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1-14. (canceled) 15. Method for colorless patterning of a fabric web made of mutually interlocked and thus strengthened fibers of natural or synthetic type, preferably of a nonwoven fabric such as nonwoven wadding fabric, which is also dried in the case of a wet treatment such as hydrodynamic needling or an upgrading process, the fabric web being pressed by an overpressure and under pressure acting on a fluid against a conveying element having perforations, the cross-sectional areas of the perforations generating the pictorial pattern on the fabric web, characterized in that the fluid is led away in full-surface fashion in the region of the perforations of the conveying elements and also in the region of its smooth surface supporting the fabric web. 16. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that water is used as fluid. 17. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that the overpressure, but essentially the under pressure, for generating the pictorial pattern is generated by a fluid of air or gas. 18. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that the fluid, air or gas, is heated. 19. Method according to claim 19, characterized in that steam is used as gas. 20. Method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that the pictorial pattern is generated during the drying of the fabric web. 21. Method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that the pictorial pattern is generated after the drying of the fabric web. 22. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that the pictorial pattern is generated by steam on a dry nonwoven fabric. 23. Apparatus having a revolving drum inside a housing for the colorless patterning of a fabric web made of mutually interlocked and thus strengthened fibers of natural or synthetic type, preferably of a nonwoven fabric such as nonwoven wadding fabric, which is also dried in the case of a wet treatment such as hydrodynanic needling or an upgrading process, the fabric web being pressed by an overpressure and under pressure acting on a fluid against the drum having perforations, the cross-sectional areas of the perforations generating the pictorial pattern on the fabric web, characterized in that the external peripheral surface of the drum is provided with perforations depicting an image, which perforations act in diverse pattern-imparting fashions on the fabric web resting thereon, and the drum as a whole is microperforated and thus fluid-permeable over the entire surface supporting the fabric web, and the pattern-imparting perforations are then sized larger than the microperforation of the surface supporting the fabric web. 24. Apparatus according to claim 23, characterized in that the peripheral surface of the drum itself is provided with the pictorial patterns. 25. Apparatus according to claim 23, characterized in that a conveying element having the pattern is slid over the drum and this conveying element is fashioned as a continuously advancing foil or belt. 26. Apparatus according to claim 25, characterized in that the pattern-imparting peripheral surface, a foil or a steel belt, is slid onto the drum and spaced away therefrom. 27. Apparatus according to any one of claims 24 to 26, characterized in that the cross-sectional area of the perforations is made up of straight or curved slits or holes oriented as desired over the surface of the conveying element and depicting an image. 28. Apparatus according to claim 27, characterized in that the slits, holes, and the like are joined to form names, images, or any patterns. 29. Apparatus according to claim 28, characterized in that the slits, holes, and the like are stamped, laser-cut, or otherwise applied to the peripheral surface of the drum. 30. Apparatus according to claim 27, characterized in that the slits, holes, and the like are stamped, laser-cut, or otherwise applied to the peripheral surface of the drum.



Methods and systems for offering and servicing financial instruments
Systems and methods for offering and servicing financial instruments (101) creates a way for issuers to offer financial instruments (101) that are accretive to earnings regardless of the Price/Earnings ratio. Specifically, the present invention provides systems and methods for offering and servicing convertible or exchangeable contingent conversion financial instruments.
1. A financial services method associated with a financial instrument, said method comprising: identifying an underlying reference for said financial instrument, said underlying reference having a value; attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; defining a contingency, said financial instrument becoming convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument on occurrence of said contingency. 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: establishing a value for said financial instrument. 3. The method of claim 2 further comprising: selling said financial instrument. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises selling said financial instrument at a value based on at least one of: a. said contingency; b. said value of said underlying reference; c. volatility in trading value of said underlying reference; d. time until redemption, at option of issuer or holder; e. time until maturity; f. an interest rate; and g. value for which said financial instrument must be redeemed for on redemption date. 5. The method of claim 3, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises auctioning said financial instrument. 6. The method of claim 3, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises selling a derivative of said financial instrument. 7. The method of claim 3, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises selling a part of said financial instrument. 8. The method of claim 3 further comprising: monitoring for satisfaction of said contingency. 9. The method of claim 2 further comprising: monitoring for satisfaction of said contingency. 10. The method of claim 2, wherein said establishing a value for said financial instrument comprises basing said value for said financial instrument on at least one of: a. said contingency; b. said value of said underlying reference; c. volatility in trading value of said underlying reference; d. time until redemption, at option of issuer or holder; e. time until maturity; f. an interest rate; and g. value for which said financial instrument must be redeemed for on redemption date. 11. The method of claim 1 further comprising: selling said financial instrument. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises selling said financial instrument at a value based on at least one of: a. said contingency; b. said value of said underlying reference; c. volatility in trading value of said underlying reference; d. time until redemption, at option of issuer or holder; e. time until maturity; f. an interest rate; and g. value for which said financial instrument must be redeemed for on redemption date. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises auctioning said financial instrument. 14. The method of claim 11, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises selling a derivative of said financial instrument. 15. The method of claim 11, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises selling a part of said financial instrument. 16. The method of claim 11 further comprising: monitoring for satisfaction of said contingency. 17. The method of claim 1 further comprising: monitoring for satisfaction of said contingency. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said monitoring for satisfaction comprises comparing market data to requirements of said contingency. 19. The method of claim 17, wherein said monitoring comprises monitoring at periodic intervals. 20. The method of claim 17, wherein said monitoring comprises monitoring at predetermined times. 21. The method of claim 17, wherein said monitoring comprises monitoring realtime data. 22. The method of claim 17, further comprising processing a conversion on satisfaction of said contingency. 23. The method of claim 1, wherein said defining a contingency comprises basing said contingency on an event related to said financial instrument. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein said basing said contingency on said event related to said financial instrument comprises setting said contingency as satisfied once an observed value of said financial instrument at least: a. exceeds a predetermined metric during a predetermined period of time, or b. is equal to a predetermined metric during a predetermined period of time, or c. is less than a predetermined metric during a predetermined period of time. 25. The method of claim 1, wherein said defining a contingency comprises setting said contingency as satisfied when the closing sale value of said underlying reference for at least a pre-determined number of trading days is greater than a pre-determined percentage of the conversion value. 26. The method of claim 1, wherein said defining a contingency comprises setting said contingency as satisfied when the closing sale value of said underlying reference for at least a pre-determined number of trading days is less than a pre-determined percentage of the conversion value. 27. The method of claim 1, wherein said defining a contingency comprises setting said contingency as satisfied when said financial instrument is called for redemption. 28. The method of claim 1, wherein said defining a contingency comprises setting said contingency as satisfied upon the occurrence of a corporate transaction. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein said setting said contingency as satisfied upon the occurrence of a corporate transaction comprises setting said contingency as satisfied upon the occurrence of a predetermined type of distribution to shareholders. 30. The method of claim 28, wherein said setting said contingency as satisfied upon the occurrence of a corporate transaction comprises setting said contingency as satisfied upon the occurrence of a merger. 31. The method of claim 28, wherein said setting said contingency as satisfied upon the occurrence of a corporate transaction comprises setting said contingency as satisfied upon the occurrence of a consolidation. 32. The method of claim 1, wherein said defining a contingency comprises setting said contingency as satisfied during any period in which the credit rating of the instrument is below a predetermined level. 33. The method of claim 1, wherein said defining a contingency comprises basing said contingency on an instrument other than said financial instrument. 34. The method of claim 33, wherein said basing said contingency on said instrument other than said financial instrument comprises setting said contingency as satisfied once an observed value of said instrument at least: a. exceeds a predetermined metric during a predetermined period of time, or b. is equal to a predetermined metric during a predetermined period of time, or c. is less than a predetermined metric during a predetermined period of time. 35. The method of claim 33, wherein said defining a contingency comprises establishing at least one of: a. a contingency with at least one trigger, and b. multiple contingencies each with at least one trigger. 36. The method of claim 35, wherein said establishing at least one trigger comprises setting said trigger at an amount equal to a multiple of a prevailing market rate for a financial instrument. 37. The method of claim 36, wherein said setting said trigger equal to a multiple comprises using a multiple equal to 1. 38. The method of claim 36, wherein said setting said trigger equal to a multiple comprises using a multiple less than 1. 39. The method of claim 36, wherein said setting said trigger equal to a multiple comprises using a multiple greater than 1. 40. The method of claim 35, wherein said establishing at least one trigger comprises setting said trigger equal to a multiple of a formula amount. 41. The method of claim 40, wherein said setting said trigger equal to a multiple comprises using a multiple equal to 1. 42. The method of claim 40, wherein said setting said trigger equal to a multiple comprises using a multiple less than 1. 43. The method of claim 40, wherein said setting said trigger equal to a multiple comprises using a multiple greater than 1. 44. The method of claim 1, wherein said attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument comprises attributing a variable number of said underlying references to each unit of said financial instrument. 45. The method of claim 1, wherein said attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument comprises attributing a constant number of said underlying references to each unit of said financial instrument. 46. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises identifying said underlying reference that said financial instrument converts into. 47. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises basing an exchange value of said financial instrument on said underlying reference. 48. The method of claim 1, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 49. A financial services method comprising establishing a value for a financial instrument created by: identifying an underlying reference for said financial instrument, said underlying reference having a value; attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; defining a contingency, said financial instrument becoming convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument on occurrence of said contingency. 50. The method of claim 49, wherein said establishing a value for said financial instrument comprises basing said value for said financial instrument on at least one of: a. said contingency; b. said value of said underlying reference; c. volatility in trading value of said underlying reference; d. time until redemption, at option of issuer or holder; e. time until maturity; f. an interest rate; and g. value for which said financial instrument must be redeemed for on redemption date. 51. The method of claim 49, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 52. A financial services method comprising selling a financial instrument created by: identifying an underlying reference for said financial instrument, said underlying reference having a value; attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; defining a contingency, said financial instrument becoming convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument on occurrence of said contingency. 53. The method of claim 52, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises selling said financial instrument at a value based on at least one of: a. said contingency; b. said value of said underlying reference; c. volatility in trading value of said underlying reference; d. time until redemption, at option of issuer or holder; e. time until maturity; f. an interest rate; and g. value for which said financial instrument must be redeemed for on redemption date. 54. The method of claim 52, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises auctioning said financial instrument. 55. The method of claim 52, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises selling a derivative of said financial instrument. 56. The method of claim 52, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises selling a part of said financial instrument. 57. The method of claim 52, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises identifying said underlying reference that said financial instrument converts into. 58. The method of claim 52, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises basing an exchange value of said financial instrument on said underlying reference. 59. The method of claim 52, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 60. A financial services method comprising buying a financial instrument created by: identifying an underlying reference for said financial instrument, said underlying reference having a value; attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; defining a contingency, said financial instrument becoming convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument on occurrence of said contingency. 61. The method of claim 60, wherein said buying said financial instrument comprises buying said financial instrument at a value based on at least one of: a. said contingency; b. said value of said underlying reference; c. volatility in trading value of said underlying reference; d. time until redemption, at option of issuer or holder; e. time until maturity; f. an interest rate; and g. value for which said financial instrument must be redeemed for on redemption date. 62. The method of claim 60, wherein said buying said financial instrument comprises bidding for said financial instrument. 63. The method of claim 60, wherein said buying said financial instrument comprises buying a derivative of said financial instrument. 64. The method of claim 60, wherein said buying said financial instrument comprises buying a part of said financial instrument. 65. The method of claim 60, wherein said identifying a underlying reference comprises identifying said underlying reference that said financial instrument converts into. 66. The method of claim 60, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises basing an exchange value of said financial instrument on said underlying reference. 67. The method of claim 60, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 68. A financial services method comprising selling a financial instrument created by: identifying an underlying reference for said financial instrument, said underlying reference having a value; attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; defining a contingency, said financial instrument becoming convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument on occurrence of said contingency; establishing a value for said financial instrument. 69. The method of claim 68, wherein said establishing a value for said financial instrument comprises establishing a value for said financial instrument based on at least one of: a. said contingency; b. said value of said underlying reference; c. volatility in trading value of said underlying reference; d. time until redemption, at option of issuer or holder; e. time until maturity; f. an interest rate; and g. value for which said financial instrument must be redeemed for on redemption date. 70. The method of claim 68, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises auctioning said financial instrument. 71. The method of claim 68, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises selling a derivative of said financial instrument. 72. The method of claim 68, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises selling a part of said financial instrument. 73. The method of claim 68, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises identifying said underlying reference that said financial instrument converts into. 74. The method of claim 68, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises basing an exchange value of said financial instrument on said underlying reference. 75. The method of claim 68, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 76. A financial services method comprising buying a financial instrument created by: identifying an underlying reference for said financial instrument, said underlying reference having a value; attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; defining a contingency, said financial instrument becoming convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument on occurrence of said contingency; establishing a value for said financial instrument. 77. The method of claim 76, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises identifying said underlying reference that said financial instrument converts into. 78. The method of claim 76, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises basing an exchange value of said financial instrument on said underlying reference. 79. The method of claim 76, wherein said establishing a value for said financial instrument comprises establishing a value for said financial instrument based on at least one of: a. said contingency; b. said value of said underlying reference; c. volatility in trading value of said underlying reference; d. time until redemption, at option of issuer or holder; e. time until maturity; f. an interest rate; and g. value for which said financial instrument must be redeemed for on redemption date. 80. The method of claim 76, wherein said buying said financial instrument comprises bidding for said financial instrument. 81. The method of claim 76, wherein said buying said financial instrument comprises buying a derivative of said financial instrument. 82. The method of claim 76, wherein said buying said financial instrument comprises buying a part of said financial instrument. 83. The method of claim 76, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 84. A financial services method comprising monitoring for satisfaction of a contingency for a financial instrument created by: identifying an underlying reference for said financial instrument, said underlying reference having a value; attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; defining said contingency, said financial instrument becoming convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument on occurrence of said contingency. 85. The method of claim 84, wherein said monitoring for satisfaction comprises comparing market data to requirements of said contingency. 86. The method of claim 84, wherein said monitoring comprises monitoring at periodic intervals. 87. The method of claim 84, wherein said monitoring comprises monitoring at predetermined times. 88. The method of claim 84, wherein said monitoring comprises monitoring realtime data. 89. The method of claim 84 wherein said monitoring further comprises processing said conversion on both: a. determining satisfaction of said contingency, and b. determining execution of said option to convert by said interested party. 90. The method of claim 89 wherein said determining execution of said option to convert comprises determining execution of said option to convert by a holder of said financial instrument. 91. The method of claim 84, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises identifying said underlying reference that said financial instrument converts into. 92. The method of claim 84, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises basing an exchange value of said financial instrument on said underlying reference. 93. The method of claim 84, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 94. A financial services system associated with a financial instrument, said system comprising: means for identifying an underlying reference for said financial instrument, said underlying reference having a value; means for attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; means for defining a contingency, said financial instrument becoming convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument on occurrence of said contingency. 95. The system of claim 94 further comprising: means for establishing a value for said financial instrument. 96. The system of claim 95 further comprising: means for selling said financial instrument. 97. The system of claim 96, wherein said means for selling said financial instrument comprises means for selling said financial instrument at a value based on at least one of: a. said contingency; b. said value of said underlying reference; c. volatility in trading value of said underlying reference; d. time until redemption, at option of issuer or holder; e. time until maturity; f. an interest rate; and g. value for which said financial instrument must be redeemed for on redemption date. 98. The system of claim 96, wherein said means for selling said financial instrument comprises means for auctioning said financial instrument. 99. The system of claim 96, wherein said means for selling said financial instrument comprises means for selling a derivative of said financial instrument. 100. The system of claim 96, wherein said means for selling said financial instrument comprises means for selling a part of said financial instrument. 101. The system of claim 96 further comprising: means for monitoring for satisfaction of said contingency. 102. The system of claim 95 further comprising: means for monitoring for satisfaction of said contingency. 103. The system of claim 95, wherein said means for establishing a value for said financial instrument comprises means for basing said value for said financial instrument on at least one of: a. said contingency; b. said value of said underlying reference; c. volatility in trading value of said underlying reference; d. time until redemption, at option of issuer or holder; e. time until maturity; f. an interest rate; and g. value for which said financial instrument must be redeemed for on redemption date. 104. The system of claim 94 further comprising: means for selling said financial instrument. 105. The system of claim 104, wherein said means for selling said financial instrument comprises means for selling said financial instrument at a value based on at least one of: a. said contingency; b. said value of said underlying reference; c. volatility in trading value of said underlying reference; d. time until redemption, at option of issuer or holder; e. time until maturity; f. an interest rate; and g. value for which said financial instrument must be redeemed for on redemption date. 106. The system of claim 104, wherein said means for selling said financial instrument comprises means for auctioning said financial instrument. 107. The system of claim 104, wherein said means for selling said financial instrument comprises means for selling a derivative of said financial instrument. 108. The system of claim 104, wherein said means for selling said financial instrument comprises means for selling a part of said financial instrument. 109. The system of claim 104 further comprising: means for monitoring for satisfaction of said contingency. 110. The system of claim 94 further comprising: means for monitoring for satisfaction of said contingency. 111. The system of claim 110, wherein said means for monitoring for satisfaction comprises means for comparing market data to requirements of said contingency. 112. The system of claim 110, wherein said means for monitoring comprises means for monitoring at periodic intervals. 113. The system of claim 110, wherein said means for monitoring comprises means for monitoring at predetermined times. 114. The system of claim 110, wherein said means for monitoring comprises means for monitoring realtime data. 115. The system of claim 110, further comprising means for processing a conversion on satisfaction of said contingency. 116. The system of claim 94, wherein said means for defining a contingency comprises means for basing said contingency on an event related to said financial instrument. 117. The system of claim 116, wherein said means for basing said contingency on said event related to said financial instrument comprises means for setting said contingency as satisfied once an observed value of said financial instrument at least: a. exceeds a predetermined metric during a predetermined period of time, or b. is equal to a predetermined metric during a predetermined period of time, or c. is less than a predetermined metric during a predetermined period of time. 118. The system of claim 94, wherein said means for defining a contingency comprises means for setting said contingency as satisfied when the closing sale value of said underlying reference for at least a pre-determined number of trading days is greater than a pre-determined percentage of the conversion value. 119. The system of claim 94, wherein said means for defining a contingency comprises means for setting said contingency as satisfied when the closing sale value of said underlying reference for at least a pre-determined number of trading days is less than a pre-determined percentage of the conversion value. 120. The system of claim 94, wherein said means for defining a contingency comprises means for setting said contingency as satisfied when said financial instrument is called for redemption. 121. The system of claim 94, wherein said means for defining a contingency comprises means for setting said contingency as satisfied upon the occurrence of a corporate transaction. 122. The system of claim 121, wherein said means for setting said contingency as satisfied upon the occurrence of a corporate transaction comprises means for setting said contingency as satisfied upon the occurrence of a predetermined type of distribution to shareholders. 123. The system of claim 121, wherein said means for setting said contingency as satisfied upon the occurrence of a corporate transaction comprises means for setting said contingency as satisfied upon the occurrence of a merger. 124. The system of claim 121, wherein said means for setting said contingency as satisfied upon the occurrence of a corporate transaction comprises means for setting said contingency as satisfied upon the occurrence of a consolidation. 125. The system of claim 94, wherein said means for defining a contingency comprises means for setting said contingency as satisfied during any period in which the credit rating of the instrument is below a predetermined level. 126. The system of claim 94, wherein said means for defining a contingency comprises means for basing said contingency on an instrument other than said financial instrument. 127. The system of claim 126, wherein said means for basing said contingency on said instrument other than said financial instrument comprises means for setting said contingency as satisfied once an observed value of said instrument at least: a. exceeds a predetermined metric during a predetermined period of time, or b. is equal to a predetermined metric during a predetermined period of time, or c. is less than a predetermined metric during a predetermined period of time. 128. The system of claim 94, wherein said means for defining a contingency comprises means for establishing at least one of: a. a contingency with at least one trigger, and b. multiple contingencies each with at least one trigger. 129. The system of claim 128, wherein said means for establishing at least one trigger comprises means for setting said trigger at an amount equal to a multiple of a prevailing market rate for a financial instrument. 130. The system of claim 129, wherein said means for setting said trigger equal to a multiple comprises means for using a multiple equal to 1. 131. The system of claim 129, wherein said means for setting said trigger equal to a multiple comprises means for using a multiple less than 1. 132. The system of claim 129, wherein said means for setting said trigger equal to a multiple comprises means for using a multiple greater than 1. 133. The system of claim 128, wherein said means for establishing at least one trigger comprises means for setting said trigger equal to a multiple of a formula amount. 134. The system of claim 133, wherein said means for setting said trigger equal to a multiple comprises means for using a multiple equal to 1. 135. The system of claim 133, wherein said means for setting said trigger equal to a multiple comprises means for using a multiple less than 1. 136. The system of claim 133, wherein said means for setting said trigger equal to a multiple comprises means for using a multiple greater than 1. 137. The system of claim 94, wherein said means for attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument comprises means for attributing a variable number of said underlying references to each unit of said financial instrument. 138. The system of claim 94, wherein said means for attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument comprises means for attributing a constant number of said underlying references to each unit of said financial instrument. 139. The system of claim 94, wherein said means for identifying an underlying reference comprises means for identifying said underlying reference that said financial instrument converts into. 140. The system of claim 94, wherein said means for identifying an underlying reference comprises means for basing an exchange value of said financial instrument on said underlying reference. 141. The system of claim 94, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 142. A financial services system comprising means for establishing a value for a financial instrument created by: identifying an underlying reference for said financial instrument, said underlying reference having a value; attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; defining a contingency, said financial instrument becoming convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument on occurrence of said contingency. 143. The system of claim 142, wherein said means for establishing a value for said financial instrument comprises means for basing said value for said financial instrument on at least one of: a. said contingency; b. said value of said underlying reference; c. volatility in trading value of said underlying reference; d. time until redemption, at option of issuer or holder; e. time until maturity; f. an interest rate; and g. value for which said financial instrument must be redeemed for on redemption date. 144. The system of claim 142, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 145. A financial services system comprising means for selling a financial instrument created by: identifying an underlying reference for said financial instrument, said underlying reference having a value; attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; defining a contingency, said financial instrument becoming convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument on occurrence of said contingency. 146. The system of claim 145, wherein said means for selling said financial instrument comprises means for selling said financial instrument at a value based on at least one of: a. said contingency; b. said value of said underlying reference; c. volatility in trading value of said underlying reference; d. time until redemption, at option of issuer or holder; e. time until maturity; f. an interest rate; and g. value for which said financial instrument must be redeemed for on redemption date. 147. The system of claim 145, wherein said means for selling said financial instrument comprises means for auctioning said financial instrument. 148. The system of claim 145, wherein said means for selling said financial instrument comprises means for selling a derivative of said financial instrument. 149. The system of claim 145, wherein said means for selling said financial instrument comprises means for selling a part of said financial instrument. 150. The system of claim 145, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises identifying said underlying reference that said financial instrument converts into. 151. The system of claim 145, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises basing an exchange value of said financial instrument on said underlying reference. 152. The system of claim 145, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 153. A financial services system comprising means for buying a financial instrument created by: identifying an underlying reference for said financial instrument, said underlying reference having a value; attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; defining a contingency, said financial instrument becoming convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument on occurrence of said contingency. 154. The system of claim 153, wherein said means for buying said financial instrument comprises means for buying said financial instrument at a value based on at least one of: a. said contingency; b. said value of said underlying reference; c. volatility in trading value of said underlying reference; d. time until redemption, at option of issuer or holder; e. time until maturity; f. an interest rate; and g. value for which said financial instrument must be redeemed for on redemption date. 155. The system of claim 153, wherein said means for buying said financial instrument comprises means for bidding for said financial instrument. 156. The system of claim 153, wherein said means for buying said financial instrument comprises means for buying a derivative of said financial instrument. 157. The system of claim 153, wherein said means for buying said financial instrument comprises means for buying a part of said financial instrument. 