Abstract: A method of isolating and purifying bioactive compounds in an extract obtained from seaweed. The method involves the steps of: (a) circulating the extract through an ultrafiltration membrane having a suitable molecular weight cutoff; (b) collecting filtrate from the extract to obtain a first filtrate fraction and a retentate; and (c) rinsing the retentate to obtain one or more additional filtrate fractions. The bioactivity of the first filtrate fraction and the additional filtrate fractions can then be evaluated to determine their efficacy on plant growth. One or more bioactive molecules isolated from an algal specie are also described in which the one or more bioactive molecules have a molecular weight in the range of about 0.15 k Da to about 1.0 k Da and are capable of enhancing or improving plant growth.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing polyphenol compounds, i.e. phloroglucinol or one of its derivatives, with a polyketide synthase of type III (PKSIII) from a brown marine alga. The invention also relates to recombinant nucleic acids coding for a polyketide synthase of type III (PKSIII) from the brown alga Ectocarpus siliculosus (E. siliculosus), to recombinant vectors comprising these nucleic acids, as well as to host cells comprising these vectors. Finally, the invention relates to a method for preparing of various compounds by means of polyphenol compounds produced according to the aforementioned method.

Abstract: The present invention concerns iodoperoxidases from Zobellia galactanivorans, isolated nucleic acids encoding same, as well as methods for preparing these enzymes. Moreover, the invention is also directed to the use of such iodoperoxidases in a wide range of industrial, pharmaceutical, medical, cosmetics, and ecological applications, as well as in the food industry.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing polyphenol compounds, i.e. phloroglucinol or one of its derivatives, with a polyketide synthase of type III (PKSIII) from a brown marine alga. The invention also relates to recombinant nucleic acids coding for a polyketide synthase of type III (PKSIII) from the brown alga Ectocarpus siliculosus (E. siliculosus), to recombinant vectors comprising these nucleic acids, as well as to host cells comprising these vectors. Finally, the invention relates to a method for preparing of various compounds by means of polyphenol compounds produced according to the aforementioned method.

Abstract: The present invention concerns iodoperoxidases from Zobellia galactanivorans, isolated nucleic acids encoding same, as well as methods for preparing these enzymes. Moreover, the invention is also directed to the use of such iodoperoxidases in a wide range of industrial, pharmaceutical, medical, cosmetics, and ecological applications, as well as in the food industry.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing free polyunsaturated fatty acids and their oxidation metabolites, wherein, successively, the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids and of their oxidation metabolites is stimulated, in a red alga, by the action of an elicitor which is peptide, lipid or saccharide in nature, and then the polyunsaturated fatty acids produced and also their oxidation metabolites are extracted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genes which code for glycosyl hydrolases having an HCA score with the iota-carrageenase of Alteromonas fortis which is greater than or equal to 65% over the domain extending between amino acids 164 and 311 of the protein sequence SEQ ID No. 2 of said iota-carrageenase, and to genes which code for glycosyl hydrolases having an HCA score with the kappa-carrageenase of Alteromonas carrageenovora which is greater than or equal to 75% over the domain extending between amino acids 117 and 262 of the protein sequence SEQ ID No. 6 of said kappa-carrageenase.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing free polyunsaturated fatty acids and their oxidation metabolites, wherein, successively,

Abstract: The invention relates to the novel Cytophaga drobachiensis strain deposited in the DSMZ Collection (Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH (German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures)) on May 8, 1998 under the number DSM 12170, the agaA gene coding for a &bgr;-agarase and having SEQ ID No. 1, the agaB gene coding for a &bgr;-agarase and having SEQ ID No. 3, said genes coding for a &bgr;-agarase of Cytophaga drobachiensis DSM 12170, and the specific nucleic acid sequence of the agaA gene coding for a specific peptide fragment AgaA′ which has conserved &bgr;-agarase activity, and having SEQ ID No. 5, as well as the protein AgaA of C. drobachiensis DSM 12170 having SEQ ID No. 2, the protein AgaB of C. drobachiensis DSM 12170 having SEQ ID No. 4 and said peptide fragment AgaA′ of C. drobachiensis DSM 12170 having SEQ ID No. 6.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genes which code for glycosyl hydrolases having an HCA score with the iota-carrageenase of Alteromonas fortis which is greater than or equal to 65% over the domain extending between amino acids 164 and 311 of the protein sequence SEQ ID No. 2 of said iota-carrageenase, and to genes which code for glycosyl hydrolases having an HCA score with the kappa-carrageenase of Alteromonas carrageenovora which is greater than or equal to 75% over the domain extending between amino acids 117 and 262 of the protein sequence SEQ ID No. 6 of said kappa-carrageenase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genes which code for glycosyl hydrolases having an HCA score with the iota-carrageenase of Alteromonas fortis which is greater than or equal to 65% over the domain extending between amino acids 164 and 311 of the protein sequence SEQ ID No. 2 of said iota-carrageenase, and to genes which code for glycosyl hydrolases having an HCA score with the kappa-carrageenase of Alteromonas carrageenovora which is greater than or equal to 75% over the domain extending between amino acids 117 and 262 of the protein sequence SEQ ID No. 6 of said kappa-carrageenase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genes which code for glycosyl hydrolases having an HCA score with the iota-carrageenase of Alteromonas fortis which is greater than or equal to 65% over the domain extending between amino acids 164 and 311 of the protein sequence SEQ ID No. 2 of said iota-carrageenase, and to genes which code for glycosyl hydrolases having an HCA score with the kappa-carrageenase of Alteromonas carrageenovora which is greater than or equal to 75% over the domain extending between amino acids 117 and 262 of the protein sequence SEQ ID No. 6 of said kappa-carrageenase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genes which code for glycosyl hydrolases having an HCA score with the iota-carrageenase of Alteromonas fortis which is greater than or equal to 65% over the domain extending between amino acids 164 and 311 of the protein sequence SEQ ID No. 2 of said iota-carrageenase, and to genes which code for glycosyl hydrolases having an HCA score with the kappa-carrageenase of Alteromonas carrageenovora which is greater than or equal to 75% over the domain extending between amino acids 117 and 262 of the protein sequence SEQ ID No. 6 of said kappa-carrageenase.

