; software execution and developer verification were not assessed.

Core publications

Resource papers, direct updates and tool-specific methods. Selection policy.

  1. Conroy MJ, Andrews RM, Andrews S, et al. LIPID MAPS: update to databases and tools for the lipidomics community. Nucleic Acids Res 52, D1677-D1682 (2024). doi:10.1093/nar/gkad896

Software and documentation citations

  • LIPID MAPS consortium. LIPID MAPS: databases, classification, nomenclature and analysis tools. Official resource documentation. Documentation

Related tools

LipidBlastComplementary to · Use an in-silico tandem mass-spectral library to support lipid annotation.RefMetComplementary to · Map metabolite names to a standardized reference nomenclature for cross-study comparisons.lipidrComplementary to · Analyze lipid abundance tables and test patterns across lipid classes and structural properties.BioPANContains or hosts · LIPID MAPS web tool for exploring changes in mammalian lipid pathways and predicting relative reaction or enzyme activity from quantitative lipidomics data.

Entry history

Changes to this catalogue entry, not the tool's software release history. Acceptance and editorial review are separate.

  1. 2026-09-08 · Entry update

    Audit core publications across existing tools

    View change · Entry at this revision
  2. 2026-09-07 · First committed entry

    Add 50 documented metabolomics resources

    View change · Entry at this revision

Full GitHub history