158. The system of claim 153, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises identifying said underlying reference that said financial instrument converts into. 159. The system of claim 153, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises basing an exchange value of said financial instrument on said underlying reference. 160. The system of claim 153, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 161. A financial services system comprising means for selling a financial instrument created by: identifying an underlying reference for said financial instrument, said underlying reference having a value; attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; defining a contingency, said financial instrument becoming convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument on occurrence of said contingency; establishing a value for said financial instrument. 162. The system of claim 161, wherein said establishing a value for said financial instrument comprises establishing a value for said financial instrument based on at least one of: a. said contingency; b. said value of said underlying reference; c. volatility in trading value of said underlying reference; d. time until redemption, at option of issuer or holder; e. time until maturity; f. an interest rate; and g. value for which said financial instrument must be redeemed for on redemption date. 163. The system of claim 161, wherein said means for selling said financial instrument comprises means for auctioning said financial instrument. 164. The system of claim 161, wherein said means for selling said financial instrument comprises means for buying a derivative of said financial instrument. 165. The system of claim 161, wherein said means for selling said financial instrument comprises means for selling a part of said financial instrument. 166. The system of claim 161, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises identifying said underlying reference that said financial instrument converts into. 167. The system of claim 161, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises basing an exchange value of said financial instrument on said underlying reference. 168. The system of claim 161, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 169. A financial services system comprising means for buying a financial instrument created by: identifying an underlying reference for said financial instrument, said underlying reference having a value; attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; defining a contingency, said financial instrument becoming convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument on occurrence of said contingency; establishing a value for said financial instrument. 170. The system of claim 169, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises identifying said underlying reference that said financial instrument converts into. 171. The system of claim 169, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises basing an exchange value of said financial instrument on said underlying reference. 172. The system of claim 169, wherein said establishing a value for said financial instrument comprises establishing a value for said financial instrument based on at least one of: a. said contingency; b. said value of said underlying reference; c. volatility in trading value of said underlying reference; d. time until redemption, at option of issuer or holder; e. time until maturity; f. an interest rate; and g. value for which said financial instrument must be redeemed for on redemption date. 173. The system of claim 169, wherein said means for buying said financial instrument comprises means for bidding for said financial instrument. 174. The system of claim 169, wherein said means for buying said financial instrument comprises means for buying a derivative of said financial instrument. 175. The system of claim 169, wherein said means for buying said financial instrument comprises means for buying a part of said financial instrument. 176. The system of claim 169, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 177. A financial services system comprising means for monitoring for satisfaction of a contingency for a financial instrument created by: identifying an underlying reference for said financial instrument, said underlying reference having a value; attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; defining said contingency, said financial instrument becoming convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument on occurrence of said contingency. 178. The system of claim 177, wherein said means for monitoring for satisfaction comprises means for comparing market data to requirements of said contingency. 179. The system of claim 177, wherein said means for monitoring comprises means for monitoring at periodic intervals. 180. The system of claim 177, wherein said means for monitoring comprises means for monitoring at predetermined times. 181. The system of claim 177, wherein said means for monitoring comprises means for monitoring realtime data. 182. The system of claim 177, wherein said means for monitoring further comprises means for processing a conversion on satisfaction of said contingency. 183. The system of claim 177, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises identifying said underlying reference that said financial instrument converts into. 184. The system of claim 177, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises basing an exchange value of said financial instrument on said underlying reference. 185. The system of claim 177, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 186. A financial services system associated with a financial instrument, said system comprising: an underlying reference identifying unit that identifies an underlying reference; an attribution unit that attributes a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; a contingency defining unit that defines a contingency at which time said financial instrument becomes convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument. 187. The system of claim 186 further comprising: a pricing value unit that establishes a value for said financial instrument. 188. The system of claim 187 further comprising: a selling unit that sells said financial instrument. 189. The system of claim 188 further comprising: a monitoring unit that monitors for satisfaction of said contingency. 190. The system of claim 187 further comprising: a monitoring unit that monitors for satisfaction of said contingency. 191. The system of claim 186 further comprising: a selling unit that sells said financial instrument. 192. The system of claim 191 further comprising: a monitoring unit that monitors for satisfaction of said contingency. 193. The system of claim 186 further comprising: a monitoring unit that monitors for satisfaction of said contingency. 194. The system of claim 186 further comprising a printer that prints periodic reports. 195. The system of claim 186, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 196. A financial services system comprising a pricing value unit that establishes a value for a financial instrument created by: a underlying reference identifying unit that identifies an underlying reference unit; an attribution unit that attributes a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; a contingency defining unit that defines a contingency at which time said financial instrument becomes convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument. 197. The system of claim 196, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 198. A financial services system comprising a selling unit that sells a financial instrument created by: an underlying reference unit that identifies an underlying reference; an attribution unit that attributes a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; a contingency defining unit that defines a contingency at which time said financial instrument becomes convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument. 199. The system of claim 198, further comprising a printer that prints periodic reports. 200. The system of claim 198, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 201. A financial services system comprising a monitoring unit that monitors for satisfaction of a contingency for a financial instrument created by: an underlying reference identifying unit that identifies an underlying reference; an attribution unit that attributes a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; a contingency defining unit that defines said contingency at which time said financial instrument becomes convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument. 202. The system of claim 201, further comprising a printer that prints periodic reports. 203. The system of claim 201, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 204. A financial instrument derived in accordance with a method, said method comprising: identifying an underlying reference for said financial instrument, said underlying reference having a value; attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; defining a contingency, said financial instrument becoming convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument on occurrence of said contingency. 205. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 204, said method further comprising: establishing a value for said financial instrument. 206. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 205, said method further comprising: selling said financial instrument. 207. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 206, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises selling said financial instrument at a value based on at least one of: a. said contingency; b. said value of said underlying reference; c. volatility in trading value of said underlying reference; d. time until redemption, at option of issuer or holder; e. time until maturity; f. an interest rate; and g. value for which said financial instrument must be redeemed for on redemption date. 208. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 206, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises auctioning said financial instrument. 209. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 206, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises selling a derivative of said financial instrument. 210. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 206, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises selling a part of said financial instrument. 211. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 206, said method further comprising: monitoring for satisfaction of said contingency. 212. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 205, said method further comprising: monitoring for satisfaction of said contingency. 213. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 205, wherein said establishing a value for said financial instrument comprises basing said value for said financial instrument on at least one of: a. said contingency; b. said value of said underlying reference; c. volatility in trading value of said underlying reference; d. time until redemption, at option of issuer or holder; e. time until maturity; f. an interest rate; and g. value for which said financial instrument must be redeemed for on redemption date. 214. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 204, said method further comprising: selling said financial instrument. 215. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 214, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises selling said financial instrument at a value based on at least one of: a. said contingency; b. said value of said underlying reference; c. volatility in trading value of said underlying reference; d. time until redemption, at option of issuer or holder; e. time until maturity; f. an interest rate; and g. value for which said financial instrument must be redeemed for on redemption date. 216. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 214, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises auctioning said financial instrument. 217. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 214, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises selling a derivative of said financial instrument. 218. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 214, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises selling a part of said financial instrument. 219. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 214, said method further comprising: monitoring for satisfaction of said contingency. 220. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 204, said method further comprising: monitoring for satisfaction of said contingency. 221. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 220, wherein said monitoring for satisfaction comprises comparing market data to requirements of said contingency. 222. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 220, wherein said monitoring comprises monitoring at periodic intervals. 223. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 220, wherein said monitoring comprises monitoring at predetermined times. 224. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 220, wherein said monitoring comprises monitoring realtime data. 225. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 220, said method further comprising processing a conversion on satisfaction of said contingency. 226. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 204, wherein said defining a contingency comprises basing said contingency on an event related to said financial instrument. 227. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 226, wherein said basing said contingency on an event related to said financial instrument comprises setting said contingency as satisfied once an observed value of said financial instrument at least: a. exceeds a predetermined metric during a predetermined period of time, or b. is equal to a predetermined metric during a predetermined period of time, or c. is less than a predetermined metric during a predetermined period of time. 228. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 204, wherein said defining a contingency comprises setting said contingency as satisfied when the closing sale value of said underlying reference for at least a pre-determined number of trading days is greater than a pre-determined percentage of the conversion value. 229. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 204, wherein said defining a contingency comprises setting said contingency as satisfied when the closing sale value of said underlying reference for at least a pre-determined number of trading days is less than a pre-determined percentage of the conversion value. 230. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 204, wherein said defining a contingency comprises setting said contingency as satisfied when said financial instrument is called for redemption. 231. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 204, wherein said defining a contingency comprises setting said contingency as satisfied upon the occurrence of a corporate transaction. 232. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 231, wherein said setting said contingency as satisfied upon the occurrence of a corporate transaction comprises setting said contingency as satisfied upon the occurrence of a predetermined type of distribution to shareholders. 233. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 231, wherein said setting said contingency as satisfied upon the occurrence of a corporate transaction comprises setting said contingency as satisfied upon the occurrence of a merger. 234. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 231, wherein said setting said contingency as satisfied upon the occurrence of a corporate transaction comprises setting said contingency as satisfied upon the occurrence of a consolidation. 235. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 204, wherein said defining a contingency comprises setting said contingency as satisfied during any period in which the credit rating of the instrument is below a predetermined level. 236. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 231, wherein said defining a contingency comprises basing said contingency on an instrument other than said financial instrument. 237. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 236, wherein said basing said contingency on an instrument other than said financial instrument comprises setting said contingency as satisfied once an observed value of said instrument at least: a. exceeds a predetermined metric during a predetermined period of time, or b. is equal to a predetermined metric during a predetermined period of time, or c. is less than a predetermined metric during a predetermined period of time. 238. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 231, wherein said defining a contingency comprises establishing at least one of: a. a contingency with at least one trigger, and b. multiple contingencies each with at least one trigger. 239. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 238, wherein said establishing at least one trigger comprises setting said trigger at an amount equal to a multiple of a prevailing market rate for a financial instrument. 240. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 239, wherein said setting said trigger equal to a multiple comprises using a multiple equal to 1. 241. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 239, wherein said setting said trigger equal to a multiple comprises using a multiple less than 1. 242. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 239, wherein said setting said trigger equal to a multiple comprises using a multiple greater than 1. 243. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 238, wherein said establishing at least one trigger comprises setting said trigger equal to a multiple of a formula amount. 244. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 243, wherein said setting said trigger equal to a multiple comprises using a multiple equal to 1. 245. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 243, wherein said setting said trigger equal to a multiple comprises using a multiple less than 1. 246. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 243, wherein said setting said trigger equal to a multiple comprises using a multiple greater than 1. 247. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 231, wherein said attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument comprises attributing a variable number of underlying references to each unit of said financial instrument. 248. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 231, wherein said attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument comprises attributing a constant number of underlying references to each unit of said financial instrument. 249. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 231, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises identifying said underlying reference that said financial instrument converts into. 250. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 231, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises basing an exchange value of said financial instrument on said underlying reference. 251. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 231, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 252. A financial instrument derived in accordance with a method, said method comprising establishing a value for said financial instrument created by: identifying an underlying reference for said financial instrument, said underlying reference having a value; attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; defining a contingency, said financial instrument becoming convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument on occurrence of said contingency. 253. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 252, wherein said establishing a value for said financial instrument comprises basing said value for said financial instrument on at least one of: a. said contingency; b. said value of said underlying reference; c. volatility in trading value of said underlying reference; d. time until redemption, at option of issuer or holder; e. time until maturity; f. an interest rate; and g. value for which said financial instrument must be redeemed for on redemption date. 254. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 252, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 255. A financial instrument derived in accordance with a method, said method comprising selling said financial instrument created by: identifying an underlying reference for said financial instrument, said underlying reference having a value; attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; defining a contingency, said financial instrument becoming convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument on occurrence of said contingency. 256. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 255, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises selling said financial instrument at a value based on at least one of: a. said contingency; b. said value of said underlying reference; c. volatility in trading value of said underlying reference; d. time until redemption, at option of issuer or holder; e. time until maturity; f. an interest rate; and g. value for which said financial instrument must be redeemed for on redemption date. 257. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 255, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises auctioning said financial instrument. 258. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 255, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises selling a derivative of said financial instrument. 259. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 255, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises selling a part of said financial instrument. 260. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 255, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises identifying said underlying reference that said financial instrument converts into. 261. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 255, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises basing an exchange value of said financial instrument on said underlying reference. 262. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 255, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 263. A financial instrument derived in accordance with a method, said method comprising buying said financial instrument created by: identifying an underlying reference for said financial instrument, said underlying reference having a value; attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; defining a contingency, said financial instrument becoming convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument on occurrence of said contingency. 264. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 263, wherein said buying said financial instrument comprises buying said financial instrument at a value based on at least one of: a. said contingency; b. said value of said underlying reference; c. volatility in trading value of said underlying reference; d. time until redemption, at option of issuer or holder; e. time until maturity; f. an interest rate; and g. value for which said financial instrument must be redeemed for on redemption date. 265. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 263, wherein said buying said financial instrument comprises bidding for said financial instrument. 266. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 263, wherein said buying said financial instrument comprises buying a derivative of said financial instrument. 267. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 263, wherein said buying said financial instrument comprises buying a part of said financial instrument. 268. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 263, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises identifying said underlying reference that said financial instrument converts into. 269. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 263, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises basing an exchange value of said financial instrument on said underlying reference. 270. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 263, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 271. A financial instrument derived in accordance with a method, said method comprising selling said financial instrument created by: identifying an underlying reference for said financial instrument, said underlying reference having a value; attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; defining a contingency, said financial instrument becoming convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument on occurrence of said contingency; establishing a value for said financial instrument. 272. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 271, wherein said establishing a value for said financial instrument comprises establishing a value for said financial instrument based on at least one of: a. said contingency; b. said value of said underlying reference; c. volatility in trading value of said underlying reference; d. time until redemption, at option of issuer or holder; e. time until maturity; f. an interest rate; and g. value for which said financial instrument must be redeemed for on redemption date. 273. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 271, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises auctioning said financial instrument. 274. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 271, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises selling a derivative of said financial instrument. 275. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 271, wherein said selling said financial instrument comprises selling a part of said financial instrument. 276. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 271, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises identifying said underlying reference that said financial instrument converts into. 277. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 271, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises basing an exchange value of said financial instrument on said underlying reference. 278. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 271, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 279. A financial instrument derived in accordance with a method, said method comprising buying said financial instrument created by: identifying an underlying reference for said financial instrument, said underlying reference having a value; attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; defining a contingency, said financial instrument becoming convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument on occurrence of said contingency; establishing a value for said financial instrument. 280. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 279, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises identifying said underlying reference that said financial instrument converts into. 281. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 279, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises basing an exchange value of said financial instrument on said underlying reference. 282. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 279, wherein said establishing a value for said financial instrument comprises establishing a value for said financial instrument based on at least one of: a. said contingency; b. said value of said underlying reference; c. volatility in trading value of said underlying reference; d. time until redemption, at option of issuer or holder; e. time until maturity; f. an interest rate; and g. value for which said financial instrument must be redeemed for on redemption date. 283. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 279, wherein said buying said financial instrument comprises bidding for said financial instrument. 284. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 279, wherein said buying said financial instrument comprises buying a derivative of said financial instrument. 285. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 279, wherein said buying said financial instrument comprises buying a part of said financial instrument. 286. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 279, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 287. A financial instrument derived in accordance with a method, said method comprising monitoring for satisfaction of a contingency for a financial instrument created by: identifying an underlying reference for said financial instrument, said underlying reference having a value; attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; defining said contingency, said financial instrument becoming convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument on occurrence of said contingency. 288. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 287, wherein said monitoring for satisfaction comprises comparing market data to requirements of said contingency. 289. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 287, wherein said monitoring comprises monitoring at periodic intervals. 290. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 287, wherein said monitoring comprises monitoring at predetermined times. 291. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 287, wherein said monitoring comprises monitoring realtime data. 292. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 287, wherein said method comprising monitoring further comprises processing a conversion on satisfaction of said contingency. 293. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 287, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises identifying said underlying reference that said financial instrument converts into. 294. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 287, wherein said identifying an underlying reference comprises basing an exchange value of said financial instrument on said underlying reference. 295. The financial instrument derived in accordance with said method of claim 287, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument. 296. A machine-readable data storage medium encoded with a set of machine-executable instructions for using a data processing system to perform a financial services method associated with a financial instrument, said method comprising: identifying an underlying reference for said financial instrument, said underlying reference having a value; attributing a number of said underlying references to said financial instrument; defining a contingency, said financial instrument becoming convertible so that an interested party is given an option to convert said financial instrument on occurrence of said contingency. 297. The machine-readable data storage medium of claim 296, wherein said method further comprises: establishing a value for said financial instrument. 298. The machine-readable data storage medium of claim 297, wherein said method further comprises: selling said financial instrument. 299. The machine-readable data storage medium of claim 298, wherein said method further comprises: monitoring for satisfaction of said contingency. 300. The machine-readable data storage medium of claim 297, wherein said method further comprises: monitoring for satisfaction of said contingency. 301. The machine-readable data storage medium of claim 296, wherein said method further comprises: selling said financial instrument. 302. The machine-readable data storage medium of claim 296, wherein said method further comprises: monitoring for satisfaction of said contingency. 303. The machine-readable data storage medium of any one of claims 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301 and 302, said data storage medium being magnetic. 304. The magnetic machine-readable data storage medium of claim 303, said data storage medium being a floppy diskette. 305. The magnetic machine-readable data storage medium of claim 303, said data storage medium being a hard disk. 306. The machine-readable data storage medium of any one of claims 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301 and 302, said data storage medium being optically readable. 307. The optically readable storage medium of claim 306, said data storage medium being one of (a) a CD-ROM, (b) a CD-R, and (c) a CD-RW. 308. The optically readable data storage medium of claim 306, said data storage medium being a magneto-optical disk. 309. The machine-readable data storage medium of claim 306, wherein said interested party comprises a holder of said financial instrument.
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>This invention relates to convertible and exchangeable financial instruments (e.g., debt instruments, preferred instruments, trust preferred instruments, warrants, certain insurance contracts, and suitable derivatives thereof, or any security backed by any of the above) and methods and systems for offering and servicing the same. A convertible instrument, which may be converted into something of value (e.g., common stock), may be referenced throughout this application. The scope of this invention also includes exchangeable instruments which may be exchanged for something of value. As used herein and in the claims that follow, all references to a convertible instrument, or to conversion apply equally to an exchangeable instrument, or exchange, respectively. A common financial instrument, for example, is a convertible bond which can be converted by holders into a fixed or formula amount of shares. At issuance, the value of the bond is typically greater than the value of the fixed shares that the bond is convertible into. For example, a bond may be issued for $1,000 with a right to convert into ten shares of the issuer's common stock, at a time when the current market value per share is $83. ordinarily, under these terms, the stock must appreciate to at least $100 per share before it would be economically rational for the holder to exercise its right to convert the bond. A convertible bond of this kind is described as having a roughly 20 percent conversion premium, because the stock must appreciate about 20 percent (i.e. $17) before conversion would be economically advantageous. Because the conversion right provides an investor with a possible appreciation in value that the fixed rate debt of the issuer does not provide, the interest rate on convertible instruments may be lower than the interest rate on fixed rate instruments. Economically, the conversion right is an option to acquire issuer stock, and the lower rate of interest compensates the issuer for providing this option. Convertible instruments generally also provide that the issuer may optionally redeem the instrument prior to its stated maturity, subject to the holder's conversion rights. If at the time of the optional redemption the value of the stock has risen above the value of the debt, the holder generally will exercise its conversion right so that it receives the stock rather than the optional redemption amount. Issuing a convertible financial instrument often proves to have an unfavorable effect on a corporation's Earnings Per Share (“EPS”). It would be desirable to provide financial instruments, and methods and systems for offering and servicing such financial instruments, that provide issuers with a financing that is not initially disadvantageous in the calculations used to derive earnings per share.
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>It is an object of this invention to provide financial instruments, and methods and systems for offering and servicing such financial instruments, that are contingently convertible. In some embodiments, these convertible financial instruments may include zero coupon notes (e.g., long-term zero coupon notes (including Liquid Yield Option™ Notes (“LYONs™”)), cash pay or partial cash pay bonds, debt instruments, floating rate debt instruments, preferred instruments, trust preferred instruments, warrants, certain insurance contracts, suitable derivatives thereof, or any security backed by any of the above). Also, some embodiments may allow the number of underlying instruments issuable or deliverable at conversion or exchange to be variable or adjusted under certain circumstances (e.g., merger, acquisition, or formulae amounts).

Methods for genetic modification of hematopoietic progenitor cells and uses of the modified cells
Described are compositions and methods relating to gene therapy, particularly as applied to hematopoietic progenitor (HP) cells, to transduced cells and methods of obtaining them, and to methods of using them to provide prolonged engraftment of modified hematopoietic cells in human subjects. The invention particularly relates to ex vivo gene therapy of HP cells for treatment or prevention of HIV infection.