Abstract: The sodium fluoroalcoholates are prepared under conditions resulting in neither reactant nor final product degradation, by (a) reacting, under reflux, the corresponding fluoroalcohols, e.g., the mono-, di- or trifluoroethanols, with sodium methanolate in the presence of a solvent having a boiling point higher than that of methanol and/or a solvent which forms an azeotrope with methanol, and (b) selectively trapping the methanol of reaction, e.g., in a molecular sieve, as it is released into the vapors which evolve upon refluxing the step (a) reaction mixture; the sodium fluoroalcoholates thus produced are well suited for direct reaction with polydichlorophosphazenes.

Abstract: The molecular weights of the poly(dichlorophosphazenes), and of the poly(organophosphazenes) produced therefrom, are controlledly regulated by heating such poly(dichlorophosphazenes) in the presence of an effective molecular weight-regulating amount of phosphorus oxychloride.

Abstract: High molecular weight, essentially uncrosslinked polychlorophosphazenes are prepared by bulk polycondensing a monomer of the formula P.sub.2 NXCl.sub.2, in which X is an oxygen or sulfur atom, e.g., N-dichlorophosphoryl- or N-dichlorothiophosphoryl-P-trichlorophosphazene, and wherein at least that final stage of polycondensation following cessation of evolution of PXCl.sub.3 is carried out in a stirred reaction zone, such stirred reaction zone including means to prevent the accumulation of polycondensate on the stirrer.

Abstract: The polycondensation disrupting effects of the impurities in an impure N-dichlorophosphoryltrichlorophosphazene, P.sub.2 NOCl.sub.5, or oligomer thereof, are avoided by polycondensing such impure P.sub.2 NOCl.sub.5 into a high molecular weight uncrosslinked poly(dichlorophosphazene) in the presence of an effective impurity-inhibiting, polymerization-controlling amount of phosphorous pentachloride, PCl.sub.5.

Abstract: Impure solutions or suspensions of the polyphosphazenes, e.g., those containing the reagents and/or byproducts of the chloro-substitution of a polydichlorophosphazene, are purified by contacting such impure solutions/suspension with a semipermeable membrane having a cutoff threshold corresponding to the impurities sought to be removed, and filtering such impurities therethrough, e.g., by establishing a trans-membrane pressure gradient.

Abstract: Essentially pure and colorless N-(dichlorophosphoryl)trichlorophosphazene [P.sub.2 NOCl.sub.5 ] is prepared/purified under relatively moderate conditions, by reacting phosphorous pentachloride with ammonium chloride, treating the resulting medium of reaction, containing P.sub.3 NCl.sub.12, with SO.sub.2, and thin film evaporating the medium of reaction, advantageously in two stages, to eliminate SO.sub.2, POCl.sub.3 and SOCl.sub.2 values therefrom.

Abstract: Crude polyorganophosphazenes, produced by the nucleophilic cosubstitution of polydichlorophosphazenes and contained in a reaction medium which includes such polyorganophosphazenes, reaction solvent for the cosubstitution reaction, excess nucleophilic reagent and/or product of neutralization thereof, and, when present, any alkali metal salts of neutralization, are efficiently and facilely purified, in a single treatment zone, advantageously under agitation in a discontinuous malaxator, by both eliminating the reaction solvent and thereafter washing the resulting reaction medium with a liquid which is a nonsolvent for the polyorganophosphazenes, but miscible with the other products present in said reaction medium.