Abstract: An ophthalmic applanator for treatment of corneal lamellar flaps/caps includes a disc having a concave bottom surface with a curvature flatter than the curvature of the external surface of the cornea of the eye and steeper than the curvature of the surface of the sclera of an eye and a concave or convex top surface. The radius of curvature of the bottom surface produces a radiating pressure of higher magnitude centrally than peripherally, but is also curved sufficiently to minimize the risk of excessive indentation of the cornea. The convex or concave upper surface reduces reflection from the operating microscope.

Abstract: Nucleic acid sequences, particularly DNA sequences, coding for all or part of a lipase of Pseudomonas fluorescens, wherein said lipase has the amino acid sequence encoded by the nucleotide sequence of the BamHI/HindIII insert of the plasmid pRJ-Ltac1 from Escherichia coli BL21/pRJ-Ltac1 deposited with the American Type Culture Collection, expression vectors containing the DNA sequences, host cells containing the expression vectors, and methods utilizing these materials. The invention also concerns polypeptide molecules comprising all or part of a lipase of Pseudomonas fluorescens, wherein said lipase has the amino acid sequence encoded by the nucleotide sequence of the plasmid pRJ-Ltac1 from Escherichia coli BL21/pRJ-Ltac1 BamHI/HindIII insert of deposited with the American Type Culture Collection, and methods for producing these polypeptides.

Abstract: A DNA fragment containing a gene encoding a fatty acid desaturase enzyme is isolated. The gene is then employed by introducing it into other cells to alter or enhance the production of oils in such cells, alternatively the gene or nucleic acid sequences of the gene can be employed to isolate other genes encoding for related, but different desaturase enzymes.