1. A composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and at least 1.63×106 CD34+ hematopoietic cells per kg of body weight of a human subject to whom the composition is to be administered, at least 0.52×106 of such CD34+ hematopoietic cells being transduced with a viral construct which expresses an anti-HIV agent. 2. The composition of claim 1, comprising at least 9.37×106 CD34+ hematopoietic cells per kg of body weight of a human subject, wherein at least 5×106 of such CD34+ hematopoietic cells are transduced. 3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the anti-HIV agent is an RNA. 4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the anti-HIV agent is an RNAi molecule. 5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the anti-HIV agent is an antisense molecule. 6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the anti-HIV agent is a ribozyme. 7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the anti-HIV agent is a ribozyme comprising nucleotides having the sequence 5′-UUA GGA UCC UGA UGA GUC CGU GAG GAC GAA ACU GGC UCC-3′. 8. The composition of claim 1, wherein the viral construct is a retroviral construct. 9. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is substantially free of cytokines. 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is substantially free of virus. 11. The composition of claim 1, wherein the transduced CD34′ cells are capable of engraftment, and of giving rise to progeny cells for at least 12 months, in the subject. 12. A composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and at least 1.63×106 CD34+ hematopoietic cells per kg of body weight of the subject to whom the composition is to be administered, at least 0.52×106 of such CD34+ hematopoietic cells being transduced with a viral construct which expresses an anti-HIV agent, wherein the composition is produced by a process comprising the steps of: (a) isolating CD34+ hematopoietic cells from the subject; (b) culturing the CD34+ hematopoietic cells with at least one cytokine; (c) transducing the CD34+ hematopoietic cells with the viral construct which expresses the anti-HIV agent in the presence of an agent which enhances colocalization of the cells and the viral construct; (d) washing the CD34+ hematopoietic cells, and (e) mixing the CD34+ hematopoietic cells with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, to thereby obtain the composition. 13. The composition of claim 12, wherein the culturing of step (b) is performed in the presence of at least two cytokines. 14. The composition of claim 12, wherein the culturing of step (b) is performed in the presence of two cytokines. 15. The composition of claim 12, wherein the transduction of the cells in step (c) is performed in the presence of a recombinant fibronectin fragment. 16. A composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and at least 1.63×106 CD34+ heinatopoietic cells per kg of body weight of the human subject to whom the composition is to be administered, at least 0.52×106 CD34+ of such CD34+ hematopoietic cells being transformed with a gene of interest not found in the CD34+ cells prior to transformation. 17. The composition of claim 16, comprising at least 9×106 CD34+ hematopoietic cells per kg of body weight of a human subject, wherein at least 5×106 CD34+ hematopoietic cells are transduced. 18. The composition of claim 16, wherein the gene of interest expresses an RNA agent. 19. The composition of claim 16, wherein the subject is an adult. 20. A composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and at least 1.63×106 CD34+ hematopoietic cells per kg of body weight of a human subject to whom the composition is to be administered, at least 0.52×106 CD34+ of such CD34+ hematopoietic cells being transformed with a gene of interest not found in the CD34− cells prior to transformation, wherein the composition is produced by a process comprising the steps of: (a) isolating CD34− hematopoietic cells from the subject; (b) culturing the CD34+ hematopoietic cells with at least one cytokine; (c) transforming the CD34+ hematopoietic cells with the a vector which encodes a gene of interest in the presence of an agent which enhances colocalization of the cells and the vector; (d) washing the CD34+ hematopoletic cells, and (e) mixing the CD34− hematopoietic cells with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, to thereby obtain the composition. 21. A method of inserting into hematopoietic cells of a human subject a gene of interest comprising: a) mobilizing CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells into the blood of the human subject; b) isolating leukocytes from the subject's blood by apheresis; c) isolating CD34+ hematopoietic cells from the isolated leukocytes by an immunoselective method; d) subjecting the CD34− hematopoietic cells of step c) to a transduction process with a gene of interest in the presence of an agent that colocalizes the cells with a transduction vector; e) determining the total number of CD34− hematopoietic cells after step d), and if the total number is at least 1.63×106 cells per kg of body weight of the human subject, then proceeding to step f), and if the total number of CD34− hematopoietic cells after step d) is less than 1.63×106 cells per kg of body weight of the human subject, then performing at least steps b)-d) and combining the CD34 hematopoietic cells; and f) delivering to the subject the CD34+ hematopoietic cells, thereby inserting into hematopoietic cells of the human subject a gene of interest. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the agent that colocalizes the cells with a transduction vector is a fragment of fibronectin. 23. The method of claim 21, wherein step f) is performed without myeloablation. 24. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of mobilizing hematopoietic progenitor cells in the subject is performed by administering to the subject an amount of a cytokine sufficient to mobilize the hematopoietic progenitor cells. 25. The method of claim 21, wherein in the step of isolating the leukocytes from the subject's blood, apheresis is performed at least twice. 26. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of subjecting the CD34+ hematopoietic cells to a transduction process with a gene of interest is performed in the presence of a recombinant fibronectin fragment. 27. The method of claim 21, further comprising a step of culturing the isolated CD34+ hematopoietic cells of step c) in the presence of at least two cytokines. 28. The method of claim 21, wherein the human subject is an adult human subject. 29. The method of claim 21, wherein the gene of interest encodes an anti-HIV agent. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the anti-HIV agent is an RNA. 31. The method of claim 29, wherein the anti-HIV agent is an antisense molecule. 32. The method of claim 29, wherein the anti-HIV agent is a ribozyme. 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the anti-HIV agent is a ribozyme comprising nucleotides having the sequence 5′-UUA GGA UCC UGA UGA GUC CGU GAG GAC GAA ACU GGC UCC-3′. 34. The method of claim 21, wherein in step e), if the total number of CD34− hematopoietic cells after step d) is less than 1.63×106 cells per kg of body weight of the human subject, then further including a step of cryogenically storing the CD34− hematopoietic cells from step d), repeating steps a)-d), and combining any cryogenically stored cells with the cells from step d). 35. A method of inserting into hematopoietic cells of a human subject a gene of interest comprising: a) mobilizing CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells into the blood of the subject; b) isolating leukocytes from the subject's blood by apheresis; c) isolating CD34+ hematopoietic cells from the isolated leukocytes by an immunoselective method; d) determining the total number of CD34+ hematopoietic cells after step c), and if the total number is at least 1.63×106 cells per kg of body weight of the human subject, then proceeding to step e), and if the total number of CD34+ hematopoietic cells after step c) is less than 1.63×106 cells per kg of body weight of the human subject, then performing steps b)-c) and combining the CD34+ hematopoietic cells; e) subjecting the CD34+ hematopoietic cells of step c) to a transduction process with a gene of interest in the presence of an agent that colocalizes the cells with a transduction vector; and f) delivering to the subject the CD34− hematopoietic cells, thereby inserting into hematopoietic cells of the human subject a gene of interest. 36. The method of claim 35, wherein the agent that colocalizes the cells with a transduction vector is a fragment of fibronectin. 37. A method of inserting into hematopoietic cells of a human subject a gene that expresses a ribozyme comprising nucleotides having the sequence 5′-UUA GGA UCC UGA UGA GUC CGU GAG GAC GAA ACU GGC UCC-3′ comprising: a) mobilizing CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells into the blood of the subject by administering to the subject an amount of a cytokine sufficient to mobilize the hematopoietic progenitor cells; b) isolating leukocytes from the subject's blood by apheresis, which is performed at least twice; c) isolating CD34 hematopoietic cells from the isolated leukocytes by an immunoselective method; d) culturing the isolated CD34− hematopoietic cells of step c) for about one day in a culture medium in the presence of a cytokine; e) subjecting the CD34+ hematopoietic cells of step d) to a transduction process with a retrovirus comprising a vector that gives rise in the cell to a ribozyme comprising nucleotides having the sequence 5′-UUA GGA UCC UGA UGA GUC CGU GAG GAC GAA ACU GGC UCC-3′ in the presence of a recombinant fibronectin fragment; f) determining the total number of CD34+ hematopoietic cells after step e), and if the total number is at least 1.63×106 cells per kg of body weight of the human subject, then proceeding to step g), and if the total number of CD34+ hematopoietic cells after step e) is less than 1.63×106 cells per kg of body weight of the human subject, then again performing steps b)-e) and combining the CD34+ hematopoietic cells; and g) delivering to the subject, without myeloablation, the CD34+ hematopoietic cells, thereby inserting into hematopoietic cells of the human subject a gene that expresses the ribozyme. 38. A method of preparing the composition of claim 1 comprising: a) mobilizing CD34+ hematopoietic cells into the blood of the subject; b) isolating leukocytes from the subject's blood by apheresis; c) isolating the CD34+ hematopoietic cells from the isolated leukocytes by an immunoselective method; d) subjecting the CD34+ hematopoietic cells of step c) to a transduction process with a gene of interest in the presence of an agent that colocalizes the cells with a transduction vector; and e) determining the total number of CD34 hematopoietic cells after step d), and if the total number of CD34− hematopoietic cells after step d) is less than 1.63×106 cells per kg of body weight of the human subject, then again performing steps b)-d) and combining the CD34+ hematopoietic cells. 39. A use of a composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and at least 1.63×106 CD34′ hematopoietic cells per kg of body weight of a human subject to whom the composition is to be administered, at least 0.52×106 CD34+ of such cells per kg being transduced with a viral construct which expresses an anti-HIV agent, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of the human subject infected with HIV. 40. A kit comprising elements for use in carrying out the method of claim 35. 41. A kit comprising a) an amount of an agent capable of mobilizing hematopoietic progenitor cells in a human subject; b) a culture medium including at least one cytokine acceptable for culturing CD34+ hematopoietic cells; c) a retroviral vector comprising nucleotides having a sequence that in a cell gives rise to a ribozyme having the sequence 5′-UUA GGA UCC UGA UGA GUC CGU GAG GAC GAA ACU GGC UCC-3′; and d) tissue culture vessels coated on their inside with a recombinant fibronectin fragment. 42. A package comprising the kit of claim 41, and instructions for the use of the kit.
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Gene therapy refers to the use of genetic sequences and their introduction into cells to alter the genetic makeup of the cells and thereby change the properties or functioning of those cells. Gene therapy may be used, for example, to correct a genetic defect by providing to the cells a good copy of a gene that functions as desired, or to provide a gene that encodes an RNA or protein that inhibits an undesired cellular or pathogen activity. Gene therapy may be aimed at any of a variety of diseases in which there is a genetic aspect. Of particular interest are diseases of the blood or immune systems since the hematopoietic cells are relatively easy to collect from a subject, allowing for ex vivo procedures to be used. These include hemoglobinopathies, defects of leukocyte production or function, immune deficiencies, lysosomal storage diseases and stem cell defects such as Fanconi's anemia, chronic granulomatous disease, Gaucher's disease, G6PD deficiency etc. Many of these disorders have been successfully treated by allogeneic bone marrow cell transplants (Parkman 1986). However, the requirement for immune suppression or the occurrence of immunologic effects such as graft rejection are a disadvantage of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Gene therapy of hematopoietic stem cells has been suggested as an alternative means of, treating disease affecting the hematopoietic system in humans. Despite early promise of success in gene therapy in humans, clinical success has been very difficult to achieve despite a massive effort in the last decade (Mountain, 2000). This is due at least in part to low efficiencies of gene transfer, an inability to modify enough cells, an inability to target appropriate cell types, and a lack of persistence of the desired effect in human subjects. Gene therapy of human hematopoietic stem (HS) cells has proven to be difficult to carry out in practice (Kohn et al 1998, Halene and Kohn 2000, Kume et al 1999). In most trials in humans, the level of gene-containing peripheral blood leukocytes has been low and these have been short-lived, suggesting a failure to transduce reconstituting HS cells (Bordignon et al 1995, Kohn 1995, Kohn et al 1998, Dunbar et al 1995, Hoogerbrugge et al 1996). This is related in part to the relatively few HS and hematopoietic progenitor (HP) cells in the body (Bertolini et al 1998, Reis 1999) and the requirement that the cells be activated when using some murine retroviral vectors for transduction. This is related to the low level of amphotropic receptors in quiescent human HS cells (Bodine et al 1998). Most human HS cells are quiescent, are relatively slow to respond to stimulation (Hao et al 1996, Gothot et al 1998) and when induced to divide, tend to lose long term repopulating capacity (Traycoff et al 1998). Almost all gene therapy attempts in humans using HS cells have up to now suffered from these two basic problems: insufficient numbers of HS cells that are totipotent and capable of long term engraftment have been transduced in order to have a therapeutic effect, and, secondly, the transduced cells have not persisted to provide modified hematopoietic cells long term. The most promising trial of gene therapy into human HP cells involved the transfer of a gene into children with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) which led to the reconstitution of an immune system with gene-containing T-lymphocytes (Cavazzana-Calvo et al 2000; Hacein-Bey-Abina et al 2002). That trial used CD34 + cells from bone marrow of pediatric patients (<12 months) and delivered more than 10 6 transduced cells per kg. The number of CD34 + cells (per kg weight) that can be isolated from children, particularly of low weight, is much higher than in adults. Thymopoiesis is also more active in children. Furthermore, this study is unusual in that thymopoiesis in the SCID-X1 context results only from CD34 + cells that contain the exogenous gene (Cavazzana-Calvo et al 2001). In some ways, this study is analogous to those where myeloablation is carried out in that the infused cells can fill the physiological space that is unoccupied in the SCID patient. Early studies with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation showed that HS cell engraftment was not sustained in patients that were not myeloablated, primarily because of the continued presence of the recipient HS cells (Parkman 1986). Therefore, conclusions drawn from prior engraftment studies using human HS cells in an ablative context cannot be simply transferred to the non-ablative system. Other reports of human clinical trials for gene therapy of hematopoietic progenitor cells are less positive. Kohn et al 1999 reported results of a clinical trial using bone-marrow derived CD34 + cells from pediatric patients (8-17 yrs) transduced with a gene encoding an RRE decoy (RNA molecule) against HIV. This trial failed to achieve significant transduction and engraftment of progenitor cells. In another trial, patients with breast or ovarian cancer were treated with HP cells after transduction with a marker gene, after myeloablation, but only transient presence of marked cells was observed (Bagnis et al 2002). A clinical trial including three patients with Gaucher disease showed presence of the gene-containing vector in peripheral blood and bone marrow up to 3 months post-infusion but at very low levels (Dunbar et al 1998). In another example, a trial with five patients suffering from Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD) was carried out whereby the p47phox gene was introduced into CD34 + cells from peripheral blood. Although corrected neutrophils were found in peripheral blood during the first few months after infusion, they were undetectable at 6 months post-infusion (Malech et al 1997). Further, a trial to correct Fanconi Anemia where the complementation group C gene was inserted into CD34 + cells resulted in only transient detection of the gene in the patients post-infusion (Liu et al 1999). The poor results in these trials may reflect the lack of a survival advantage of the corrected cells compared to the uncorrected cells, in contrast to the X-linked SCID case. Furthermore, in most of these examples, the manipulated cell populations were administered to patients with no or partial myeloablation, requiring that the transduced cells compete with the resident stem cells to engraft. Other factors may be operating as well. HS cells can be reduced in number in patients with HIV infection (Marandin et al 1996), making it more difficult to obtain sufficient numbers of such cells. Moreover, HS cells of HIV-infected individuals are compromised in their replication and clonogenic capacities and show an enhanced propensity to apoptosis (Vignoli et al 1998, Zauli et al 1996). Mobilization of peripheral blood HP cells using granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was demonstrated in HIV-infected individuals (Law et al 1999). Maximal mobilization was achieved after 4 days of G-CSF administration. The leukapheresis product contained approximately 3×10 6 CD34 + cells per kg. Law et al did not transduce the isolated CD34 + cells nor show that the isolated CD34 + cells were capable of engrafting a subject long term. They merely speculate that gene therapy of HP cells might provide a cure for HIV infection. They also comment that discussion of the number of stem cells required for gene therapy of AIDS is premature because of many uncertainties, including the engraftment potential of the genetically modified cells, the need for chemotherapy, the need for myeloablation or not, the requirement to establish a niche for the infused cells, and the unknown response of the microenvironment in the marrow of AIDS patients after infusion of cells. The minimum number of CD34 + cells from peripheral blood required for efficient restoration of the hematopoietic system, particularly platelet recovery, in the context of myeloablation has been suggested to be 2.0×10 6 cells per kg of weight of a subject (Zimmerman 1995). However, the number required for efficient engraftment when not performing myeloablation was unknown prior to this invention. It was unknown whether a “niche” had to be established for the infused cells, or the effect of competing, resident cells in the marrow. As mentioned above, this was particularly true in the context of HIV infection. Many studies have used model animal systems, particularly in mice, to improve the methods for transduction and increase engraftment. However, although murine HS cells can be efficiently transduced with retroviral vectors, efforts to translate findings from the murine system to applications for human HS cells have revealed major difficulties (Halene and Kohn 2000; Richter and Karlson 2001). A further difficulty for therapeutic application of gene therapy is in scaling up procedures to obtain sufficient transduced cell numbers (Schilz et al, 2000). Schilz et al measured transduction efficiency and engraftment in a mouse model, but it is unclear how the conclusions might apply to human subjects. Each of these factors is addressed by the present invention.
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>This invention provides a composition suitable for administration to a human subject comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and at least 1.63×10 6 CD34 + hematopoietic cells per kg of body weight of the human subject to whom the composition is to be administered, at least 0.52×10 6 of such CD34 + hematopoietic cells being transduced by a viral construct which expresses an anti-HIV agent. This invention also provides a method of inserting into hematopoietic cells of a human subject a gene of interest comprising: a) mobilizing CD34 + hematopoietic progenitor cells into the blood of the human subject; b) isolating leukocytes from the subject by apheresis; c) isolating CD34 + hematopoietic cells from the isolated leukocytes by an immunoselective method; d) subjecting the CD34 + hematopoietic cells of step c) to a transduction process with a gene of interest in the presence of an agent that colocalizes the cells with a transduction vector; e) determining the total number of CD34 + hematopoietic cells after step d), and if the total number is at least 1.63×10 6 cells per kg of body weight of the human subject, then proceeding to step f), and if the total number of CD34 + hematopoietic cells after step d) is less than 1.63×10 6 cells per kg of body weight of the human subject, then performing at least steps b)-d) and combining the CD34 + hematopoietic cells; and f) delivering to the subject the CD34 + hematopoietic cells, thereby inserting into hematopoietic cells of the human subject a gene of interest. This invention further provides a use of the composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and at least 1.63×10 6 CD34 + hematopoietic cells per kg of body weight of a human subject to whom the composition is to be administered, at least 0.52×10 6 CD34 + of such cells per kg being transduced with a viral construct which expresses an anti-HIV agent, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of the human subject infected with HIV. This invention yet further provides a kit comprising a) an amount of an agent capable of mobilizing hematopoietic progenitor cells in a human subject; b) a culture medium including at least one cytokine acceptable for culturing CD34 + hematopoietic cells; c) a retroviral vector comprising nucleotides having a sequence that in a cell gives rise to a ribozyme having the sequence 5′-UUA GGA UCC UGA UGA GUC CGU GAG GAC GAA ACU GGC UCC-3′ (Rz2); and d) tissue culture vessels coated on their inside with a recombinant fibronectin fragment. A package comprising the kit and instructions for its use is also provided by this ideation.

Modified-fat nutritional products useful preventing or treating obesity
The present invention provides dietary products for infant child and adult nutrition which possess adequate levels and ratios of medium chain fatty acids and ω-polyunsaturated fatty acids. Consumption of these dietary products can contribute to the prevention of obesity in developing individuals and can contribute to a reduction in body fat mass in individuals who are trying to loose weight or reduce body fat mass (e.g., obese individuals). A first preferred product is a dairy supplement or formulated dairy product for consumption by infants or children to prevent development of obesity. A second preferred product is a dietary suppplement for persons combating unwanted weight gain or obesity. Also featured are methods of formulating these dietary products.
1. A milkfat-derived MCT-rich component comprising an appropriate ratio of milkfat-derived MCFAs to milkfat-derived LCFAs and a sufficient amount of −3 PUFAs. 2. The MCT-rich component of claim 1, wherein the ratio of milkfat-derived MCFAs to milkfat-derived LCFAs is between 5:1 to 10:1. 3. The MCT-rich component of claim 1, wherein the ratio of milkfat-derived MCFAs to milkfat-derived LCFAs selected from the group consisting of 6:1, 7:1, 7.5:1, 8:1, and 9:1. 4. The MCT-rich component of claim 1, wherein the amount of −3 PUFA is between 1% and 5%. 5. The MCT-rich component of claim 1, wherein the amount of −3 PUFA is selected from the group consisting of 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%, 3.5%, 4%, and 4.5%. 6. A dairy product for human consumption comprising the milkfat-derived MCT-rich component of claim 1. 7. A milk for human consumption comprising the milk-fat-derived MCT-rich component of claim 1. 8. A dietary supplement comprising an appropriate ratio of MCFAs to LCFAs, a sufficient amount of −3 PUFAs and a protein source. 9. The supplement of claim 8, which does not comprise a carbohydrate source. 10. The supplement of claim 9, wherein the ratio of MCFAs to LCFAs is between 5:1 to 10:1. 11. The supplement of claim 9, wherein the ratio of MCFAs to LCFAs is selected from the group consisting of 6:1, 7:1, 7.5: 1, 8:1, and 9:1. 12. The supplement of claim 9, wherein the amount of −3 PUFA is between 1% and 5%. 13. The supplement of claim 9, wherein the amount of −3 PUFA is between selected from the group consisting of 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%, 3.5%, 4%, and 4.5%.
<SOH> BACKGROUND <EOH>Milk is the sole food for human and all mammals in the first part of life. Up to 50 years ago, milk was also considered an important part of the adult diet. In the 1950s, a new hypothesis that suggested that serum cholesterol and dietary fat were the risk factors for heart disease was proposed (Keys, 1953). This largely damaged the image of milk fat because of its cholesterol and fat content, led to decreased per capita consumption of milk, and promoted the production of fat-free/low fat milk products. Promoters of competing products have also exploited this situation such that a variety of non/low-fat drinks replaced milk even in the diet of young children. However, recent studies showed that consumption of milk fat has little effect on serum cholesterol (Blaxter, 1991). Many believe that milk fat consumption may result in increased body fat mass development. This may not be correct. In fact, coincident with the decrease in milk consumption, a large increase in adult and childhood obesity has been observed in the past several decades. Restriction of animal fat intake (milk) in children <6 y of age was found to cause early stunting but increased adult obesity (Uauy, 2000). Animal studies also showed that rats that drink whole milk gain less weight and store less liver triglycerides compared to rats that drink water (Krutchevsky, 1979). Similarly, milk consumption also lowered plasma triglycerides in young men (Rossouw, 1981) and rats (Schneeman, 1989). Milk fat contains a significant fraction of short to medium chain (4-10 carbons) fatty acids (Bitman, 1996) (Palmquist, 2001), which are not found in other foods except coconut or palm oil. Increased carbohydrate intake increases the percentage of medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) in milk triglycerides (Beusekom, 1990). These MCFA are not associated with the risk of CHD (Hu, 1999), and might have unique positive effects on health (Roediger, 1986). A recent study shows that compared to bovine milk, pigs fed caprine milk have similar growth performance but acquired 43% less fat mass (Murry, 1999). This was largely attributed to the higher concentration of MCFA in caprine milk (35%) (Murry, 1999) than bovine milk (17-29%) (Murry, 1999) (Bitman, 1996).
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention features dietary supplements and products aimed at preventing obesity, reducing fat mass, and/or reducing serum TGs (in particular, serum TGs associated with traditional MCT diets). In one embodiment, the invention features a milkfat-derived MCT-rich component that contains an appropriate ratio of milkfat-derived MCFAs to milkfat-derived LCFAs (e.g., between 5:1 to 10:1) and a sufficient amount of −3 PUFAs (e.g., between 1% and 5%). In another embodiment, the invention features a dairy product for human consumption comprising the milkfat-derived MCT-rich component of the present invention, preferably a milk for human consumption comprising the milkfat-derived MCT-rich component of the present invention. In yet another embodiment, the invention features a dietary supplement that includes an appropriate ratio of MCFAs to LCFAs, a sufficient amount of −3 PUFAs and a protein source (e.g., a soy protein source). In a preferred embodiment, the dietary supplement does not include a carbohydrate source.

Mildew-resistant sealing compound formulations containing a benzothiophene-2-cy-clohexylcarboxamide-s,s-dioxide
The invention relates to mildew-resistant sealing compounds, in particular with a base of silicone, urethane and/or an acrylic base, which contain a benzothiophene-2-cyclohexylcarboxamide-S,S-dioxide.
1. Sealing compounds containing benzothiophene-2-cyclohexylcarboxamide-S,S-dioxide. 2. Sealing compounds according to claim 1, wherein said sealing compounds are systems which are curable at room temperature. 3. Sealing compounds according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said sealing compounds are single-component systems. 4. Sealing compounds according to claims claims 1 or 2, wherein said sealing compounds are silicone, urethane, and/or acrylic sealing compounds. 5. A method of rendering sealing compounds mildew-resistant, which comprises adding benzothiophene-2-cyclohexylcarboxamide-S,S-dioxide to said sealing compounds in quantities of 0.25-3 weight-%. 6. Method for the protection of cured sealing compounds from mildew, which comprises curing or treating said sealing compounds with benzothiophene-2-cyclohexylcarboxamide-S,S-dioxide. 7. Articles, shaped articles, or coatings containing cured sealing compounds according to claims 1 or 2. 8. Articles, shaped articles, or coatings containing cured sealing compounds according to claim 3. 9. Articles, shaped articles, or coatings containing cured sealing compounds according to claim 4.



Data encryption/decryption method, and device
A method of enciphering data which is applicable to cipher-transmission of digital information data, in which the HD-SDI signal DHS is subjected to enciphering process using common key data DEY which is common to encipherment and decipherment to produce enciphered HD-SDI signal DHSE, the common key data DEY are subjected to enciphering process using open key data DOY to produce enciphered common key data DXY, and the enciphered HD-SDI signal DHSE accompanied with the enciphered common key data DXY are send to be transmitted, so that such a fear that the common key data DEY are eavesdropped on the transmission thereof can be effectively reduced.
