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Seaweeds are well recognized as a potential protein source. The edible green seaweed, Ulva sp., is abundant in the Brittany Coast, France. This study examined the extraction of proteins and glycoproteins from this seaweed. Four different extraction procedures (Procedure 1: deionized water, DW; Procedure 2: lysis solution 1 (LS1) containing 8 M urea, 2% Tween 20, 2% Triton X-100, 30 mM dithiothreitol, and 1% polyvinylpyrolidine; Procedure 3: lysis solution 2 (LS2) containing 50 mM Tris-HCl buffer pH 8, 10 mM EDTA, 2 mM Na2S2O5, and 1% Triton X-100; Procedure 4: 50 mM Tris-HCl buffer, pH 8) were applied to extract proteins from Ulva sp. in Brittany. The protein contents (%, dry basis) in the above extracts from Procedures 1–4 were 4.36 ± 0.21, 11.88 ± 0.23, 10.34 ± 0.35, and 3.58 ± 0.48, respectively. Moreover, electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed that the protein profile varies with season. Three glycoprotein-rich fractions, namely, GP-1 (from Procedure GP1), GP-2-DA, and GP-2-DS (from Procedure GP2), were extracted from Ulva sp. GP-1 and GP-2-DA fractions have a higher protein content than neutral sugars, while GP-2-DS contains a higher amount of neutral sugars than proteins. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight/mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) technique was applied to further proteomic analysis of each glycoprotein-rich fraction. GP-2-DS was hydrolyzed with protease enzyme to confirm the availability of proteins, and interestingly, the particular hydrolysate shows no original peaks in the MALDI-TOF/MS analysis. All three glycoprotein-rich fractions show no cytotoxicity in Vero cells at the tested concentration (500 mg dw mL−1). Collectively, these results revealed that the extractable protein content and protein profile of Ulva sp. differ according to the extraction liquid system and the season. The utilization and value addition of proliferative Ulva sp. in Brittany as a protein source is promising but needs to consider the seasonal change of the protein profile.

International audience

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) were extracted from a sponge, Celtodoryx girardae recently discovered in the Golfe du Morbihan in 2000. Sponge samples were collected monthly from November 2007 to May 2008. SEC analysis of EPS samples showed that they exhibit a unique molecular weight of approximately 800 kDa. However, infrared analysis revealed that structural seasonal variations occur. EPS fractions also exhibit significant sulphate contents and were screened in vitro for a potential antiviral activity against Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). The best result was obtained with a sample collected in January which exhibits an EC(50) of 5.9 microg/mL without cytotoxicity on the Vero cell line. Experiments carried out to elucidate the mechanism of the EPS showed that the sulphated groups of EPS interact with the glycoproteins on the surface of the virus' membrane.

International audience; Objective To investigate phenolics, fatty acids composition and biological activities of various extracts and fractions of Malaysian Aaptos aaptos. Methods Fatty acid methyl ester was analyzed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector. Antioxidant activity was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay and total phenolics content by Folin-Ciocalteu procedure. Vera cells viability was evaluated using methyl thiazole tetrazolium and the inactivation of herpes simplex virus type 1 by neutral red uptake assay. p-Hydroxybenzamide isolated by column chromatography was characterized by utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and electron impact mass spectrometry. Results The chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of Aaptos aaptos produced higher portions of straight-chain saturated fatty acid, while hexane extract mainly consisted of unsaturated fatty acid. The five majors of fatty acid methyl ester were identified as behenic acid, cis-10-heptadecenoic acid and cis-10-pentadecenoic acids, palmitic acid and tricosanoic acid. In addition, among all organic extracts, chloroform extract inactivated herpes simplex virus type 1 while exhibited weak cytotoxic activity against normal Vero cells and also exhibited strong cytotoxic activity on HL-60, MCF-7, K562, CEM-SS and WEHI-3B cells. A phenolic compound, p-hydroxybenzamide was also isolated from the sponge. Conclusions Aaptos aaptos could be a source to derive the potential antiviral and anticancer agents. However, further studies are needed to determine the mechanism involved in the process.

The tributyltin-based products and organic biocides which are incorporated into antifouling paints have had a negative impact on the marine environment, and the ban on tributyltin-based antifouling products has urged the industry to find substitutes to prevent the development of fouling on ship hulls. Natural antifouling agents could be isolated from marine resources, providing an alternative option for the industry. The effects of different marine seaweed extracts from Sargassum muticum and Ceramium botryocarpum on the growth, pigment content and photosynthetic apparatus of the marine diatom Fragilaria pinnata were compared with those of Diuron, a biocide widely used in antifouling paints. The addition of the macroalgal extracts in the culture medium resulted in an inhibition of the growth of F. pinnata, but this inhibition was lower than that obtained with Diuron. After transfer to a biocide-free medium, F. pinnata cells previously exposed to the macroalgal extracts exhibited normal growth, in contrast to Diuron-treated cells, which died, demonstrating that the effects of the natural antifouling agents were reversible. Macroalgal extracts and Diuron-induced modifications in F. pinnata cellular pigment content. Chlorophyll a, fucoxanthin, and the xanthophyll pool, diadinoxanthin and diatoxanthin, were the most affected. Changes in the structure and function of the photosynthetic apparatus were studied by microspectrofluorimetry, and provided a comprehensive evaluation of the inhibition of the diatom Photosystem II (PSII) by the biocides. This study confirms that natural extracts from the macroalgae studied have the potential to be used as a substitute to commercial biocides in antifouling paints.