1. A method of enciphering data comprising the steps of; subjecting digital information data to enciphering process using key data for producing enciphered information data, subjecting the key data to enciphering process using open key data for producing enciphered key data, and sending the enciphered information data and the enciphered key data. 2. A method of enciphering data according to claim 1, wherein the enciphered information data and the enciphered key data are send to be transmitted through a common data transmission line. 3. A method of enciphering data according to claim 1, wherein the enciphered key data are inserted into the enciphered information data to produce composite enciphered information data to be sent. 4. A method of enciphering data according to claim 1, wherein random number data varying in response to timer output data are produced to be used as said key data. 5. A method of enciphering data according to claim 1, wherein renewed common key data which is renewed in accordance with random number data varying in response to initial common key data and timer output data, are produced to be used as said key data. 6. A method of enciphering data according to claim 1, wherein a random number data sequence lacking reproducibility is constituted with a predetermined number of random number data generated on demand and the random number data contained in the random number data sequence are used as said key data. 7. A method of enciphering data according to claim 1, wherein a random number data sequence lacking reproducibility is constituted with a predetermined number of random number data generated on demand and renewed key data which is renewed in accordance with the random number data contained in the random number data sequence are produced based on initial key data to be used as said key data. 8. A method of enciphering data comprising the steps of; subjecting digital information data to scrambling process using M-sequence code which has its initial value determined in accordance with M-sequence code initial value data for producing enciphered information data, subjecting the M-sequence code initial value data to enciphering process using open key data for producing enciphered M-sequence code initial value data, and sending the enciphered information data and the enciphered M-sequence code initial value data. 9. A method of enciphering data according to claim 8, wherein the enciphered information data and the enciphered M-sequence code initial value data are send to be transmitted through a common data transmission line. 10. A method of enciphering data according to claim 8, wherein the enciphered M-sequence code initial value data are inserted into the enciphered information data to produce composite enciphered information data to be sent. 11. A method of deciphering data comprising the step of; receiving enciphered information data and enciphered key data, subjecting the enciphered key data to deciphering process using secret key data for reproducing original key data, and subjecting the enciphered information data to deciphering process using the reproduced original key data for reproducing original digital information data. 12. A method of deciphering data according to claim 11, wherein the enciphered information data and the enciphered key data are received in the form of composite enciphered information data in which the enciphered key data are inserted into the enciphered information data and the enciphered key data are extracted from the composite enciphered information data. 13. A method of deciphering data comprising the step of; receiving enciphered information data and enciphered M-sequence code initial value data, subjecting the enciphered M-sequence code initial value data to deciphering process using secret key data for reproducing original M-sequence code initial value data, and subjecting the enciphered information data to descrambling process using M-sequence code having its initial value determined in accordance with the reproduced original M-sequence code initial value data for reproducing original digital information data. 14. A method of deciphering data according to claim 13, wherein the enciphered information data and the enciphered M-sequence code initial value data are received in the form of composite enciphered information data in which the enciphered M-sequence code initial value data are inserted into the enciphered information data and the enciphered M-sequence code initial value data are extracted from the composite enciphered information data. 15. A method of enciphering and deciphering data comprising the steps of; subjecting digital information data to enciphering process using common key data for producing enciphered information data, subjecting the common key data to enciphering process using open key data for producing enciphered common key data, sending the enciphered information data and the enciphered common key data, receiving the enciphered information data and the enciphered common key data, subjecting the enciphered common key data to deciphering process using secret key data for reproducing the common key data, and subjecting the enciphered information data to deciphering process using the reproduced common key data for reproducing the digital information data. 16. A method of enciphering and deciphering data comprising the steps of; subjecting digital information data to scrambling process using M-sequence code having its initial value determined in accordance with M-sequence code initial value data, for producing enciphered information data, subjecting the M-sequence code initial value data to enciphering process using open key data for producing enciphered M-sequence code initial value data, sending the enciphered information data and the enciphered M-sequence code initial value data, receiving the enciphered information data and the enciphered M-sequence code initial value data, subjecting the enciphered M-sequence code initial value data to deciphering process using secret key data for reproducing the M-sequence code initial value data, and subjecting the enciphered information data to descrambling process using M-sequence code having its initial value determined in accordance with the reproduced M-sequence code initial value data for reproducing the digital information data. 17. An apparatus for enciphering data comprising; a key data generating portion for sending key data, a first enciphering processor for subjecting digital information data to first enciphering process using the key data obtained from the key data generating portion for producing enciphered information data, a second enciphering processor for subjecting the key data obtained from the key data generating portion to second enciphering process using open key data for producing enciphered key data, and a data sending portion for sending the enciphered information data and the enciphered key data. 18. An apparatus for enciphering data according to claim 17, wherein the data sending portion is operative to send the enciphered information data and the enciphered key data to be transmitted through a common data transmission line. 19. An apparatus for enciphering data according to claim 17, wherein the data sending portion comprises an enciphered key data inserting portion for inserting the enciphered key data into the enciphered information data for producing composite enciphered information data to be sent. 20. An apparatus for enciphering data according to claim 17, wherein the key data generating portion comprises a timer and a random number data generating portion for producing random number data varying in response to timer output data obtained from the timer, and the random number data obtained from the random number data generating portion are used as said key data. 21. An apparatus for enciphering data according to claim 17, wherein the key data generating portion comprises initial key data generating portion for sending predetermined initial key data, a timer, a random number data generating portion for producing random number data varying in response to timer output data obtained from the timer and a renewed key data generating portion for producing renewed key data which is renewed in accordance with the random number data based on the initial key data obtained from the initial key data generating portion, and the renewed key data obtained from the renewed key data generating portion are used as said key data. 22. An apparatus for enciphering data according to claim 17, wherein the key data generating portion comprises a random number data sequence generating portion for producing a random number data sequence lacking reproducibility and constituted with a predetermined number of random number data generated on demand and the random number data contained in the random number data sequence obtained from the random number data sequence generating portion are used as said key data. 23. An apparatus for enciphering data according to claim 17, wherein the key data generating portion comprises an initial key data generating portion for sending predetermined initial key data, a random number data sequence generating portion for producing a random number data sequence lacking reproducibility and constituted with a predetermined number of random number data generated on demand, and a renewed key data generating portion for producing renewed key data which is renewed in accordance with the random number data contained in the random number data sequence obtained from the random number data sequence generating portion based on the initial key data obtained from the initial key data generating portion, and the renewed key data obtained from the renewed key data generating portion are used as said key data. 24. An apparatus for enciphering data comprising; an M-sequence code initial value data generating portion for sending M-sequence code initial value data, a first enciphering processor for subjecting digital information data to scrambling process using M-sequence code having its initial value determined in accordance with the M-sequence code initial value data obtained from the M-sequence code initial value data generating portion for producing enciphered information data, a second enciphering processor for subjecting the M-sequence code initial value data obtained from the M-sequence code initial value data generating portion to enciphering process using open key data for producing enciphered M-sequence code initial value data, and a data sending portion for sending the enciphered information data and the enciphered M-sequence code initial value data. 25. An apparatus for enciphering data according to claim 24, wherein the data sending portion is operative to send the enciphered information data and the enciphered M-sequence code initial value data to be transmitted through a common data transmission line. 26. An apparatus for enciphering data according to claim 24, wherein the data sending portion comprises an enciphered M-sequence code initial value data inserting portion for inserting the enciphered M-sequence code initial value data into the enciphered information data for producing composite enciphered information data to be sent. 27. An apparatus for deciphering data comprises; a data receiving portion for receiving enciphered information data and enciphered key data, a secret key data generating portion for sending secret key data, a first deciphering processor for subjecting the enciphered key data to deciphering process using the secret key data obtained from the secret key data generating portion to reproduce original key data, and a second enciphering portion for subjecting the enciphered information data to deciphering process using the reproduced original key data to reproduce original digital information data. 28. An apparatus for deciphering data according to claim 27, wherein the data receiving portion is operative to receive the enciphered information data and the enciphered key data in the form of composite enciphered information data in which the enciphered key data are inserted into the enciphered information data and to extract the enciphered key data from the composite enciphered information data. 29. An apparatus for deciphering data comprises; a data receiving portion for receiving enciphered digital information data and enciphered M-sequence code initial value data, a secret key data generating portion for sending secret key data, a first deciphering processor for subjecting the enciphered M-sequence code initial value data to descrambling process using the secret key data obtained from the secret key data generating portion for reproducing original M-sequence code initial value data, and a second deciphering processor for subjecting the enciphered information data to deciphering process using M-sequence code having its initial value determined by the reproduced original M-sequence code initial value data for reproducing original digital information data. 30. An apparatus for deciphering data according to claim 29, wherein the data receiving portion is operative to receive the enciphered information data and the enciphered M-sequence code initial value data in the form of composite enciphered information data in which the enciphered M-sequence code initial value data are inserted into the enciphered information data and to extract the enciphered M-sequence code initial value data from the composite enciphered information data. 31. An apparatus for enciphering and deciphering data comprises; a common key data generating portion for sending common key data, a first enciphering processor for subjecting digital information data to first enciphering process using the common key data obtained from the common key data generating portion for producing enciphered information data, a second enciphering processor for subjecting the common key data obtained from the common key data generating portion to second enciphering process using open key data for producing enciphered common key data, a data sending portion for sending the enciphered information data and the enciphered common key data, a data receiving portion for receiving the enciphered information data and the enciphered common key data, a secret key data generating portion for sending secret key data, a first deciphering processor for subjecting the enciphered common key data to deciphering process using the secret key data obtained from the secret key data generating portion for reproducing the common key data, and a second enciphering portion for subjecting the enciphered information data to deciphering process using the reproduced common key data to reproduce the digital information data. 32. An apparatus for enciphering and deciphering data comprises; an M-sequence code initial value data generating portion for sending M-sequence code initial value data, a first enciphering processor for subjecting digital information data to scrambling process using M-sequence code having its initial value determined in accordance with the M-sequence code initial value data obtained from the M-sequence code initial value data generating portion for producing enciphered information data, a second enciphering processor for subjecting the M-sequence code initial value data obtained from the M-sequence code initial value data generating portion to enciphering process using open key data for producing enciphered M-sequence code initial value data, a data sending portion for sending the enciphered information data and the enciphered M-sequence code initial value data, a data receiving portion for receiving the enciphered information data and the enciphered M-sequence code initial value data, a secret key data generating portion for sending secret key data, a first deciphering processor for subjecting the enciphered M-sequence code initial value data to descrambling process using the secret key data obtained from the secret key data generating portion for reproducing the M-sequence code initial value data, and a second deciphering processor for subjecting the enciphered information data to deciphering process using M-sequence code having its initial value determined in accordance with the reproduced M-sequence code initial value data for reproducing the digital information data.
<SOH> TECHNICAL BACKGROUND <EOH>In the field of data transmission by which digital data representing various kinds of signal information are transmitted, there have been proposed to subject digital data which are to be transmitted to enciphering process at a transmission side and to reproduce original data by subjecting the enciphered digital data to deciphering process at a receiving side, in order to prevent the digital data from being eavesdropped on a data transmission line. Typical algorisms for enciphering digital data are the DES (Date Encryption Standard) published in 1977 by the National Bureau of Standards, the United State of America, and the RSA (Rivest, Shamir, Adleman) published in 1978 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. With cipher-transmission based on the DES, digital data are enciphered in accordance with the rules determined by enciphering key data prepared previously to produce enciphered digital data and the enciphered digital data are deciphered in accordance with the rules determined by deciphering key data prepared previously to reproduce original digital data. The deciphering key data are prepared to be the same as the enciphering key data so that each of the deciphering key data and the enciphering key data are formed with common data (common key data). Although the algorisms for enciphering and deciphering have been opened to the public, the common key data are kept in secret for the purpose of enciphering. With cipher-transmission based on the RSA, digital data are enciphered in accordance with the rules determined by enciphering key data to produce enciphered digital data and the enciphered digital data are deciphered in accordance with the rules determined by deciphering key data which has contents different from those of the opened enciphering key data to reproduce original digital data. Although the enciphering key data are not kept in secret to be open key data, the deciphering key data are kept in secret to be secret key data for the purpose of enciphering. FIG. 1 shows a basic structure of a cipher-transmission system according to the DES. In the basic structure shown in FIG. 1 , digital data to be transmitted are supplied to a DES enciphering portion 11 as original data. Common key data prepared previously are also supplied to the DES enciphering portion 11 . In the DES enciphering portion 11 , the original data are subjected to the DES enciphering process in accordance with the rules determined by the common key data to produce enciphered data. The enciphered data obtained from the DES enciphering portion 11 are transmitted through a data transmission line 12 having one end thereof connected with the DES enciphering portion 11 . The enciphered data having been transmitted through the data transmission line 12 are supplied to a DES deciphering portion 13 with which the other end of the data transmission line 12 is connected. The common key data which is the same as the common key data supplied to the DES enciphering portion 11 are also supplied to the DES deciphering portion 13 . In the DES deciphering portion 13 , the enciphered data are subjected to the DES deciphering process in accordance with the rules determined by the common key data to reproduce the original data. FIG. 2 shows a basic structure of a cipher-transmission system according to the RSA. In the basic structure shown in FIG. 2 , digital data to be transmitted are supplied to an RSA enciphering portion 14 as original data. Open key data prepared previously are also supplied to the RSA enciphering portion 14 . In the RSA enciphering portion 14 , the original data are subjected to the RSA enciphering process in accordance with the rules determined by the open key data to produce enciphered data. The enciphered data obtained from the RSA enciphering portion 14 are transmitted through a data transmission line 15 having one end thereof connected with the DES enciphering portion 11 . The enciphered data having been transmitted through the data transmission line 15 are supplied to an RSA deciphering portion 16 with which the other end of the data transmission line 15 is connected. Secret key data which have contents different from those of the open key data supplied to the RSA enciphering portion 14 are also supplied to the RSA deciphering portion 16 . In the RSA deciphering portion 16 , the enciphered data are subjected to the RSA deciphering process in accordance with the rules determined by the secret key data to reproduce the original data. In the case of the DES enciphering and deciphering, the quantity of operations for enciphering data and deciphering enciphered data is relatively small and therefore high speed proceeding can be performed. On the other hand, in the case of the RSA enciphering and deciphering, the quantity of operations for enciphering data and deciphering enciphered data is relatively large and therefore high speed proceeding can not be expected. In the field of video signals, digitalization of video signals has been aimed for actualizing diversification in information to be transmitted, improvements in quality of images reproduced from the video signal and so on. For example, there has been proposed the High Definition Television (HDTV) system which uses a digital video signal composed of digital word sequence data representing video signal information. The digital video signal under the HDTV system (hereinafter, referred to the HD signal) is formed in accordance with, for example, the BTA S-002 which is one of a series of standards established by the Broadcasting Technology Association (BTA) in Japan so as to be in the form of Y and P B /P R signals or G, B and R signals. In the case of the Y and P B /P R signals, Y represents a luminance signal and P B /P R represent color difference signals. In the case of the G, B and R signals, G, B and R represent green, blue and red primary color signals, respectively. The HD signal is a digital television signal by which each frame picture is formed with first and second field pictures each appearing at a rate of 60 Hz and which is constituted in accordance with an arrangements including a frame rate of 30 Hz, 1125 lines per frame, 2,200 data samples per line and a sampling frequency of 74.25 MHz. For example, the HD signal in the form of Y and P B /P R signals is constituted in accordance with such data formats as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B . The data formats shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B include a part of a portion corresponding to a line period (hereinafter, referred to a line period portion) of a luminance signal data sequence (hereinafter, referred to a Y data sequence) as shown in FIG. 3A , which represents a luminance signal component of a video signal, and a part of a line period portion of a color difference signal data sequence (hereinafter, referred a P B /P R data sequence) as shown in FIG. 3B , which represents color difference signal components of the video signal. Each of data words constituting the Y data sequence or the P B /P R data sequence is composed of 10 bits. This means that each of the Y data sequence and the P B /P R data sequence constitutes 10-bit word sequence data having a word transmission rate of, for example, 74.25 Mwps. In the Y data sequence shown in FIG. 3A , each line period portion of which is formed with a portion corresponding to a horizontal blanking period and a portion corresponding to a video data period appearing after the horizontal blanking period, time reference code data SAV (Start of Active Video) which are composed of four 10-bit words (3FF(Y), 000(Y), 000(Y), XYZ(Y): 3FF and 000 are hexadecimal numbers and (Y) indicates a word contained in the Y data sequence) are provided just before the portion corresponding to the video data period and another time reference code data EAV (End of Active Video) which are composed of four 10-bit words (3FF(Y), 000(Y), 000(Y), XYZ(Y)) are provided just after the portion corresponding to the video data period. Similarly, in the P B /P R data sequence shown in FIG. 3B , each line period portion of which is formed with a portion corresponding to a horizontal blanking period and a portion corresponding to a video data period appearing after the horizontal blanking period, time reference code data SAV which are composed of four 10-bit words (3FF(C), 000(C), 000(C), XYZ(C): (C) indicates a word contained in the P B /P R data sequence) are provided just before the portion corresponding to the video data period and another time reference code data EAV which are composed of four 10-bit words (3FF(C), 000(C), 000(C), XYZ(C)) are provided just after the portion corresponding to the video data period. The time reference code data EAV and SAV contained in the Y data sequence are provided in the portion corresponding to the horizontal blanking period of the Y data sequence and the time reference code data EAV and SAV contained in the P B /P R data sequence are provided in the portion corresponding to the horizontal blanking period of the P B /P R data sequence. Initial three 10-bit words (3FF, 000, 000) of four 10-bit words (3FF, 000, 000, XYA), each of which is shown with (Y) or (C), are used for establishing word synchronization or line synchronization and a last one 10-bit word (XYZ) of four 10-bit words (3FF, 000, 000, XYA), which is also shown with (Y) or (C), is used for discriminating the first field from the second field in each frame or for discriminating the time reference code data EAV from the time reference code data SAV. In the portion corresponding to the horizontal blanking period in each of the Y data sequence and the P B /P R data sequence, line number data LN 0 (Y) and LN 1 (Y) or LN 0 (C) and LN 1 (C) which represent the number of each of line period portions constituting a frame period portion, error detection code data YCR 0 and YCR 1 or CCR 0 and CCR 1 , and ancillary data YA 0 , YA 1 , . . . , YA 267 or CA 0 , CA 1 , . . . , CA 267 including audio data are provided between the time reference code data EAV and the time reference code data SAV. When the HD signal constituted with the Y data sequence and the P B /P R data sequence is subjected to transmission through a data transmission line, it is desired for the HD signal to be converted to serial data from word sequence data so as to be subjected to serial transmission through a simplified data transmission line. In connection with the serial transmission of the HD signal constituted with the Y data sequence and the P B /P R data sequence, it has been standardized to transmit the HD signal in conformity with the HD SDI (High Definition Serial Digital Interface) according to the BTA S-004 which is one of a series of standards established by the BTA in Japan. In the transmission of the HD signal in conformity with the HD SDI, the Y data sequence and the P B /P R data sequence are multiplexed, with their portions corresponding to the horizontal blanking periods in each of which the time reference code data EAV and SAV are provided and which synchronize with each other, to produce a multiple word sequence data as shown in FIG. 4 and then the multiple word sequence data are converted into serial data to be transmitted. Each of data words constituting the multiple word sequence data shown in FIG. 4 is composed of 10 bits and the word transmission rate of the multiple word sequence shown in FIG. 4 is set to be 74.25 Mwps×2=148.5 Mwps. In the multiple word sequence data thus obtained as shown in FIG. 4 , multiple time reference code data (multiple SAV) which are composed of eight 10-bit words (3FF(C), 3FF(Y), 000(C), 000(Y), 000(C), 000(Y), XYZ(C), XYZ(Y)) are provided just before the portion corresponding to a video data period and another multiple time reference code data EAV (multiple EAV) which are composed of eight 10-bit words (3FF(C), 3FF(Y), 000(C), 000(Y), 000(C), 000(Y), XYZ(C), XYZ(Y)) are provided just after the portion corresponding to the video data period. The each of the 10-bit words constituting the multiple word sequence data is sent bit by bit from its least significant bit (LSB) to its most significant bit (MSB) so that the multiple word sequence data are converted into a serial data. Then, the serial data is subjected to scrambling process to produce a serial transmission HD signal (hereinafter, referred to an HD-SDI signal) and the HD-SDI signal is transmitted through a data transmission line. The HD-SDI signal thus transmitted has a bit transmission rate of, for example, 148.5 Mwps×10=1.485 Gbps. In the case of the transmission of the HD-SDI signal through the data transmission line, it is also desired to subject the HD-SDI signal to enciphering process at a transmission side and to reproduce original HD-SDI signal by subjecting the enciphered HD-SDI signal to deciphering process at a receiving side, in order to prevent the HD-SDI signal from being eavesdropped on the data transmission line. It may be said that the DES enciphering and the EDS deciphering are suitable for the cipher-transmission of the HD-SDI signal because high speed proceeding is desired for enciphering the HD-SDI signal and deciphering the enciphered HD-SDI signal. When the DES enciphering and the EDS deciphering are applied for the cipher-transmission of the HD-SDI signal, a cipher-transmission system which is similar to the cipher-transmission system according to the DES having the basic structure shown in FIG. 1 can be theoretically used. For example, when an HD signal is converted into an HD-SDI signal in accordance with the HD SDI to be transmitted through a data transmission line and the transmitted HD-SDI signal is reconverted into the HD signal in accordance with the HD SDI to be supplied to, for example, a video projector which operates to display images based on the HD signal, it is considered to have such a cipher-transmission system as shown in FIG. 5 for conducting the cipher-transmission of the HD-SDI signal. In the cipher-transmission system shown in FIG. 5 , an HD-SDI signal DHS sent from an HD-SDI signal generating portion 20 , in which an HD signal obtained from a video camera or the like is converted into the HD-SDI signal DHS in accordance with the HD SDI, is supplied to a DES enciphering portion 21 for HD-SDI signal. Common key data DEY prepared previously are also supplied to the DES enciphering portion 21 for HD-SDI signal. In the DES enciphering portion 21 for HD-SDI signal, the HD-SDI signal DHS is first subjected to serial to parallel (S/P) conversion to reproduce the original HD signal constituted with Y and P B /P R data sequences and the reproduced HD signal is subjected to the DES enciphering process in accordance with the rules determined by the common key data DEY to produce an enciphered HD signal. Then, in the DES enciphering portion 21 for HD-SDI signal, the enciphered HD signal is subjected to parallel to serial (P/S) conversion to produce an enciphered HD-SDI signal DHSE. When the enciphered HD signal is produced by subjecting the HD signal to the DES enciphering process, for example, video data DVV which are provided in a portion corresponding to a video data period and time reference code date EAV which are provided in a starting end of a portion corresponding to a horizontal blanking period successive to the portion corresponding to the video data period in a portion corresponding to a line period of an HD signal constituted with Y and P B /P R data sequences shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B , as shown in FIG. 6 , are subjected to the DES enciphering process to produce an enciphered video data. On the other hand, various data provided in the portion corresponding to the horizontal blanking period except the time reference code date EAV, that is, line number data DLN representing a line number varying line by line, error detection code data CRCC, ancillary data DAA including audio data, and time reference code data SAV, are not subjected to the DES enciphering process but combined with the enciphered video data. As a result, the enciphered HD signal which contains the various data provided in the portion corresponding to the horizontal blanking period except the time reference code date EAV and the enciphered video data successive to the portion corresponding to the horizontal blanking period is obtained. The enciphered HD-SDI signal DHSE is sent from the DES enciphering portion 21 for HD-SDI signal to be transmitted through a data transmission line 22 having one end thereof connected with the DES enciphering portion 21 for HD-SDI signal. The enciphered HD-SDI signal DHSE having been transmitted through the data transmission line 22 is supplied to a DES deciphering portion 23 for HD-SDI signal, with which the other end of the data transmission line 22 is connected. The common key data DEY which is the same as those supplied to the DES enciphering portion 21 are also supplied to the DES deciphering portion 23 . In the DES deciphering portion 23 , the enciphered HD-SDI signal DHSE is subjected to the S/P conversion to reproduce the enciphered HD signal constituted with the enciphered Y and P B /P R data sequences each containing the enciphered video data and the enciphered HD signal is subjected to the DES deciphering process in accordance with the rules determine ed by the common key data DEY to reproduce the original HD signal constituted with the Y and P B /P R data sequences. When the HD signal constituted with the Y and P B /P R data sequences is reproduced by subjecting the enciphered HD signal to the DES deciphering process, the enciphered video data in the portion corresponding to the horizontal blanking period of the enciphered HD signal are subjected to the DES deciphering process to reproduce the original video data and time reference code data EAV. On the other hand, the various data provided in the portion corresponding to the horizontal blanking period except the time reference code date EAV, that is, the line number data DLN representing the line number varying line by line, the error detection code data CRCC, the ancillary data DAA including the audio data, and the time reference code data SAV, are not subjected to the DES deciphering process but extracted as they are to be combined with the reproduced video data and time reference code data EAV. As a result, the original HD signal as shown in FIG. 6 is obtained. Then, in the DES deciphering portion 23 for HD-SDI signal, the Y and P B /P R data sequences constituting the reproduced HD signal are multiplexed with each other in accordance with the HD SDI to produce a word multiple data sequence and the word multiple data sequence thus obtained are subjected to the P/S conversion to reproduce the HD-SDI signal DHS. The HD-SDI signal DHS obtained from the DES deciphering portion 23 for HD-SDI signal is supplied to a video projector 24 . In the video projector 24 , the HD signal is reproduced from the HD-SDI signal DHS and used for display of images. In such a manner as described above, when the DES enciphering and the DES deciphering are applied for the cipher-transmission of the HD-SDI signal, it is required that the common key data DEY are supplied to both of the DES enciphering portion 21 for HD-SDI signal and the DES deciphering portion 23 for HD-SDI. Therefore, it is necessary to transmit the common key data DEY supplied to the DES enciphering portion 21 for HD-SDI signal through some means toward the DES deciphering portion 23 for HD-SDI to be supplied thereto. Accordingly, it is considered to transmit the common key data DEY, together with the enciphered HD-SDI signal DHSE obtained from the DES enciphering portion 21 for HD-SDI, from the side of the DES enciphering portion 21 for HD-SDI to the side of DES deciphering portion 23 for HD-SDI through the data transmission line 22 . FIG. 7 shows a cipher-transmission system for transmitting the common key data DEY, together with the enciphered HD-SDI signal DHSE obtained from the DES enciphering portion 21 for HD-SDI, from the side of the DES enciphering portion 21 for HD-SDI to the side of DES deciphering portion 23 for HD-SDI through the data transmission line 22 . In the cipher-transmission system shown in FIG. 7 , a key data inserting portion 25 is provided at the output end of the DES enciphering portion 21 for HD-SDI signal in which the HD-SDI signal DHS sent from the HD-SDI signal generating portion 20 is subjected to the DES enciphering process in accordance with the rules determined by the common key data DEY to produce the enciphered HD-SDI signal DHSE, and a key data extracting portion 26 is provided at the input end of a DES deciphering portion 23 for HD-SDI signal. In the key data inserting portion 25 to which the enciphered HD-SDI signal DHSE obtained from the DES enciphering portion 21 for HD-SDI signal and the common key data DEY are supplied, the common key data DEY are inserted into the enciphered HD-SDI signal DHSE so that the enciphered HD-SDI signal DHSE and the common key data DEY are transmitted through the data transmission line 22 to the DES deciphering portion 23 for HD-SDI signal. In the key data extracting portion 26 , the common key data DEY are extracted from the enciphered HD-SDI signal DHSE and the common key data DEY. The enciphered HD-SDI signal DHSE having passed through the key data extracting portion 26 and the common key data DEY obtained from the key data extracting portion 26 are supplied to the DES deciphering portion 23 for HD-SDI signal. In the DES deciphering portion 23 for HD-SDI signal, the enciphered HD-SDI signal DHSE is subjected to the DES deciphering process in accordance with the rules determined by the common key data DEY to reproduce the HD-SDI signal DHS to be supplied to the video projector 24 . However, in the case wherein the common key data DEY are transmitted from the side of the DES enciphering portion 21 for HD-SDI to the side of DES deciphering portion 23 for HD-SDI through the data transmission line 22 as mentioned above, it is much feared that the common key data DEY are eavesdropped on the data transmission line 22 by a mala fide holder and the enciphered HD-SDI signal DHSE sent from the DES enciphering portion 21 for HD-SDI signal is undesirably deciphered with the eavesdropped common key data DEY. This problem brings about serious obstacle to the cipher-transmission of the HD-SDI signal for which the DES enciphering and the DES deciphering are applied. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of enciphering data which is applicable to cipher-transmission of digital information data such as an HD-SDI signal, in which the digital information data are subjected to enciphering process using common key data or data corresponding to the common key data to produce enciphered digital information data to be transmitted in an enciphering portion, the enciphered digital information data are subjected to deciphering process using the common key data or the data corresponding to the common key data to reproducing the original digital information data in a deciphering portion, and the common key data or the data corresponding to the common key data are transmitted from the side of the enciphering portion to the side of the deciphering portion, and by which such a fear that the common key data or the data corresponding to the common key data are eavesdropped on the transmission thereof and the enciphered digital information data are undesirably deciphered with the eavesdropped common key data can be effectively reduced. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for enciphering data in which the method of enciphering data mentioned above is carried out. A further object of the present invention is to provide a method of deciphering data which is applicable to cipher-transmission of digital information data such as an HD-SDI signal, in which the digital information data are subjected to enciphering process using common key data or data corresponding to the common key data to produce enciphered digital information data to be transmitted in an enciphering portion, the enciphered digital information data are subjected to deciphering process using the common key data or the data corresponding to the common key data to reproducing the digital information data in a deciphering portion, and the common key data or the data corresponding to the common key data are transmitted from the side of the enciphering portion to the side of the deciphering portion, and by which the original digital information data can be surely reproduced based on the enciphered digital information data. A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for deciphering data in which the method of deciphering data mentioned above is carried out. A further object of the present invention is to provide a method of enciphering and deciphering data corresponding to a combination of the above-mentioned method of enciphering data with the above-mentioned method of deciphering data. A still further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for enciphering and deciphering data in which the method of enciphering and deciphering data mentioned above is carried out.
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a basic structure of a cipher-transmission system according to the DES; FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a basic structure of a cipher-transmission system according to the RSA; FIGS. 3A and 3B are illustrations used for explaining an example of data format of an HD signal; FIG. 4 is an illustration used for explaining another example of data format of an HD signal; FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of a cipher-transmission system applicable to the cipher-transmission of an HD-SDI signal; FIG. 6 is an illustration showing an example of data format of an HD signal; FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram showing another example of the cipher-transmission system applicable to the cipher-transmission of an HD-SDI signal; FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of apparatus for enciphering and deciphering data according to the invention claimed in claim 31 of the present application, in which an embodiment of method of enciphering and deciphering data according to the invention claimed in claim 15 of the present application is carried out, and which includes an embodiment of apparatus for enciphering data according to the invention claimed in each of claims 17 to 19 of the present application, in which an embodiment of method of enciphering data according to the invention claimed in each of claims 1 to 3 of the present application is carried out, and an embodiment of apparatus for deciphering data according to the invention claimed in claim 27 or 28 of the present application, in which an embodiment of method of deciphering data according to the invention claimed in claim 11 or 12 of the present application is carried out; FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram showing a first embodied structure of a common key data generating portion in the embodiment of apparatus for enciphering data shown in FIG. 8 ; FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram showing a second embodied structure of the common key data generating portion in the embodiment of apparatus for enciphering data shown in FIG. 8 ; FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram showing a third embodied structure of the common key data generating portion in the embodiment of apparatus for enciphering data shown in FIG. 8 ; FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram showing a fourth embodied structure of the common key data generating portion in the embodiment of apparatus for enciphering data shown in FIG. 8 ; and FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of apparatus for enciphering and deciphering data according to the invention claimed in claim 32 of the present application, in which an embodiment of method of enciphering and deciphering data according to the invention claimed in claim 16 of the present application is carried out, and which includes an embodiment of apparatus for enciphering data according to the invention claimed in each of claims 24 to 26 of the present application, in which an embodiment of method of enciphering data according to the invention claimed in each of claims 8 to 10 of the present application is carried out, and an embodiment of apparatus for deciphering data according to the invention claimed in claim 29 or 30 of the present application, in which an embodiment of method of deciphering data according to the invention claimed in claim 13 or 14 of the present application is carried out; detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

Biaxially drawn adhesive tapes and method for producing the same
A method of producing a film adhesive tape, characterized in that a composite comprising at least one extruded backing film layer and a pressure sensitive adhesive layer on one side of the backing film layer is biaxially drawn.
1. A method of producing a film adhesive tape, said method comprising biaxially drawing a composite comprising at least one extruded backing film layer and a pressure sensitive adhesive layer adhered directly or indirectly on one side of the backing film layer. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the composite comprises a primer layer between the backing film layer and the pressure sensitive adhesive layer there is a primer layer. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the composite comprises a release layer on a side of the backing film layer opposite the side of the backing film layer to which said pressure sensitive adhesive layer adhered. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the film backing layer of the adhesive tape is heat-set. 5. The method of claim 1, which further comprises heat-setting the composite after drawing. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is applied to the backing film layer by melt coating. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is applied to the backing film layer by coextrusion. 8. The method claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is applied by lamination to the backing film layer or to the primer layer prior to drawing. 9. The method of at claim 1, which further comprises producing all layers of the composite by a solvent-free procedure from a melt. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is crosslinked chemically or by means of high-energy radiation. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the drawing is carried out on a unit with linear motor technology. 12. The method of at claim 1, which further comprises supplying the composite after drawing in an in-line operation to a roll winder or to a slitting machine. 13. The method of claim 1, which further comprises supplying the composite overall draw ratio of at least 1:40. 14. The method of claim 1, which exhibits a the ratio of a draw ratio in a machine direction to a draw ratio in transverse a direction is above 0.9. 15. The method of claim 1, which further comprises winding the adhesive tape onto paperboard cores with an elastic foam lining. 16. A biaxially drawn film adhesive tape obtainable according to the method of claim 1, said biaxially drawin film adhesive tape being composed of a composite comprising at least one extruded backing film layer and a pressure sensitive adhesive layer adhered directly or indirectly on one side of the backing film layer. 17. The film adhesive tape of claim 16, wherein the film backing layer comprises at least one nucleating agent. 18. The film adhesive tape of claim 16, wherein the film backing layer is composed predominantly of isotactic polypropylene. 19. The film adhesive tape of claim 16, wherein the film backing layer comprises polypropylene having a melt index of from 1 to 10 g/10 min. 20. The film adhesive tape of claim 16, wherein the backing layer is stretched such that the stress at 10% elongation in machine direction is at least 50 N/mm2. 21. The film adhesive tape of claim 16, wherein the backing layer is stretched such that the tensile strength in a machine direction is at least 160 N/mm2. 22. The film adhesive tape of claim 16, wherein the film backing layer is composed predominantly of polyethylene terephthalate. 23. The film adhesive tape claim 16, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive layer comprises natural rubber. 24. The film adhesive tape of claim 16, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive layer comprises at least one styrene-isoprene block copolymer. 25. The film adhesive tape of claim 16, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive layer comprises at least one resin. 26. The film adhesive tape of claim 16, which exhibits a bond strength on steel of at least 1.3 N/cm. 27. The film adhesive tape of claim 16, which has a thickness of at least 35 mm. 28. The film adhesive tape claim 16, wherein the backing layer is stretched such that the stress at 10% elongation in machine direction is at least 70 N/mm2. 29. The film adhesive tape claim 28, wherein the backing layer is stretched such that the stress at 10% elongation in machine direction is at least 100 N/mm2. 30. The film adhesive tape of claim 21, wherein the backing layer is stretched such that the tensile strength in a machine direction is at least 190 N/mm2. 31. The film adhesive tape of claim 30, wherein the backing layer is stretched such that the tensile strength in a machine direction is at least 220 N/mm2. 32. The film adhesive tape of claim 16, which exhibits a bond strength on steel of at least 1.6 N/cm. 33. The film adhesive tape of claim 27, which has a thickness of between 35 mm and 65 mm. 34. A film adhesive tape comprising a biaxially drawn composite, wherein the composite comprises at least one extruded backing film layer and a pressure sensitive adhesive layer adhered directly or indirectly on one side of the backing layer. 35. A method of producing an adhesive bond comprising adhering a film adhesive tape according to claim 16 to a substrate. 36. A method of producing an adhesive bond comprising adhering a film adhesive tape according to claim 34 to a substrate.



Lift-flap mechanism
Lift flap mechanism for adjusting a lift flap assigned to an airplane wing by means of a driving system, the lift flap mechanism comprising a main connection mechanism and a secondary connection mechanism in the form of a guide lever disposed in an articulated manner on the lift flap and the flap track, the main connection mechanism having a steering lever arrangement with at least one steering lever which has a first steering lever joint and a second steering lever joint, the at least one steering lever by way of a pendulum coupled to the first steering lever joint being connected with the flap track, and the second steering lever joint being guided such that, by means of a defined angular position of the at least one steering lever, the positions of the main connection joint and of the secondary connection joint are unambiguously determined.
1. Lift flap mechanism for adjusting a lift flap assigned to an airplane wing by means of a driving system, the lift flap mechanism being disposed on at least one of several flap tracks fastened to the airplane wing, the lift flap mechanism, for carrying the load and for the kinematic guidance of the lift flap, comprising a main connection mechanism and a secondary connection mechanism in the form of a guide lever disposed in an articulated manner on the lift flap and the flap track, which secondary connection mechanism, viewed in the flow directions, is arranged at a distance from the main connection mechanisms, wherein the main connection mechanism has a steering lever arrangement with at least one steering lever which has a first steering lever joint and a second steering lever joint, the at least one steering lever by way of a pendulum coupled to the first steering lever joint being connected with the flap track, and the second steering lever joint being guided such that, by means of a defined angular position of the at least one steering lever, the positions of the main connection joint and of the secondary connection joint are unambiguously determined. 2. Lift flap mechanism for adjusting a lift flap assigned to an airplane wing, according to claim 1, wherein, for guiding the second steering lever joint, a strut is linked to the latter, which strut is disposed in an articulated manner on the flap track. 3. Lift flap mechanism for adjusting a lift flap assigned to an air plane wing, according to claim 2, wherein the second steering lever joint is arranged on the end of the steering lever arrangement situated opposite the main connection joint. 4. Lift flap mechanism for adjusting a lift flap assigned to an air plane wing, according to claim 2, wherein the second steering lever joint is arranged in the first steering lever joint. 5. Lift flap mechanism for adjusting a lift flap assigned to an air plane wing, according to claim 1, wherein the second steering lever joint is guided by means of a shaft in a guideway which is arranged on the flap track. 6. Lift flap mechanism for adjusting a lift flap assigned to an air plane wing, according to claim 1, wherein, for guiding the second steering lever joint, a connection strut is linked to the latter, which connection strut is disposed in an articulated manner on the guide lever. 7. Lift flap mechanism for adjusting a lift flap assigned to an air plane wing, according to claim 1, wherein, for guiding the pendulum, a connection strut is linked to the latter, which connection strut is disposed in an articulated manner on the guide lever. 8. Lift flap mechanism for adjusting a lift flap assigned to an air plane wing, according to claim 1, wherein the steering lever arrangement has at least two steering levers, each of which being situated in each case on opposite sides of the flap track. 9. Lift flap mechanism for adjusting a lift flap assigned to an air plane wing, according to claim 8, wherein the at least two steering levers in the area of the main connection joint by way of a guiding arrangement are supported by means of a steering-rod-side guiding device and a track-side guiding device on the flap track. 10. Lift flap mechanism for adjusting a lift flap assigned to an air plane wing, according to claim 8, wherein the at least two steering levers in the area of the main connection joint are mutually connected by way of a bowl. 11. Lift flap mechanism for adjusting a lift flap assigned to an air plane wing, according to one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the pendulum is arranged on the first steering lever joint between two steering levers. 12. Lift flap mechanism for adjusting a lift flap assigned to an air plane wing, according to claim 1, wherein the main connection joint is constructed as a spherical bearing. 13. Arrangement of at least two flap tracks of an airplane wing, wherein a lift flap mechanism according to claim 1 is arranged on at least one flap track. 14. Lift flap mechanism for adjusting a lift flap assigned to an airplane wing, according to claim 9, wherein the pendulum is arranged on the first steering lever joint between two steering levers. 15. Lift flap mechanism for adjusting a lift flap assigned to an airplane wing, according to claim 9, wherein the at least two steering levers in the area of the main connection joint are mutually connected by way of a bow. 16. An airplane wing assembly comprising: an airplane wing member, a lift flap member, driving means connected to the wing member and flap member and operable to drive flap member between retracted and extended positions with respect to the wing member, and a flap member adjusting mechanism for supporting and guiding the flap member with respect to the wing member during movement of the flap member between the retracted and extended positions, said flap member adjusting mechanism including a secondary connection mechanism and a main connection mechanism spaced from the secondary connection mechanism, wherein the secondary connection mechanism includes a guide lever pivotally connected to the flap member at a secondary connection joint and pivotally connected to the winger member, and wherein the main connection mechanism includes main connection lever means pivotally connected to the lift flap member at a main connection joint spaced from the secondary connection joint, said main connection lever means including means operable to unambiguously determine relative positions of the main connection joint and the secondary connection joint with respect to the wing member during adjusting movements of the flap member.

<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the area of an airplane wing which, viewed in the flow direction, is in the rear and has a lift flap and an embodiment of the lift flap mechanism according to the invention with a first embodiment of a steering lever arrangement, the lift flap being in a retracted position; FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rear area of the airplane wing according to FIG. 1 , the lift flap being in a central or partially extended position; FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rear area of the airplane wing according to FIG. 1 , the lift flap being in a completely extended position; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along Line 4 - 4 of FIG. 2 ; FIG. 5 is a perspective representation of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 ; FIG. 5 a is a perspective representation of the flap mechanism of the invention according to FIG. 5 ; FIG. 5 b is a perspective representation of the embodiment of the flap mechanism of the invention according to FIG. 1 with a second embodiment of the steering lever arrangement, the lift flap being in a retracted position; FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the area of an airplane wing which, viewed in the flow direction, is in the rear and has a lift flap and another embodiment of the lift flap mechanism according to the invention with a first embodiment of a steering lever arrangement, the lift flap being in a retracted position; FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rear area of the airplane wing according to FIG. 6 in the case of a central or partially extended position of the lift flap; FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rear area of the airplane wing according to FIG. 6 in the case of a completely extended position of the lift flap; FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view along Line 9 - 9 of FIG. 7 ; FIG. 10 is a perspective representation of the flap mechanism of the invention according to FIG. 6 ; FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the area of an airplane wing which, viewed in the flow direction, is in the rear and has a lift flap and a third embodiment of the lift flap mechanism according to the invention, the lift flap being in a retracted position; FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rear area of the airplane wing according to FIG. 11 in the case of a central or partially extended position of the lift flap; FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rear area of the airplane wing according to FIG. 11 in the case of a completely extended position of the lift flap; and FIG. 14 is a perspective representation of the flap mechanism according to FIG. 11 . detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

Method and machine for ex situ production of low and medium intergration biochip networks
A method of ex situ fabrication of at least one biochip, the method being of the type consisting in projecting onto a substrate a microvolume of reagent comprising at least one probe diluted in a suitable solvent so as to form, after the solvent has been eliminated, a spot comprising said probe, the method consisting in using a microprojection device comprising at least one tank in which the reagent is stored, and at least one source of gas under pressure put into communication with the tank, and in projecting the microvolume of reagent through an ejection nozzle under drive from the pressure exerted by the gas on the reagent.
1. A machine for ex situ fabrication of biochips, the machine comprising at least one microprojection device for projecting onto at least one substrate a microvolume of reagent containing at least one probe diluted in an appropriate solvent so as to form, after elimination of the solvent, at least one spot comprising said probe attached to the substrate, the machine comprising a battery of independent microprojection devices for fabricating a plurality of biochips, in particular on plane substrates. 2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein each microprojection device comprises: a tank in which the reagent for projection is stored; at least one source of gas under pressure put into communication with the tank via an inlet tube; an actuator connected to the tank via an outlet tube having one end dipping into the tank; and an ejection nozzle mounted at the outlet of the actuator and communicating directly with the tank when the actuator is an “open” state under the control of a control circuit constituted by a solenoid valve. 3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein all of the tanks of the battery of microprojection devices are put simultaneously into communication with a common source of gas under pressure. 4. A machine according to claim 2, wherein the battery of microprojection devices is configured in a matrix having a plurality of rows. 5. A machine according to claim 2, wherein the ejection nozzle of a microprojection device is constituted by a tube of PTFE. 6. A machine according to claim 2, wherein the ejection nozzle of a microprojection device is constituted by a part pierced by a hole having a diameter of about 10 μm to 100 μm, and connected to the outlet of the actuator via a connection tube. 7. A machine according to claim 6, wherein said part is constituted by a substrate made of sapphire, ruby, or silicon, a part made of ceramic or of stainless steel, for example. 8. A machine according to claim 4, wherein each row of the battery of microprojection devices forms a module of structure comprising at least: a first support block in the form of a bar for supporting the set of tanks of the module and for providing the fluid flow connections needed for putting the reagent stored in the tank under pressure; and a second support block for supporting the actuators and the ejection nozzles of the microprojection devices of the module. 9. A machine according to claim 8, wherein the first support block is pierced by a main longitudinal through channel having one end connected to a source of gas under pressure, and is also pierced by a set of secondary transverse channels each opening out into the main channel and into the set of tanks, there being one secondary channel per tank, thereby enabling a single source of gas under pressure to be used for all of the tanks of the module. 10. A machine according to claim 9, wherein the first support block is also pierced by transverse through orifices through which outlet tubes pass connecting the tanks to the actuators, and wherein said orifices are disposed in a staggered configuration. 11. A machine according to claim 10, wherein each outlet tube is formed by two segments which are connected together at a transverse orifice of the first support block by means of a quick coupling. 12. A machine according to claim 8, wherein the two support blocks are connected to each other by fixing means. 13. A machine according to claim 8, wherein the structure of each module is removably mounted on the structure of the machine. 14. A machine according to claim 1, also comprising a support plate supporting at least one substrate, and means for imparting relative displacement between the plate and the battery of microprojection devices. 15. A machine according to claim 14, wherein the battery of microprojection devices is stationary, and wherein the plate is a moving plate controlled by a motor-driven device delivering crossed XY movements by means of two motors. 16. A machine according to claim 14, also comprising a display system for monitoring the projection of microdroplets or the formation of spots on the substrate. 17. A machine according to claim 16, wherein the display system is placed beneath the substrate-carrying plate. 18. A machine according to claim 17, wherein the display system is mounted on a motor-driven device imparting crossed XY movements. 19. A machine according to claim 18, wherein the motor-driven device imparting crossed XY movements is mounted inside a hollow support for the substrate-carrying plate. 20. A machine according to claim 18, wherein the motor-driven device for imparting crossed movements or moving the substrate-carrying plate and the device for moving the display system are mounted independently of each other. 21. A machine according to claim 20, wherein the substrate-carrying plate is mounted on a first frame movable along the X axis, and wherein said first frame is mounted to move along the Y axis by a second frame which is stationary. 22. A machine according to claim 16, wherein the display system comprises a camera, a 45° mirror, a zoom lens, and a lighting device. 23. A method for ex situ fabrication of biochips, the method being of the type that consists in projecting onto at least one substrate carried by a moving plate, a microvolume of a reagent containing at least one probe diluted in a suitable solvent so as to form, after elimination of the solvent, at least one spot comprising said probe attached to the substrate, wherein, in order to make mass production possible, the method consists in using a battery of independent microprojection devices for projecting microdroplets of reagents in a sequential mode or in an on-the-fly firing mode, in projecting microdroplets at a volume of about 10 nl onto plane substrates, the number of microdroplets lying in the range 1 to 10,000, so as to obtain spots having a diameter of about 100 μm to 1000 μm with inter-spot spacing of about 50 μm to 500 μm. 24. A method according to claim 23, consisting in fitting each microprojection device with a tank containing a reagent and an ejection nozzle, in maintaining the tank under pressure from a source of gas under pressure, and in simultaneously putting all of the tanks of the battery of microprojection devices under pressure simultaneously from a single source of gas under pressure. 25. A method according to claim 24, consisting in associating each microprojection device with an actuator interposed between the tank and the ejection nozzle, and in controlling the actuator to occupy an “open” state during a determined length of time so as to put the tank directly into communication with the ejection nozzle, thereby enabling the microvolume of reagent to be projected under drive from the pressure of the gas present in the tank. 26. A method according to claim 25, consisting in varying the microvolume of projected reagents by acting on the pressure of the gas and/or the length of time the actuator is open. 27. A method according to claim 25, consisting in using a micro solenoid valve as the actuator and in controlling the length of time it is open by means of an electronic control device. 28. A method according to claim 23, consisting in associating each microprojection device with a single type of probe. 29. A method according to claim 23, consisting in forming a plurality of spots on at least one substrate in a single pass without changing the tanks containing the probes. 30. A method according to claim 23, consisting, prior to fabricating chips, in performing a calibration operation so as to obtain a regular array of spots on the substrate, said operation consisting in: projecting spots onto a transparent intermediate substrate; identifying the positions of the spots formed on the substrate by means of a camera, e.g. placed beneath the substrate; recording in a memory the differences between the identified positions and the desired positions of the spots; and automatically correcting relative displacement between the plate and the battery of microprojection devices to compensate for said differences and obtain a regular array of spots when fabricating chips. 31. A method according to claim 23, consisting in performing quality control to verify whether a spot has indeed been formed on the substrate, said quality control consisting in using a display system mounted beneath the substrate-carrying plate so as to view the formation of spots. 32. A method according to claim 31, consisting in causing the plate and the display system to be displaced independently of each other. 33. A method according to claim 23, wherein, after fabricating chips, a decontamination procedure is performed which consists in replacing the reagent tanks with tanks containing a cleaning solvent, e.g. water, and in actuating the microprojection devices at a high flow rate in order to clean all of the microprojection devices.
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>In the field of biotechnologies, biochips, and in particular DNA chips, are presented as being completely innovative tools capable of revolutionizing experimental approaches to molecular biology. The advantage of a biochip lies in its ability to identify target biomolecules in parallel with several tens to several millions of probes of different compositions on the same solid structure (glass, silicon, polymer, etc.), the probes being secured by implementing an affinity recognition process between the probes and the chip. By way of example, a DNA chip is a device designed to enable monocatenary DNA strands to be identified by using the hybridizing process implemented between the strand(s) of the target DNA to be recognized and one of the known-sequence oligonucleotides probes fixed in a defined zone on a solid support, and then by identifying the hybridized zone and thus the oligonucleotide sequence it supports, it is possible to determine the sequence of the target DNA strand. Depending on the degree of integration of biochips, the following can be distinguished: low integration chips having up to a few hundred probes; medium integration chips possessing several hundreds to several thousands of probes; and high integration chips having more than ten thousand probes; it being understood that these various types of chips are not used for the same purposes. The main application for low integration biochips in the field of diagnosis. They are therefore intended for mass production at relatively low cost. Their use must lead to a result that is simple and that can be interpreted rapidly. Their fabrication advantageously makes use of direct immobilization of probes obtained from natural or presynthesized extracts that have previously been checked and purified. That technique guarantees probe purity and thus better reliability for the chips that are prepared. Medium integration biochips are usually used for very precise studies, often for the purpose of developing low integration chips, for example DNA chips for studying the mutation of a gene or transcryptome. They therefore need to be produced in smaller quantities than low integration chips and their production requires tooling that is highly adaptable. For biochips at the small end of medium integration, immobilization can be used, whereas for biochips at the large end of medium integration it is appropriate to make use of in situ synthesis directly on the support of the chip. High integration biochips are used for studies that are very complex and expensive. The preparation of such chips can be envisaged only in terms of in situ synthesis. For it to be possible to interpret reliably the large quantity of information obtained on a chip, associated with the large number of probes, and thus the large number of possible solutions, a large number of experimental operations are required for validating the affinity recognition process, e.g. hybridization/denaturing for DNA, and also a large amount of mathematical processing. Such very lengthy development leads to high costs, which limits applications to studies having high added value, for example studying the side effects of medicines. Numerous methods of fabricating biochips are known, and they can be classified in two categories, namely in situ methods of fabrication which consist in simultaneously synthesizing the probes base by base on a substrate, and ex situ methods of fabrication which are based on producing the set of probes and then fixing the probes to the substrate. The invention lies within ex situ methods of fabrication where the probes are fabricated using methods that are known per se. Ex situ methods of fabrication can be classified by the method used for putting the probe into contact with the substrate: either the solution containing the probe is put into contact with the entire surface of the substrate, with fixing then taking place in a zone that is addressed selectively, e.g. by electropolymerization, or else the probes are deposited locally by physical contact of the deposition means with the substrate, or indeed by microprojection with no physical contact with the substrate. Ex situ methods of fabrication can also be classified depending on the method of bonding the probes to the substrate. The various possible bonding methods are based on adsorption of the probe on the substrate, or on bonding by biological affinity, e.g. of the biotin/streptavidin type, or by bonding by electropolymerization, or, advantageously, by forming a covalent chemical bond. The method of the invention is compatible with all of those fixing methods. In known methods of ex situ fabrication with probes being bonded to the substrate by microprojection, piezoelectric or thermal effect type devices are used, where those two techniques have been developed for ink jet printers. Piezoelectric type microprojection devices are devices comprising a probe tank which is fed by capillarity and/or under the effect of a very small positive or negative pressure relative to the outside, i.e. a difference of millibar order. The tank has an orifice that is always open, so problems arise of probe conservation due to possible evaporation and contact with the atmosphere. Furthermore, microprojection using a device of this type is limited to a maximum volume of the order of 4 picoliters (pl) to 30 pl for a tank having a volume of milliliter (ml) order, which means that operations of decontamination by replacing the probe-containing solution with a cleaning liquid are not easy, nor are emptying operations, given the small flow rate that can be achieved. Finally, piezoelectric type microprojection devices require control devices that are complex and difficult to develop.
<SOH> OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>An object of the invention is to devise another ex situ technique for projecting drops of reagent onto a substrate, the novel technique also being well adapted to fabricating biochips having several hundreds to several thousands of probes, with fabrication taking place at high speed and with fabrication costs of a few euro cents to a few euros per chip, thus making it possible to satisfy the needs of industry concerning mass production of low and medium integration chips. To this end, the invention provides a method of ex situ fabrication of at least one biochip, the method being of the type which consists in projecting onto a substrate a microvolume of reagent comprising at least one probe diluted in a suitable solvent so as form, after elimination of the solvent, a spot containing said probe, which method consists in using a microprojection device having at least one tank in which the reagent is stored, and at least one source of gas under pressure put into communication with the tank, and in projecting the microvolume of the reagent through an ejection nozzle under drive from the pressure exerted by the gas on the reagent. To this end, the method consists in associating the microprojection device with an actuator interposed between the tank and the ejection nozzle, and in controlling the actuator to occupy an “open” state for a determined length of time in order to put the tank into direct communication with the ejection nozzle, thereby projecting the microvolume of reagent under drive from the pressure of the gas present in the tank. In general, the method consists in continuously maintaining the reagent stored in the tank under pressure, and in causing the actuator to take up a “closed” state in order to isolate the tank under pressure while waiting to eject a microvolume of reagent, thus making it possible to avoid the reagent evaporating and enabling it to be conserved in a medium that is inert. Advantageously, the method consists in using a battery of independent microprojection devices to form a plurality of spots on at least one substrate, and in configuring the battery of microprojection devices in a matrix having a plurality of rows, in making each row of the matrix in modular form, and in putting all of the tanks of a row of microprojection devices into communication with the same source of gas under pressure. In general, the method consists in placing at least one substrate on a plate, and in imparting relative displacement between the plate and the battery of microprojection devices so as to form a plurality of spots on the substrate using a firing or ejection process that is sequential or on-the-fly. Furthermore, with a large number of microprojection devices, it is possible in a single pass to form a plurality of spots on at least one substrate, each tank of the microprojection devices containing only a single type of probe. The method also consists in calibrating the microvolumes of reagent projected onto the substrate by controlling the direction in which reagent is projected through each nozzle, and in also performing quality control. In practice, the method consists in placing the ejection nozzles at a distance from the substrate of about 0.1 millimeters (mm) to 10 mm, preferably about one millimeter, and in projecting a microvolume of reagent in the form of a microdroplet having a volume of the order of a few nanoliters (nl). The invention also provides a machine for implementing the above-defined method, which machine comprises at least one microprojection device for projecting at least one microdroplet of reagent onto at least one substrate, the device comprising at least: a tank in which the reagent for projection is stored; at least one source of gas under pressure put into communication with the tank via an inlet tube; an actuator connected to the tank by an outlet tube having one dipping into the tank; and an ejection nozzle mounted at the outlet from the actuator and communicating directly with the tank when the actuator is in an “open” state under the control of a control circuit. Advantageously, the actuator of each microprojection device is constituted by an electrically controlled valve. In an advantageous embodiment, the machine comprises a battery of microprojection devices which are independent from one another, and the battery of microprojection devices is configured as a matrix comprising a plurality of rows. Advantageously, each row of the battery of microprojection devices forms a module whose structure may comprise at least: a first support block in the form of a bar for supporting all of the tanks of the module and for providing the fluid connections needed to put the reagent stored in the tanks under pressure; and a second support block for supporting the actuators and the ejection nozzles of the microprojection devices of the module. In an embodiment, the first support block is pierced by a main through longitudinal channel having one end connected to a source of gas under pressure, and it is also pierced by a set of secondary transverse channels opening out into the main channel and into all of the tanks, with there being one secondary channel per tank, thereby using a single source of gas under pressure for all of the tanks of the module, so as to reduce the number of connections. Furthermore, the support block is also pierced by through transverse orifices with outlet tubes passing therethrough connecting the tanks to the actuators, which orifices can be disposed in a staggered configuration to reduce the size of the module. Advantageously, each outlet tube is made up of two segments which are connected together at a transverse orifice of the first support block by means of a quick coupling. Advantageously, the structure of each module is removably mounted on the frame of the machine so as to facilitate operations of mounting and removing modules. In general, the machine also comprises a plate for supporting at least one substrate, and means for imparting relative displacement between the plate and the battery of microprojection devices. In an embodiment, the battery of microprojection devices is stationary and the plate moves under the control of a crossed XY movement device by means of two motors. The method and the machine for ex situ fabrication in accordance with the invention enable mass production to be implemented, which was not possible in the past. In machines for implementing mechanical microdeposition methods, often referred to as “spotters” or as “arrayers”, pipette matrices are used comprising four to 32 elements, whereas the number of wells is generally 128 or 384. It is thus not possible to deposit all of the probes in a single pass, and after each pass it is also necessary to decontaminate and rinse the pipettes. Similarly, in machines of the piezoelectric type or the thermal effect type for implementing microprojection methods, it is difficult to envisage fabricating more than a few microprojection means, which implies frequent cleaning and emptying operations. Using positive pressure for microprojecting reagents makes it possible to design a machine of operation that is stable. The rate at which the reagents stored in the tanks are used up has little influence on the rate at which the microprojection devices operate, since their leaktightness prevents the solvent from evaporating, i.e. the concentration of probes does not vary, and it is possible to reuse probes that have not been used and that have been conserved in their respective tanks, without suffering any loss of quality, since there is no contact with a gas or a reagent that might spoil the properties of the probes which are conserved throughout use in an inert medium. Furthermore, by adjusting the gas pressure, it is possible to work with probes of high viscosity or different viscosities, and this is particularly advantageous, for example with DNAc probes. The method and the machine of the invention for ex situ fabrication also presents numerous advantages for mass production, and in particular: small consumption of reagents given that the microprojection device constituted by a micro solenoid valve with an integrated nozzle ejects drops having a volume that is typically 10 nl, whereas the “working”, i.e. projectable volume of probe in the tank is of the order of 1 ml, thus making it possible to project about 100,000 drops and to fabricate about 100,000 chips in a continuous mass production fabrication process; low cost of fabrication for the chips because of the small quantity of biological material used by the chips as a whole; by way of example, the cost of a tank of oligonucleotide probes containing 25 nucleotides is about 30 euros, which compared with manufacturing a volume of 100,000 chips leads to a cost of 0.03 euro cents per spot and per chip, which means that in the cost of manufacturing a chip having 256 probes, the quantity represented by the probes in the fabrication cost is less than 0.15 euros; implementation is simple; the microprojection method is compatible with a large number of solvents whether pure or mixed, having a variety of physicochemical properties (surface tension, viscosity, evaporation rate), such as, for example: acetonitrile; dimethylformamide (DMF); dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO); water; and aqueous solutions such as TRIS, phosphate buffer solution (PBS), where this solvent is particularly advantageous for the following reasons: it is innocuous; it presents good solubility of biomolecules, making it possible to obtain spots that are uniform; its surface tension is adapted to activated substrates, thus making it possible to obtain spots of small size; it eliminates solvent in controlled manner, e.g. for a 250 μm spot constituted by projecting 10 nl of probe in PBS, the solvent is eliminated in 60 seconds (s) at 21° C. and in 15 s at 40° C.; and production is flexible, given that it is possible, for example, to mass produce a chip having 1024 probes by using four devices each having 256 projection means, it being understood that for small series at laboratory scale, it is possible to fraction production and obtain 1024 probes with the 256 tank machine by changing tanks four times, with an intermediate washing operation, and by offsetting the microprojection onto the substrate. In general, the use of biochips opens up huge perspectives in a very wide variety of fields, such as, for example: fundamental research: genome sequencing, studying the expression and the functions of genes, mutation research, studying the biodiversity of species (animals, plants, bacteria); the medical field: developing diagnostic tests for infectious and genetic diseases, assistance in tracking clinical trials, adapting therapy; pharmaco-genomics: treatment toxicity and identifying side effects, resistance to antiviral drugs, searching for new molecules; the environment: monitoring pollution by bacterial analysis of water, air, and soil; and food business: bacteriological monitoring, identifying genetically modified organisms (GMOs), etc. In general, probes can be secured via a layer of bonding molecules having at one end a function for fixing them to the substrate and at the other end a function, possibly a protected function, that serves to avoid reacting with the support. This function can then be used to fix a probe by means of a covalent bond, once the function has been deprotected and activated. The method of fabrication may be based on covalent bonding of probes on the substrate, which may be implemented on the basis of the following chemistry: the substrate is functionalized with a silane whose free end carries a methyl ester function; the silane is deprotected, e.g. under the action of concentrated hydrochloric acid, giving carboxlyic acid, and it is then activated, e.g. under the action of N-hydroxysuccinimidine in a suitable solvent such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), giving an activated ester; and the probe provided with an amine function is deposited on the substrate so as to form a covalent amide bond between the probe and the bonding molecule on the substrate. Naturally, it is possible to use other chemical systems that may be based, for example, on the following groups: thiol, epoxy, carboxylic acid (fixed to the probe end), primary amine (fixed to the surface end), . . . . In general, the invention enables arrays to be fabricated in a wide variety of dimensions, degrees of integration (number of probes per substrate), densities (number of probes per unit of area), and compositions, i.e. with probes constituted by oligonucleotides, DNA, DNAc, RNA, peptide nucleic acids (PNA), enzymes, immunoproteins, proteins, cells, and in general biological substances on any kind of support, and in particular supports made of silica, silicon, metal, or polymer, having an area of 1 square millimeter (mm 2 ) to 10,000 mm 2 . The area of a spot lies within a circle having a diameter of 1 micrometer (μm) to 500 μm. The number of spots can lie in the range 1 to 10,000 per substrate. Probes of different chemical species can be used simultaneously on the same substrate, e.g. oligonucleotides, peptide nucleic acids (PNA), and proteins.

Fuel cell system
Disclosed is a fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell stack including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane disposed therebetween; a fuel tank for supplying hydrogen-including fuel to the anode of the fuel cell stack; and an oxidant supplying unit for adding ozone to oxygen-including air and thereby supplying to the cathode of the fuel cell stack. According to this, ozone is supplied to the cathode of the fuel cell stack thus to accelerate a reaction speed in the fuel cell stack and thereby to obtain a relatively high current density.
1. A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell stack including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane disposed therebetween; a fuel supplying unit connected with the anode of the fuel cell stack by a fuel supplying line for supplying fuel to the anode; and an oxidant supplying unit connected to the cathode of the fuel cell stack by an air supplying line for adding ozone to oxygen-including air and thereby supplying to the cathode of the fuel cell stack. 2. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the oxidant supplying unit comprises: a humidifier for humidifying air sucked through the air supplying line; and an ozone apparatus for generating ozone which will be added to air supplied to the cathode. 3. The fuel cell system of claim 2, wherein the ozone apparatus is installed at an air supplying line which connects the humidifier and the cathode of the fuel cell stack in order to add ozone to the humidified air. 4. A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell stack including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane disposed therebetween; a fuel supplying unit connected to the fuel cell stack by a fuel supplying line for supplying fuel to the anode; and an oxidant supplying unit connected to the cathode of the fuel cell stack by an ozone supplying line for supplying ozone to the cathode. 5. The fuel cell system of claim 4, wherein the oxidant supplying unit comprises: an ozone apparatus for generating ozone; and a humidifier installed at an ozone supplying line which connects the ozone apparatus and the fuel cell stack for humidifying ozone generated from the ozone apparatus.
<SOH> TECHNICAL FIELD <EOH>The present invention relates to a fuel cell system, and more particularly, to a fuel cell system capable of enhancing a performance of a fuel cell by accelerating a reaction speed of the fuel cell. BACKGROUND ART In general, a fuel cell system has been proposed as a substitution of fossil fuel and differently from a general cell (a second cell), it supplies fuel (hydrogen or hydrocarbon) to an anode and supplies oxygen to a cathode. Thus, the fuel cell system undergoes an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen without a combustion reaction (oxidation reaction) of fuel and thereby directly converts an energy difference between before and after a reaction into electric energy. As shown in FIG. 1 , a fuel cell system in accordance with the conventional art comprises: a fuel cell stack 106 that an anode 102 and a cathode 104 are stacked with plural numbers in a state that an electrolyte membrane (not shown) is interposed therebetween in order to generate electric energy by an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen are stacked with the plural number; a fuel tank 108 for supplying fuel to the anode 102 ; and an oxidant supplying unit 110 for supplying oxidant to the cathode 104 . The fuel tank 108 and the anode 102 of the fuel cell stack 106 are connected to each other by a fuel supplying line 112 , and a fuel pump 114 for pumping fuel stored in the fuel tank 108 is installed at the fuel supplying line 112 . As oxidant supplied to the cathode 104 , oxygen-including air is used. According to this, the oxidant supplying unit 110 comprises: an air compressor 1 18 for supplying air to the cathode 104 of the fuel cell stack 106 ; an air filter 120 for filtering air supplied to the fuel cell stack 106 ; and a humidifier 122 for humidifying air supplied to the fuel cell stack 106 . Processes for generating electric energy by supplying fuel to the conventional fuel cell will be explained as follows. When the fuel pump 114 is operated by a control signal of a controller (not shown), fuel stored in the fuel tank 108 is pumped thus to be supplied to the anode 102 of the fuel cell stack 106 . Also, when the air compressor 118 is operated, air filtered by the air filter 120 passes through the humidifier 122 thus to be humidified and is supplied to the cathode 104 of the fuel cell stack 106 . Once fuel and air are supplied to the fuel cell stack 106 , an electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen is performed in the anode 102 and an electrochemical deoxidation of oxygen is performed in the cathode 104 in a state that the electrolyte membrane (not shown) is interposed between the anode 102 and the cathode 104 . At this time, electricity is generated due to movement of generated electrons, and is supplied to a load 120 . That is, an electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen such as 2H 2 +4OH−>4H 2 O+4e − is performed in the anode 102 , so that ion generated in the anode by oxidation/deoxidation reaction is transmitted to the cathode 4 through the electrolyte membrane. Also, in the cathode 4 , an electrochemical deoxidation of supplied oxygen such as O 2 +4e − +2H 2 O−>4OH − is generated, and the generated current is supplied to the load 120 . In the conventional fuel cell system, oxygen-including air is used as an oxidant thus to generate 4 electrons per a unit reaction. Accordingly, a reaction speed is relatively slow in the fuel cell stack thus to lower a performance of the fuel cell.
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a construction view of a fuel cell system in accordance with the conventional art; FIG. 2 is a construction view of a fuel cell system according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a construction view of a fuel cell system according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a construction view of a fuel cell system according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 5 is a construction view of a fuel cell system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

Fuel cell system and control method thereof
Disclosed is a fuel cell system comprising: a fuel tank connected to a anode of a fuel cell stack for supplying hydrogen-including fuel to the anode; an air supplying unit connected to a cathode of the fuel cell stack for supplying oxygen-including air to the cathode; a heating unit for heating air and fuel supplied to the fuel cell stack; and a purge unit for returning fuel remaining at each system to the fuel tank when a system driving is stopped. According to this, a temperature of the fuel cell stack can reach a goal temperature within the shortest time by heating fuel at the time of driving a system, and fuel remaining at the fuel cell stack and each system is returned to the fuel tank when the system driving is stopped, thereby increasing a performance of the fuel cell system.
1. A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell stack that an anode and a cathode are arranged in a state that an electrolyte membrane is interposed therebetween; a fuel tank connected to the anode of the fuel cell stack by a fuel supplying line for supplying hydrogen-including fuel to the anode; an air supplying unit connected to the cathode of the fuel cell stack by an air supplying line for supplying oxygen-including air to the cathode; a heating unit for heating air and fuel supplied to the fuel cell stack; and a purge unit for returning fuel remaining at each system to the fuel tank when a system driving is stopped. 2. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein a cooling fan for cooling the fuel cell stack when the system driving is stopped is installed at the fuel cell stack. 3. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the heating unit is composed of a hydrogen combustor installed at the fuel supplying line and the air supplying line for heating fuel and air supplied to the fuel cell stack by using hydrogen generated from the fuel cell stack as a heating source. 4. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the heating unit is composed of a fuel kit installed at the fuel tank for heating fuel by using heat generated when fuel power is mixed with water stored in the fuel tank. 5. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the purge unit is composed of: a fuel recollecting line connected between the fuel cell stack and the fuel tank for recollecting fuel discharged from the fuel cell stack into the fuel tank; and a recycling pump installed at the fuel recollecting line for returning fuel remaining at each system to the fuel tank through the fuel recollecting line when a system driving is stopped. 6. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the purge unit is composed of: a fuel pump installed at the fuel supplying line for pumping fuel; and a controller for returning fuel remaining at each system to the fuel tank by reversely driving the fuel pump when a system driving is stopped. 7. The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the purge unit is composed of a purge line connected between the fuel supplying line and the air supplying line and a three-way valve installed at a part where the purge line and the fuel supplying line are connected to each other, and returns remaining fuel to the fuel tank by injecting air into the anode when a system driving is stopped. 8. A method for controlling a fuel cell system comprising: a heating step for heating fuel; an electricity generating step for supplying the heated fuel and air to a fuel cell stack and thus generating electric energy; and a purge step for returning fuel remaining at each system to a fuel tank when a system driving is stopped while performing the first and second steps. 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising a step for driving a system by using a power source of a battery after heating fuel in the heating step. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein fuel is heated by using heat generated when fuel is mixed with water in the heating step. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein a fuel kit where fuel powder (NaOH and BH4 powder) is stored is mounted to a fuel tank where water is stored and thereby fuel powder is mixed with water in the heating step. 12. The method of claim 8, wherein fuel is heated by using hydrogen generated from the anode of the fuel cell stack as a heating source in the heating step. 13. The method of claim 8, further comprising a step for charging a battery when a temperature of the fuel cell stack is higher than a set temperature in the electricity generating step. 14. The method of claim 8, wherein a recycle pump is driven to recollect fuel remaining at the fuel cell stack and each line to the fuel tank through a recollecting line when a system driving is stopped in the purge step. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising a step for cooling the fuel cell stack by driving a cooling fan in the purge step. 16. The method of claim 8, wherein fuel remaining at the fuel supplying line and the fuel cell stack is returned to the fuel tank by reversely driving a fuel pump in the purge step. 17. The method of claim 8, wherein fuel remaining at the fuel cell stack is returned to the fuel tank by injecting air into the anode of the fuel cell stack when a system driving is stopped in the purge step.
<SOH> BACKGROUND ART <EOH>In general, a fuel cell system has been proposed as a substitution of fossil fuel and differently from a general cell (a second cell), it supplies fuel (hydrogen or hydrocarbon) to an anode and supplies oxygen to a cathode. Thus, the fuel cell system undergoes an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen without a combustion reaction (oxidation reaction) of fuel and thereby directly converts an energy difference between before and after a reaction into electric energy. As shown in FIG. 1 , a fuel cell system in accordance with the conventional art comprises: a fuel cell stack 106 where an anode 102 having an electrolyte membrane (not shown) therein in order to generate electric energy by an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen and a cathode 104 are stacked with the plural number; a fuel tank 108 for storing fuel including hydrogen to be supplied to the anode 102 ; and an air supplying unit 110 for supplying air including oxygen to the cathode 104 . A fuel pump 112 for pumping fuel stored in the fuel tank 108 is installed between the fuel tank 108 and the anode 102 of the fuel cell stack 106 . The air supplying unit 110 includes: an air pump 114 for supplying air in the atmosphere to the cathode 104 of the fuel cell stack 106 ; an air filter 116 for filtering air supplied to the fuel cell stack 106 ; and a humidifier 118 for humidifying air supplied to the fuel cell stack 106 . Herein, the humidifier 118 is provided with a water tank 120 for supplying water to the humidifier 118 . Processes for generating electric energy by supplying fuel to the conventional fuel cell will be explained as follows. If the fuel pump 112 is operated by a control signal of a control unit (not shown), fuel stored in the fuel tank 108 is pumped thus to be supplied to the anode 102 of the fuel cell stack 106 . Also, if the air pump 114 is operated, air filtered by the air filter 116 passes through the humidifier 118 thus to be humidified and is supplied to the cathode 104 of the fuel cell stack 106 . Once fuel and air are supplied to the fuel cell stack 106 , an electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen is performed in the anode 102 and an electrochemical deoxidation of oxygen is performed in the cathode 104 in a state that the electrolyte membrane (not shown) is positioned between the anode 102 and the cathode 104 . At this time, generated electron moves and thereby electricity is generated. The generated electricity is supplied to a load 126 . In the conventional fuel cell system, it takes a lot of time to make a temperature of the fuel cell stack reach a goal temperature, so that a reliability and a function of the fuel cell are degraded. Also, a temperature of the fuel cell stack is maintained to be high even after stopping the fuel cell, so that a stability of the fuel cell is lowered.
<SOH> BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS <EOH>FIG. 1 is a construction view of a fuel cell system in accordance with the conventional art; FIG. 2 is a construction view of a fuel cell system according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a fuel tank of a fuel cell system according to the present invention; FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control means of a fuel cell system according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a construction view of a fuel cell system according to another embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a control method of a fuel cell system according to one embodiment of the present invention. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

Seal for a fuel cell stack
A fuel cell stack comprising alternating solid oxide fuel cell plates (10) and gas separator plates (30) stacked face to face with one or more seal assemblies (34, 36, 37, 38, 40) provided between opposed generally planar surfaces (33, 54) of each adjacent pair of plates. Each seal assembly comprises a pair of rigid ribs (36, 37) projecting from one surface (33) with a valley (38) therebetween and a third rigid rib (34) projecting from the other surface (54) and nested between the pair of ribs. Opposed contact surfaces (54, 60, 61) cooperate to define the maximum insertion of the third rib (34) into the valley (38). The third rib (34) has a profile that leaves a void between the valley (38) and the third rib (34) at said maximum insertion. A glass sealant (40) in said void contacts the surface of the valley (38) and the third rib (34). In a preferred embodiment each rib (34, 36, 37) tapers away from the respective surface (33, 54) towards a distal surface (51, 61) of the rib.
1. A fuel cell stack comprising alternating solid oxide fuel cell plates and gas separator plates stacked face to face with one or more seal assemblies provided between opposed generally planar surfaces of each adjacent pair of said fuel cell and gas separator plates, wherein each of said seal assemblies comprises a pair of rigid ribs projecting from one of said surfaces with a valley defined therebetween, a third rigid rib projecting from the other of said surfaces and nested between said pair of ribs, said seal assembly including opposed contact surfaces that cooperate to define the maximum insertion of the third rib into the valley with said third rib having a profile that leaves a void between the valley and the third rib at said maximum insertion, and a glass sealant along the valley in said void that contacts the surface of the valley and the third rib. 2. A fuel cell stack according to claim 1 wherein each rib tapers away from the respective plate towards a distal surface of the rib. 3. A fuel cell stack according to claim 2 wherein inclined side walls of the ribs form the opposed contact surfaces whereby the void is formed between the distal surface of the third rib and the surface of the valley. 4. A fuel cell stack according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the distal surface of the third rib and the surface of the valley form the opposed contact surfaces and the void is formed between a side wall of the third rib and the surface of the valley. 5. A fuel cell stack according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the distal surface of at least one of the pair of ribs also contacts the opposed plate. 6. A fuel cell stack according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a distal surface of at least one of the pair of ribs and a respective opposed portion of said other of said surfaces form the opposed contact surfaces and the void is formed between at least the distal surface of the third rib and the surface of the valley. 7. A fuel cell stack according to any one of claims 1 to 6 which is a columnar stack and said one of said surfaces is upwardly facing. 8. A fuel cell stack according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the glass sealant has a composition range of 0-2 wt % Li2O, 0-18 wt % Na2O, 2-25 wt % K2O, 0-4 wt % MgO, 0-15 wt % CaO, 0-10 wt % SrO, 0-30 wt % BaO, 0-25 wt % B2O3, 0-10 wt % Al2O3, 30-75 wt % SiO2 and 0-10 wt % ZrO2. 9. A fuel cell stack according to claim 8 wherein the glass sealant has a composition range of 0-0.7 wt % Li2O, 0-1.2 wt % Na2O, 5-15 wt % K2O, 0-2 wt % MgO, 2-12 wt % CaO, 0-2 wt % SrO, 2-10 wt % BaO, 2-10 wt % B2O3, 2-7 wt % Al2O3, 50-70 wt % SiO2 and 0-2 wt % ZrO2. 10. A fuel cell stack according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the glass sealant is fully molten but viscous at a temperature in the operating temperature range of the stack of about 700 to about 1100° C. 11. A fuel cell stack according to claim 10 wherein the glass sealant is fully molten but viscous at any temperature in the range 700 to 900° C. 12. A fuel cell stack according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein all of the plates are ceramic and the ribs are formed by screen printing a slurry of the rib material in a binder onto the respective surfaces, and drying and firing the resultant structure. 13. A fuel cell stack according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein all of the plates are ceramic and the ribs formed are respectively of the sane material. 14. A fuel cell stack according to claim 13 wherein the gas separator plates are formed of zirconia containing up to 20 wt % alumina. 15. A fuel cell stack according to claim 13 or claim 14 wherein the ribs on the fuel cell plates are formed on the electrolyte and the electrolyte is yttria-stabilised zirconia. 16. A fuel cell stack according to any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein the fuel cell stack is internally manifolded for the incoming fuel gas and exhaust fuel gas and each aperture through the fuel cell and gas separator plates for said incoming fuel gas and exhaust fuel gas is surrounded by a respective one of the seal assemblies on a cathode-side of each pair of adjacent fuel cell and gas separator plates. 17. A fuel cell stack according to claim 16 wherein there are two exhaust fuel gas manifolds and the seal assemblies around the apertures therefor each have an arm extending away from the respective aperture towards but spaced from the incoming fuel gas manifold and alongside the cathode to guide oxygen-containing gas over the cathode. 18. A fuel cell stack according to claim 16 or claim 17 wherein the fuel cell stack is externally manifolded for incoming and exhaust oxygen-containing gas and a single one of said seal assemblies extends in a closed loop on an anode side of each pair of adjacent fuel cell and gas separator plates outwardly of said apertures through the plates. 19. A fuel cell stack according to claim 18 wherein the closed loop is shaped to direct the incoming fuel gas over the anode. 20. A fuel cell stack according to claim 18 or claim 19 wherein the incoming and exhaust oxygen-containing gas manifolds are defined by the periphery of the plates, the seal assemblies and a housing in which the stack is disposed.
<SOH> BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>Solid oxide fuel cell stacks operate at elevated temperature using both fuel gases and oxidising gases. A single stack is formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cell components together with interconnecting manifolds to allow respective fuel and oxidizing gases to flow between components of each cell. The cell components include alternately arranged fuel cell plates and gas separator plates, with seals provided therebetween to separate the gases flowing through the stack. Additional structures are also required to guide the flow of the gases over the fuel cells and to regulate the spacing between adjacent plates of each cell. Difficulties have been encountered in producing a reliable and robust seal between facing surfaces of the cell plates and the gas separator plates because of the difficult environment in which the seal needs to operate. Solid oxide fuel cell stacks operate at typically 700 to 1100° C., preferably 700 to 850 or 900° C. and it has been proposed to form the seals from molten or semi molten glass positioned at contact points between facing surfaces of the fuel cell and gas separator plates. An axial compressive force needs to be applied to the stack in order to hold the plates together but such a compressive force also has the effect of tending to squeeze any sealing material from between the mating surfaces. This is exacerbated in the case of a vertically standing stack where the plates at the bottom of the stack may have, in addition to the axial compressive force induced throughout the stack, the additional weight of the plates above them also tending to squeeze the sealing material from between the mating faces. It has been proposed to produce such a seal by mixing a glass powder with a binder before positioning the resultant sealing material between the facing surfaces, where sealing is required. The sealing material may be applied to the appropriate surface(s) by way of a screen printing process. In order to complete formation of the seal, the material needs to be exposed to oxygen during warm up of the stack, in order to burn out the binder and develop the final seal. In many situations it is difficult to deliver an adequate oxygen supply to all areas of the seal in order to provide a satisfactory burn out process within a reasonable time. An incomplete burn out process may result in a porous and possibly non-functional seal. The burn out also produces emissions which are costly to collect and treat in a commercial mass production operation. In order to reduce the likelihood of such a seal being squeezed out from between the mating surfaces of the fuel cell plates, it has been proposed to incorporate higher melting point sand particles into the glass sealing material in order to provide a spacer between the mating surfaces, but extended durability tests on fuel cell stacks indicate that this means of spacing is unreliable for long term operation. The sand also compromises the density of the glass seal. An aim of the present invention is to provide a seal which addresses these difficulties.
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>According to the invention, there is provided a fuel cell stack comprising alternating solid oxide fuel cell plates and gas separator plates stacked face to face with one or more seal assemblies provided between opposed generally planar surfaces of each adjacent pair of said fuel cell and gas separator plates, wherein each of said seal assemblies comprises a pair of rigid ribs projecting from one of said surfaces with a valley defined therebetween, a third rigid rib projecting from the other of said surfaces and nested between said pair of ribs, said seal assembly including opposed contact surfaces that cooperate to define the maximum insertion of the third rib into the valley with said third rib having a profile that leaves a void between the valley and the third rib at said maximum insertion, and a glass sealant along the valley in said void that contacts the surface of the valley and the third rib. With the defined seal assembly, a load bearing interlocking arrangement of ribs is provided that physically supports the fuel cell and gas separator plates whilst ensuring that the glass sealant is not load bearing. Advantageously, the ribs may be designed such that they cause the seal assemblies to be self-aligning upon interlocking of the fuel cell and gas separator plates. To facilitate this, each rib conveniently tapers away from the respective plate towards a distal surface of the rib. In this arrangement, inclined side walls of the ribs may form the opposed contact surfaces whereby the void is formed between the distal surface of the third rib and the surface of the valley. Alternatively, the distal surface of the third rib and the surface of the valley may form the opposed contact surfaces, with the void being formed between a side wall of the third rib and the surface of the valley. In either of the above two arrangements, the distal surface of at least one of the pair of ribs may also contact the opposed plate in order to spread the load bearing. In a preferred embodiment, a distal surface of at least one of the pair of ribs and a respective opposed portion of said other of said surfaces form the opposed contact surfaces, with the void being formed between at least the distal surface of the third rib and the surface of the valley. If the ribs are tapered, some of the glass sealant may be displaced into an adjoining void between one or both side surfaces of the third rib and the surface of the valley. Most preferably, the opposed contact surfaces are defined by the distal surfaces of both of the pair of ribs and the respective opposed portions of said other of said surfaces. Preferably, the fuel cell stack is a columnar stack and said one of said surfaces is upwardly facing so that the valley between the pair of ribs is upwardly open but for the third rib and the glass sealant can be readily disposed in the valley during assembly of the stack. Conveniently, the glass sealant is introduced to the valley as a powder that is heated to melt the glass after assembly. The glass sealant is advantageously fully molten but viscous at a temperature in the operating temperature range of the stack of about 700 to about 1100° C., and most preferably the glass sealant is fully molten but viscous at any temperature in the preferred operating range of 700 to 900° C. One possible composition range for the glass sealant is 0-2 wt % Li 2 O, 0-18 wt % Na 2 O, 2-25 wt % K 2 O, 0-4 wt % MgO, 0-15 wt % CaO, 0-10 wt % SrO, 0-30 wt % BaO, 0-25 wt % B 2 O 3 , 0-10 wt % Al 2 O 3 , 30-75 wt % SiO 2 and 0-10 wt % ZrO 2 . More preferably, the glass sealant has a composition range of 0-0.7 wt % Li 2 O, 0-1.2 wt % Na 2 O, 5-15 wt % K 2 O, 0-2 wt % MgO, 2-12 wt % CaO, 0-2 wt % SrO, 2 -10 wt % BaO, 2-10 wt % B 2 O 3 , 2-7 wt % Al 2 O 3 , 50-70 wt % SiO 2 and 0-2 wt % ZrO 2 . The ribs should have a sufficient height to provide the desired spacing for the respective gas flow between the adjacent plates. For example, the ribs may have a height in the range of 250 to 1000 μm. The portions of the fuel cell and gas separator plates incorporating the seal assemblies may be formed of metallic or ceramic material. In the case of metallic material, the ribs and valley of each seal assembly could be etched on respective sides of the plates. Alternatively, in either case, the ribs could be formed by depositing on the plate an appropriate rib material or precursor material that would adhere to the plate. Thus, in the case of ceramic plates, the ribs may be formed by screen printing a slurry of the rib material in a binder onto the respective surfaces, and drying and firing the resultant structure. The ribs are conveniently formed of the same ceramic material as the respective plates, for example zirconia. In the case of the gas separator plates, the zirconia may contain up to 20 wt % alumina. Preferably the ribs on the fuel cell plates are formed on the electrolyte and the electrolyte is yttria-stabilised zirconia. The fuel cell stack may be internally and/or externally manifolded for the incoming and exhaust gases, and the shape and location of the seal assemblies must be adjusted accordingly. In the described embodiment the fuel cell stack is internally manifolded for the incoming fuel gas and exhaust fuel gas, and each aperture through the fuel cell and gas separator plates for said incoming fuel gas and exhaust fuel gas is surrounded by a respective one of the seal assemblies on a cathode-side of each pair of adjacent fuel cell and gas separator plates. Advantageously, there are two exhaust fuel gas manifolds, and the seal assemblies around the apertures therefor each have an arm extending away from the respective aperture towards but spaced from the incoming fuel gas manifold and alongside the cathode to guide oxygen-containing gas over the cathode. Also in the described embodiment the fuel cell stack is externally manifolded for incoming and exhaust oxygen-containing gas, and a single one of said seal assemblies extends in a closed loop on an anode side of each pair of adjacent fuel cell and gas separator plates outwardly of said apertures through the plates. The closed loop is conveniently shaped to direct the inconung fuel gas over the anode. In a preferred embodiment, the incoming and exhaust oxygen-containing gas manifolds are defined by the periphery of the plates, the seal assemblies and a housing in which the stack is disposed. The manifolds between the periphery of the plates and the housing may be separated from each other by seals.

Amplifier switch
The invention relates to an improved amplifier switch which for example has the following features: between an in-gate (1; 1.1, 1.2) and an out-gate (3; 3.1, 3.21) an amplifier branch (5; 5.1. 5.1) and at least one bridging line (7; 7.1, 7.2) that can be switched on and off in parallel thereto are provided. At the outlet side, an amplifier branch (5; 5.1, 5.2) is connected to a pertaining bridging line (7; 7.1, 7.2) via summing circuit or a summing point (17) that is/are linked with the out-gate (3; 3.1, 3.2) The bridging line (7; 7.1, 7.2), between the pertaining switch contact (K1) of the pertaining switch (9; 9.1, 9.2) and the summing circuit or the summing point (17), has an electrical length that corresponds to λ/2.
1. A redundant amplifier switch comprising: at least two amplifier branches, the at least two amplifier branches are connected between an input gate and an output, a circuit arrangement having associated switches in such a way that it is possible to produce an electrical connection between the input gate and the output gate via one of the plurality of amplifier branches or via the bridging line, wherein: the amplifier branches are connected in series in such a way that in each case the output gate of one amplifier branch is electrically connected to the input gate of a subsequent amplifier branch, a bridging line which can be switched on and off is provided in parallel with each amplifier branch, between the associated input gate and the associated output gate of said amplifier branch, the circuit arrangement for switching the transmission from one amplifier branch to another amplifier branch or to the bridging line respectively connected in parallel therewith is constructed in such a way a) that a switch via which the input gate is connected either to the amplifier branch or the associated bridging line is provided between the input gate and the assigned amplifier branch and the associated bridging line, and the amplifier branch is connected at the output end to the associated bridging line via a summing circuit or a summing point which is connected to the associated output gate of the relevant amplifier branch, or b) that a switch via which the output gate is connected either to the amplifier branch or the associated bridging line is provided between the output gate and the assigned amplifier branch and the associated bridging line, and, in this case, the amplifier branch is connected at the input end to the associated bridging line via a summing circuit or a summing point which is connected to the associated input gate, and the respective bridging line has, between the associated switching contact of the associated switch and the respectively assigned summing circuit or the respectively assigned summing point, an electrical length which corresponds to approximately λ/2. 2. The redundant amplifier switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein a PIN diode is connected between the respective amplifier circuit and a relevant amplifier branch and the respective assigned summing circuit or the assigned summing point. 3. The redundant amplifier switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switches are formed from relay switches, preferably from relay switches with a low throughput attenuation.



Polypeptides having carotenoids isomerase catalytic activity, nucleic acids encoding same and uses thereof
An isolated nucleic acid which comprises a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 50%, similar to SEQ ID NO: 15 (carotenoid isomerase of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)), as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI, the polypeptide having carotenoids isomerase catalytic activity, the polypeptide encoded thereby and their uses.
1. An isolated nucleic acid comprising a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 75% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI, said polypeptide having carotenoids isomerase catalytic activity. 2. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein said polynucleotide comprises a cDNA. 3. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein said polynucleotide comprises a genomic DNA. 4. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein said polynucleotide comprises at least one intron sequence. 5. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein said polynucleotide is intronless. 6. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein said polypeptide has an amino acid sequence at least 80% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 7. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein said polypeptide has an amino acid sequence at least 85% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 8. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein said polypeptide has an amino acid sequence at least 90% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 9. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein said polypeptide has an amino acid sequence at least 95% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 10. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein said polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:15. 11. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein said polynucleotide comprises a nucleotide sequence as set forth between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14. 12. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein said polynucleotide comprises a nucleotide sequence as set forth at positions 1341-6442 of SEQ ID NO:16. 13. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, further comprising a promoter operably linked to said polynucleotide in a sense orientation, so as to produce a RNA encoding said polypeptide. 14. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, further comprising a promoter operably linked to said polynucleotide in an antisense orientation, so as to produce a RNA hybridizeable with a RNA encoding said polypeptide. 15. A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid of claim 13. 16. A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid of claim 14. 17. A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid of claim 1. 18. The vector of claim 17, wherein said vector is suitable for expression in a eukaryote. 19. The vector of claim 17, wherein said vector is suitable for expression in a prokaryote. 20. The vector of claim 17, wherein said vector is suitable for expression in a plant. 21. A transduced organism genetically transduced by the nucleic acid of claim 1. 22. The transduced organism of claim 21, wherein the organism is a eukaryote. 23. The transduced organism of claim 21, wherein the organism is a prokaryote. 24. The transduced organism of claim 21, wherein the organism is a plant. 25. An isolated nucleic acid comprising a polynucleotide at least 75% identical to positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14 or to positions 1341-6442 of SEQ ID NO:16, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 26. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 25, wherein said polynucleotide comprises a cDNA. 27. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 25, wherein said polynucleotide comprises a genomic DNA. 28. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 25, wherein said polynucleotide comprises at least one intron sequence. 29. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 25, wherein said polynucleotide is intronless. 30. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 25, wherein said polynucleotide is at least 80% identical to positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14 or to positions 1341-6442 of SEQ ID NO:16, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 31. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 25, wherein said polynucleotide is at least 85% identical to positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14 or to positions 1341-6442 of SEQ ID NO:16, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 32. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 25, wherein said polynucleotide is at least 90% identical to positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14 or to positions 1341-6442 of SEQ ID NO:16, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 33. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 25, wherein said polynucleotide is at least 95% identical to positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14 or to positions 1341-6442 of SEQ ID NO:16, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 34. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 25, wherein said polynucleotide is identical to positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14 or to positions 1341-6442 of SEQ ID NO:16, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 35. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 25, wherein said polynucleotide comprises a nucleotide sequence as set forth between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14. 36. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 25, wherein said polynucleotide comprises a nucleotide sequence as set forth at positions 1341-6442 of SEQ ID NO:16. 37. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 25, further comprising a promoter operably linked to said polynucleotide in a sense orientation. 38. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 25, further comprising a promoter operably linked to said polynucleotide in an antisense orientation. 39. A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid of claim 37. 40. A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid of claim 38. 41. A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid of claim 25. 42. The vector of claim 41, wherein said vector is suitable for expression in a eukaryote. 43. The vector of claim 41, wherein said vector is suitable for expression in a prokaryote. 44. The vector of claim 41, wherein said vector is suitable for expression in a plant. 45. A transduced organism genetically transduced by the nucleic acid of claim 25. 46. The transduced organism of claim 45, wherein the organism is a eukaryote. 47. The transduced organism of claim 45, wherein the organism is a prokaryote. 48. The transduced organism of claim 45, wherein the organism is a plant. 49. A transduced cell expressing from a transgene a recombinant polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 50% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI, said polypeptide having a carotenoids isomerase catalytic activity, the cell having a level of said carotenoids isomerase catalytic activity over that of a non-transduced and otherwise similar cell. 50. The transduced cell of claim 49, wherein said polypeptide is at least 55% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 51. The transduced cell of claim 49, wherein said polypeptide is at least 60% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 52. The transduced cell of claim 49, wherein said polypeptide is at least 65% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 53. The transduced cell of claim 49, wherein said polypeptide is at least 70% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 54. The transduced cell of claim 49, wherein said polypeptide is at least 75% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 55. The transduced cell of claim 49, wherein said polypeptide is at least 80% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 56. The transduced cell of claim 49, wherein said polypeptide is at least 85% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 57. The transduced cell of claim 49, wherein said polypeptide is at least 90% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 58. The transduced cell of claim 49, wherein said polypeptide is at least 95% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 59. The transduced cell of claim 49, wherein said polypeptide comprises an amino acids sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:15. 60. The transduced cell of claim 49, wherein the cell is a eukaryotic cell. 61. The transduced cell of claim 49, wherein the cell is a prokaryotic cell. 62. The transduced cell of claim 49, wherein the cell is a plant cell. 63. The transduced cell of claim 49, wherein the cell forms a part of a transgenic plant. 64. A transgenic plant having cells expressing from a transgene a recombinant polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 50% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI, said polypeptide having a carotenoids isomerase catalytic activity, the cell having a level of said carotenoids isomerase catalytic activity over that of a non-transduced and otherwise similar cell. 65. The transgenic plant of claim 64, wherein said polypeptide is at least 55% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 66. The transgenic plant of claim 64, wherein said polypeptide is at least 60% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 67. The transgenic plant of claim 64, wherein said polypeptide is at least 65% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 68. The transgenic plant of claim 64, wherein said polypeptide is at least 70% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 69. The transgenic plant of claim 64, wherein said polypeptide is at least 75% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 70. The transgenic plant of claim 64, wherein said polypeptide is at least 80% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 71. The transgenic plant of claim 64, wherein said polypeptide is at least 85% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 72. The transgenic plant of claim 64, wherein said polypeptide is at least 90% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 73. The transgenic plant of claim 64, wherein said polypeptide is at least 95% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 74. The transgenic plant of claim 64, wherein said polypeptide comprises an amino acids sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:15. 75. A method of increasing a content of all-trans geometric isomers of carotenoids in a carotenoids producing cell, the method comprising, expressing in said cell, from a transgene, a recombinant polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 50% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI, said polypeptide having a carotenoids isomerase catalytic activity. 76. The method of claim 75, wherein said polypeptide is at least 55% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 77. The method of claim 75, wherein said polypeptide is at least 60% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 78. The method of claim 75, wherein said polypeptide is at least 65% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 79. The method of claim 75, wherein said polypeptide is at least 70% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 80. The method of claim 75, wherein said polypeptide is at least 75% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 81. The method of claim 75, wherein said polypeptide is at least 80% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 82. The method of claim 75, wherein said polypeptide is at least 85% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 83. The method of claim 75, wherein said polypeptide is at least 90% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 84. The method of claim 75, wherein said polypeptide is at least 95% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 85. The method of claim 75, wherein said polypeptide comprises an amino acids sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:15. 86. A method of decreasing a content of all-trans geometric isomers of carotenoids in a carotenoids producing cell, the method comprising, expressing in said cell, from a transgene, a RNA molecule capable of reducing a level of a natural RNA encoding a carotenoids isomerase in said cell. 87. The method of claim 86, wherein said RNA molecule is antisense RNA, operative via antisense inhibition. 88. The method of claim 86, wherein said RNA molecule is sense RNA, operative via RNA inhibition. 89. The method of claim 86, wherein said RNA molecule is a ribozyme, operative via ribozyme cleavage inhibition. 90. The method of claim 86, wherein said RNA molecule comprises a sequence at least 50% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 91. The method of claim 86, wherein said RNA molecule comprises a sequence at least 55% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 92. The method of claim 86, wherein said RNA molecule comprises a sequence at least 60% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 93. The method of claim 86, wherein said RNA molecule comprises a sequence at least 65% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 94. The method of claim 86, wherein said RNA molecule comprises a sequence at least 70% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 95. The method of claim 86, wherein said RNA molecule comprises a sequence at least 75% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 96. The method of claim 86, wherein said RNA molecule comprises a sequence at least 80% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 97. The method of claim 86, wherein said RNA molecule comprises a sequence at least 85% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 98. The method of claim 86, wherein said RNA molecule comprises a sequence at least 90% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 99. The method of claim 86, wherein said RNA molecule comprises a sequence at least 95% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 100. The method of claim 86, wherein said RNA is complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14. 101. A method of modulating a ratio between all-trans geometric isomers of carotenoids and cis-carotenoids in a carotenoids producing cell, the method comprising, expressing in said cell, from a transgene, a RNA molecule capable of modulating a level of RNA encoding a carotenoids isomerase in said cell. 102. The method of claim 101, wherein said RNA molecule is antisense RNA, operative via antisense inhibition, thereby decreasing said ratio. 103. The method of claim 101, wherein said RNA molecule is sense RNA, operative via RNA inhibition, thereby decreasing said ratio. 104. The method of claim 101, wherein said RNA molecule is a ribozyme, operative via ribozyme cleavage inhibition, thereby decreasing said ratio. 105. The method of claim 101, wherein said RNA molecule is sense RNA augmenting a level of said RNA encoding said carotenoids isomerase, thereby increasing said ratio. 106. The method of claim 101, wherein said RNA molecule comprises a sequence at least 50% identical to positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI, and encoding a polypeptide having a carotenoids isomerase catalytic activity. 107. The method of claim 101, wherein said RNA molecule comprises a sequence at least 50% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 108. The method of claim 101, wherein said RNA molecule comprises a sequence at least 55% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 109. The method of claim 101, wherein said RNA molecule comprises a sequence at least 60% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 110. The method of claim 101, wherein said RNA molecule comprises a sequence at least 65% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 111. The method of claim 101, wherein said RNA molecule comprises a sequence at least 70% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 112. The method of claim 101, wherein said RNA molecule comprises a sequence at least 75% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 113. The method of claim 101, wherein said RNA molecule comprises a sequence at least 80% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 114. The method of claim 101, wherein said RNA molecule comprises a sequence at least 85% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 115. The method of claim 101, wherein said RNA molecule comprises a sequence at least 90% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 116. The method of claim 101, wherein said RNA molecule comprises a sequence at least 95% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 117. The method of claim 101, wherein said RNA molecule comprises a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:14. 118. A method of decreasing a content of all-trans geometric isomers of carotenoids in a carotenoids producing cell, the method comprising, introducing into the cell an antisense nucleic acid molecule capable of reducing a level of a natural mRNA encoding a carotenoids isomerase in said cell via at least one antisense mechanism. 119. The method of claim 118, wherein said antisense nucleic acid molecule is antisense RNA. 120. The method of claim 118, wherein said antisense nucleic acid molecule is an antisense oligonucleotide of at least 15 nucleotides. 121. The method of claim 118, wherein said antisense nucleic acid molecule comprises a sequence at least 50% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 122. The method of claim 118, wherein said antisense nucleic acid molecule comprises a sequence at least 55% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 123. The method of claim 118, wherein said antisense nucleic acid molecule comprises a sequence at least 60% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 124. The method of claim 118, wherein said antisense nucleic acid molecule comprises a sequence at least 65% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 125. The method of claim 118, wherein said antisense nucleic acid molecule comprises a sequence at least 70% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 126. The method of claim 118, wherein said antisense nucleic acid molecule comprises a sequence at least 75% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 127. The method of claim 118, wherein said antisense nucleic acid molecule comprises a sequence at least 80% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 128. The method of claim 118, wherein said antisense nucleic acid molecule comprises a sequence at least 85% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 129. The method of claim 118, wherein said antisense nucleic acid molecule comprises a sequence at least 90% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 130. The method of claim 118, wherein said antisense nucleic acid molecule comprises a sequence at least 95% complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 131. The method of claim 118, wherein said antisense nucleic acid molecule is complementary to a stretch of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. 132. The method of claim 120, wherein said oligonucleotide is a synthetic oligonucleotide and comprises a man-made modification rendering said synthetic oligonucleotide more stable in cell environment. 133. The method of claim 132, wherein said synthetic oligonucleotide is selected from the group consisting of methylphosphonate oligonucleotide, monothiophosphate oligonucleotide, dithiophosphate oligonucleotide, phosphoramidate oligonucleotide, phosphate ester oligonucleotide, bridged phosphorothioate oligonucleotide, bridged phosphoramidate oligonucleotide, bridged methylenephosphonate oligonucleotide, dephospho internucleotide analogs with siloxane bridges, carbonate bridge oligonucleotide, carboxymethyl ester bridge oligonucleotide, carbonate bridge oligonucleotide, carboxymethyl ester bridge oligonucleotide, acetamide bridge oligonucleotide, carbamate bridge oligonucleotide, thioether bridge oligonucleotide, sulfoxy bridge oligonucleotide, sulfono bridge oligonucleotide and α-anomeric bridge oligonucleotide. 134. An expression construct for directing an expression of a gene-of-interest in a plant tissue, the expression construct comprising a regulatory sequence of CrtISO of tomato. 135. The expression construct of claim 134, wherein said plant tissue is selected from the group consisting of flower, fruit and leaves. 136. A method of isolating a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 50% similar to SEQ ID NO:15 and hence potentially having a carotenoids isomerase catalytic activity from a carotenoid producing species, the method comprising screening a cDNA or genomic DNA library prepared from isolated RNA or genomic DNA extracted from said species with a nucleic acid probe of at least 15 nucleotides and being at least 50% identical to a contiguous stretch of nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:14 or 16 or their complementary sequences and isolating clones reacting with said probe. 137. A method of isolating a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 50% similar to SEQ ID NO:15 and hence potentially having a carotenoids isomerase catalytic activity from a carotenoid producing species, the method comprising providing at least one PCR primer of at least 15 nucleotides being at least 50% identical to a contiguous stretch of nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:14 or 16 or their complementary sequences and using said at least one PCR primer in a PCR reaction to amplify at least a segment of said polynucleotide from DNA or cDNA derived from said species. 138. An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 75% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI, said polypeptide having carotenoids isomerase catalytic activity. 139. The isolated polypeptide of claim 138, wherein said amino acid sequence is at least 80% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 140. The isolated polypeptide of claim 138, wherein said amino acid sequence is at least 85% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 141. The isolated polypeptide of claim 138, wherein said amino acid sequence is at least 90% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 142. The polypeptide acid of claim 138, wherein said amino acid sequence is at least 95% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI. 143. The polypeptide acid of claim 138, wherein said amino acid sequence is as set forth in SEQ ID NO:15.
<SOH> FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The present invention relates to (i) polypeptides having carotenoids isomerase catalytic activity; (ii) preparations including same; (iii) nucleic acids encoding same; (iv) nucleic acids controlling the expression of same; (v) vectors harboring the nucleic acids; (vi) cells and organisms, inclusive plants, algae, cyanobacteria and naturally non-photosynthetic cells and organisms, genetically modified to express the carotenoids isomerase; and (vii) cells and organisms, inclusive plants, algae and cyanobacteria that naturally express a carotenoids isomerase and are genetically modified to reduce its level of expression. As part of the light-harvesting antenna, carotenoids can absorb photons and transfer the energy to chlorophyll, thus assisting in the harvesting of light in the range of 450-570 nm [see, Cogdell R J and Frank H A (1987) How carotenoids function in photosynthestic bacteria. Biochim Biophys Acta 895: 63-79; Cogdell R (1988) The function of pigments in chloroplasts. In: Goodwin T W (ed) Plant Pigments, pp 183-255. Academic Press, London; Frank H A, Violette C A, Trautman J K, Shreve A P, Owens T G and Albrecht A C (1991) Carotenoids in photosynthesis: structure and photochemistry. Pure Appl Chem 63: 109-114; Frank H A, Farhoosh R, Decoster B and Christensen R L (1992) Molecular features that control the efficiency of carotenoid-to-chlorophyll energy transfer in photosynthesis. In: Murata N (ed) Research in Photosynthesis, Vol I, pp 125-128. Kluwer, Dordrecht; and, Cogdell R J and Gardiner A T (1993) Functions of carotenoids in photosynthesis. Meth Enzymol 214: 185-193]. Although carotenoids are integral constituents of the protein-pigment complexes of the light-harvesting antennae in photosynthetic organisms, they are also important components of the photosynthetic reaction centers. Most of the total carotenoids are located in the light harvesting complex II [Bassi R, Pineaw B, Dainese P and Marquartt J (1993) Carotenoid binding proteins of photosystem II. Eur J Biochem 212: 297-302]. The identities of the photosynthetically active carotenoproteins and their precise location in light-harvesting systems are only partially described [Croce R, Weiss S, Bassi R (1999) Carotenoid-binding sites of the major light-harvesting complex II of higher plants. J Biol Chem 274: 29613-29623; Formaggio E, Cinque G, Bassi R (2001) Functional architecture of the major light-harvesting complex from higher plants. J Mol Biol 314: 1157-1166]. Carotenoids in photochemically active chlorophyll-protein complexes of the thermophilic cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. were investigated by linear dichroism spectroscopy of oriented samples [see, Breton J and Kato S (1987) Orientation of the pigments in photosystem II: low-temperature linear-dichroism study of a core particle and of its chlorophyll-protein subunits isolated from Synechococcus sp. Biochim Biophys Acta 892: 99-107]. These complexes contained mainly a β-carotene pool absorbing around 505 and 470 nm, which is oriented close to the membrane plane. In photochemically inactive chlorophyll-protein complexes, the β-carotene absorbs around 495 and 465 nm, and the molecules are oriented perpendicular to the membrane plane. Evidence that carotenoids are associated with the cyanobacterial photosystem (PS) II has been described [see, Suzuki R and Fujita Y (1977) Carotenoid photobleaching induced by the action of photosynthetic reaction center II: DCMU sensitivity. Plant Cell Physiol 18: 625-631; and, Newman P J and Sherman L A (1978) Isolation and characterization of photosystem I and II 25 membrane particles from the blue-green alga Synechococcus cedrorum. Biochim Biophys Acta 503: 343-361]. There are two β-carotene molecules in the reaction center core of PS II [see, Ohno T, Satoh K and Katoh S (1986) Chemical composition of purified oxygen-evolving complexes from the thermophilic cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. Biochim Biophys Acta 852: 1-8; Gounaris K, Chapman D J and Barber J (1989) Isolation and characterization of a D1/D2/cytochrome b-559 complex from Synechocystis PCC6803. Biochim Biophys Acta 973: 296-301; and, Newell R W, van Amerongen H, Barber J and van Grondelle R (1993) Spectroscopic characterization of the reaction center of photosystem II using polarized light: Evidence for β-carotene excitors in PS II reaction centers. Biochim Biophys Acta 1057: 232-238] whose exact function(s) is still obscure [reviewed by Satoh K (1992) Structure and function of PS II reaction center. In: Murata N (ed) Research in Photosynthesis, Vol. II, pp. 3-12. Kluwer, Dordrecht]. It was demonstrated that these two coupled β-carotene molecules protect chlorophyll P680 from photodamage in isolated PS II reaction centers [see, De Las Rivas J, Telfer A and Barber J (1993) 2-coupled β-carotene molecules protect P680 from photodamage in isolated PS II reaction centers. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1142: 155-164], and this may be related to the protection against degradation of the D1 subunit of PS II [see, Sandmann G (1993) Genes and enzymes involved in the desaturation reactions from phytoene to lycopene. (abstract), 10th International Symposium on Carotenoids, Trondheim CL1-2]. The light-harvesting pigments of a highly purified, oxygen-evolving PS II complex of the thermophilic cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. consists of 50 chlorophyll α and 7 β-carotene, but no xanthophyll, molecules [see, Ohno T, Satoh K and Katoh S (1986) Chemical composition of purified oxygen-evolving complexes from the thermophilic cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. Biochim Biophys Acta 852: 1-8]. β-carotene was shown to play a role in the assembly of an active PS II in green algae [see, Humbeck K, Romer S and Senger hours (1989) Evidence for the essential role of carotenoids in the assembly of an active PS II. Planta 179: 242-250]. Isolated complexes of PS I from Phormidium luridum, which contained 40 chlorophylls per P700, contained an average of 1.3 molecules of β-carotene [see, Thomber J P, Alberte R S, Hunter F A , Shiozawa J A and Kan K S (1976) The organization of chlorophyll in the plant photosynthetic unit. Brookhaven Symp Biology 28: 132-148]. In a preparation of PS I particles from Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 6301, which contained 130±5 molecules of antenna chlorophylls per P700, 16 molecules of carotenoids were detected [see, Lundell D J, Glazer A N, Melis A and Malkin R (1985) Characterization of a cyanobacterial photosystem I complex. J Biol Chem 260: 646-654]. A substantial content of β-carotene and the xanthophylls cryptoxanthin and isocryptoxanthin were detected in PS I pigment-protein complexes of the thermophilic cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus [see, Coufal J, Hladik J and Sofrova D (1989) The carotenoid content of photosystem 1 pigment-protein complexes of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus. Photosynthetica 23: 603-616]. A subunit protein-complex structure of PS I from the thermophilic cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp., which consisted of four polypeptides (of 62, 60, 14 and 10 kDa), contained approximately 10 β-carotene molecules per P700 [see, Takahashi Y, Hirota K and Katoh S (1985) Multiple forms of P700-chlorophyll α-protein complexes from Synechococcus sp.: the iron, quinone and carotenoid contents. Photosynth Res 6: 183-192]. This carotenoid is exclusively bound to the large polypeptides which carry the functional and antenna chlorophyll α. The fluorescence excitation spectrum of these complexes suggested that β-carotene serves as an efficient antenna for PS I. As mentioned, an additional essential function of carotenoids is to protect against photooxidation processes in the photosynthetic apparatus that are caused by the excited triplet state of chlorophyll. Carotenoid molecules with π-electron conjugation of nine or morecarbon-carbon double bonds can absorb triplet-state energy from chlorophyll and thus prevent the formation of harmful singlet-state oxygen radicals. In Synechococcus sp. the triplet state of carotenoids was monitored in closed PS II centers and its rise kinetics of approximately 25 nanoseconds is attributed to energy transfer from chlorophyll triplets in the antenna [see, Schlodder E and Brettel K (1988) Primary charge separation in closed photosystem II with a lifetime of 11 nanoseconds. Flash-absorption spectroscopy with oxygen-evolving photosystem II complexes from Synechococcus. Biochim Biophys Acta 933: 22-34]. It is conceivable that this process, that has a lower yield compared to the yield of radical-pair formation, plays a role in protecting chlorophyll from damage due to over-excitation. The protective role of carotenoids in vivo has been elucidated through the use of bleaching herbicides such as norflurazon that inhibit carotenoid biosynthesis in all organisms performing oxygenic photosynthesis [reviewed by Sandmann G and Boger P (1989) Inhibition of carotenoid biosynthesis by herbicides. In: Boger P and Sandmann G (Eds.) Target Sites of Herbicide Action, pp 25-44. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla.] and by mutants in Chlamydomonas and Arabidopsis [See: Muller-Moule P, Conklin P L, Niyogi K K (2002) Ascorbate deficiency can limit violaxanthin de-epoxidase activity in vivo. Plant Physiol 128: 970-977]. Treatment with norflurazon in the light results in a decrease of both carotenoid and chlorophyll levels, while in the dark, chlorophyll levels are unaffected. Inhibition of photosynthetic efficiency in cells of Oscillatoria agardhii that were treated with the pyridinone herbicide, fluridone, was attributed to a decrease in the relative abundance of myxoxanthophyll, zeaxanthin and β-carotene, which in turn caused photooxidation of chlorophyll molecules [see, Canto de Loura I, Dubacq J P and Thomas J C (1987) The effects of nitrogen deficiency on pigments and lipids of cianobacteria. Plant Physiol 83: 838-843]. It has been demonstrated in plants that zeaxanthin is required to dissipate, in a nonradiative manner, the excess excitation energy of the antenna chlorophyll [see, Demmig-Adams B (1990) Carotenoids and photoprotection in plants: a role for the xanthophyll zeaxanthin. Biochim Biophys Acta 1020: 1-24; and, Demmig-Adams B and Adams W W III (1990) The carotenoid zeaxanthin and high-energy-state quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence. Photosynth Res 25: 187-197]. In algae and plants a light-induced deepoxidation of violaxanthin to yield zeaxanthin, is related to photoprotection processes [reviewed by Demmig-Adams B and Adams W W III (1992) Photoprotection and other responses of plants to high light stress. Ann Rev Plant Physiol Plant Mol Biol 43: 599-626]. The light-induced deepoxidation of violaxanthin and the reverse reaction that takes place in the dark, are known as the “xanthophyll cycle” [see, Demmig-Adams B and Adams W W III (1992) Photoprotection and other responses of plants to high light stress. Ann Rev Plant Physiol Plant Mol Biol 43: 599-626]. Cyanobacterial lichens, that do not contain any zeaxanthin and that probably are incapable of radiationless energy dissipation, are sensitive to high light intensity; algal lichens that contain zeaxanthin are more resistant to high-light stress [see, Demmig-Adams B, Adams W W III, Green T G A, Czygan F C and Lange O L (1990) Differences in the susceptibility to light stress in two lichens forming a phycosymbiodeme, one partner possessing and one lacking the xanthophyll cycle. Oecologia 84: 451-456; Demmig-Adams B and Adams W W III (1993) The xanthophyll cycle, protein turnover, and the high light tolerance of sun-acclimated leaves. Plant Physiol 103: 1413-1420; and, Demmig-Adams B (1990) Carotenoids and photoprotection in plants: a role for the xanthophyll zeaxanthin. Biochim Biophys Acta 1020: 1-24]. In contrast to algae and plants, cyanobacteria do not have a xanthophyll cycle. However, they do contain ample quantities of zeaxanthin and other xanthophylls that can support photoprotection of chlorophyll. Several other functions have been ascribed to carotenoids. The possibility that carotenoids protect against damaging species generated by near ultra-violet (UV) irradiation is suggested by results describing the accumulation of β-carotene in a UV-resistant mutant of the cyanobacterium Gloeocapsa alpicola [see, Buckley C E and Houghton J A (1976) A study of the effects of near UV radiation on the pigmentation of the blue-green alga Gloeocapsa alpicola. Arch Microbiol 107: 93-97]. This has been demonstrated more elegantly in Escherichia coli cells that produce carotenoids [see, Tuveson R W and Sandmann G (1993) Protection by cloned carotenoid genes expressed in Escherichia coli against phototoxic molecules activated by near-ultraviolet light. Meth Enzymol 214: 323-330]. Due to their ability to quench oxygen radical species, carotenoids are efficient anti-oxidants and thereby protect cells from oxidative damage. This function of carotenoids is important in virtually all organisms [see, Krinsky N I (1989) Antioxidant functions of carotenoids. Free Radical Biol Med 7: 617-635; and, Palozza P and Krinsky N I (1992) Antioxidant effects of carotenoids in vivo and in vitro—an overview. Meth Enzymol 213: 403-420]. Other cellular functions could be affected by carotenoids, even if indirectly. Although carotenoids in cyanobacteria are not the major photoreceptors for phototaxis, an influence of carotenoids on phototactic reactions, that have been observed in Anabaena variabilis, was attributed to the removal of singlet oxygen radicals that may act as signal intermediates in this system [see, Nultsch W and Schuchart hours (1985) A model of the phototactic reaction chain of cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis. Arch Microbiol 142: 180-184]. In flowers and fruits carotenoids facilitate the attraction of pollinators and dispersal of seeds. This latter aspect is strongly associated with agriculture. The type and degree of pigmentation in fruits and flowers are among the most important traits of many crops. This is mainly since the colors of these products often determine their appeal to the consumers and thus can increase their market worth. Carotenoids have important commercial uses as coloring agents in the food industry since they are non-toxic [see, Bauernfeind J C (1981) Carotenoids as colorants and vitamin A precursors. Academic Press, London]. The red color of the tomato fruit is provided by lycopene which accumulates during fruit ripening in chromoplasts. Tomato extracts, which contain high content (over 80% dry weight) of lycopene, are commercially produced worldwide for industrial use as food colorant. Furthermore, the flesh, feathers or eggs of fish and birds assume the color of the dietary carotenoid provided, and thus carotenoids are frequently used in dietary additives for poultry and in aquaculture. Certain cyanobacterial species, for example Spirulina sp. [see, Sommer T R, Potts W T and Morrissv N M (1990) Recent progress in processed microalgae in aquaculture. Hydrobiologia 204/205: 435-443], are cultivated in aquaculture for the production of animal and human food supplements. Consequently, the content of carotenoids, primarily of β-carotene, in these cyanobacteria has a major commercial implication in biotechnology. Most carotenoids are composed of a C 40 hydrocarbon backbone, constructed from eight C 5 isoprenoid units and contain a series of conjugated double bonds. Carotenes do not contain oxygen atoms and are either linear or cyclized molecules containing one or two end rings. Xanthophylls are oxygenated derivatives of carotenes. Various glycosilated carotenoids and carotenoid esters have been identified. The C 40 backbone can be further extended to give C 45 or C 50 carotenoids, or shortened yielding apocarotenoids. Some nonphotosynthetic bacteria also synthesize C 30 carotenoids. General background on carotenoids can be found in Goodwin T W (1980) The Biochemistry of the Carotenoids, Vol. 1, 2nd Ed. Chapman and Hall, New York; and in Goodwin T W and Britton G (1988) Distribution and analysis of carotenoids. In: Goodwin T W (ed) Plant Pigments, pp 62-132. Academic Press, New York. More than 640 different naturally-occurring carotenoids have so far been characterized, hence, carotenoids are responsible for most of the various shades of yellow, orange and red found in microorganisms, fungi, algae, plants and animals. Carotenoids are synthesized by all photosynthetic organisms as well as several nonphotosynthetic bacteria and fungi, however they are also widely distributed through feeding throughout the animal kingdom. Carotenoids are synthesized de novo from isoprenoid precursors only in photosynthetic organisms and some microorganisms, they typically accumulate in protein complexes in the photosynthetic membrane, in the cell membrane and in the cell wall. In the biosynthesis pathway of β-carotene, four enzymes convert geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate of the central isoprenoid pathway to β-carotene. Carotenoids are produced from the general isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway. While this pathway has been known for several decades, only recently, and mainly through the use of genetics and molecular biology, have some of the molecular mechanisms involved in carotenoids biogenesis, been elucidated. This is due to the fact that most of the enzymes which take part in the conversion of phytoene to carotenes and xanthophylls are labile, membrane-associated proteins that lose activity upon solubilization [see, Beyer P, Weiss G and Kleinig hours (1985) Solubilization and reconstitution of the membrane-bound carotenogenic enzymes from daffodile chromoplasts. Eur J Biochem 153: 341-346; and, Bramley P M (1985) The in vitro biosynthesis of carotenoids. Adv Lipid Res 21: 243-279]. However, solubilization of carotenogenic enzymes from Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6714 that retain partial activity has been reported [see, Bramley P M and Sandmann G (1987) Solubilization of carotenogenic enzyme of Aphanocapsa. Phytochem 26: 1935-1939]. There is no genuine in vitro system for carotenoid biosynthesis which enables a direct essay of enzymatic activities. A cell-free carotenogenic system has been developed [see, Clarke I E, Sandmann G, Bramley P M and Boger P (1982) Carotene biosynthesis with isolated photosynthetic membranes. FEBS Lett 140: 203-206] and adapted for cyanobacteria [see, Sandmann G and Bramley P M (1985) Carotenoid biosynthesis by Aphanocapsa homogenates coupled to a phytoene-generating system from Phycomyces blakesleeanus. Planta 164: 259-263; and, Bramley P M and Sandmann G (1985) In vitro and in vivo biosynthesis of xanthophylls by the cyanobacterium Aphanocapsa. Phytochem 24: 2919-2922]. Reconstitution of phytoene desaturase from Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942 in liposomes was achieved following purification of the polypeptide, that had been expressed in Escherichia coli [see, Fraser P D, Linden hours and Sandmann G (1993) Purification and reactivation of recombinant Synechococcus phytoene desaturase from an overexpressing strain of Escherichia coli. Biochem J 291: 687-692]. Carotenoids are synthesized from isoprenoid precursors. The central pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis may be viewed as beginning with the conversion of acetyl-CoA to mevalonic acid. D 3 -isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP), a C 5 molecule, is formed from mevalonate and is the building block for all long-chain isoprenoids. Following isomerization of IPP to dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP), three additional molecules of IPP are combined to yield the C 20 molecule, geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP). These 1′-4 condensation reactions are catalyzed by prenyl transferases [see, Kleinig hours (1989) The role of plastids in isoprenoid biosynthesis. Ann Rev Plant Physiol Plant Mol Biol 40: 39-59]. There is evidence in plants that the same enzyme, GGPP synthase, carries out all the reactions from DMAPP to GGPP [see, Dogbo O and Camara B (1987) Purification of isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase from Capsicum chromoplasts by affinity chromatography. Biochim Biophys Acta 920: 140-148; and, Laferriere A and Beyer P (1991) Purification of geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase from Sinapis alba etioplasts. Biochim Biophys Acta 216: 156-163]. The first step that is specific for carotenoid biosynthesis is the head-to-head condensation of two molecules of GGPP to produce prephytoene pyrophosphate (PPPP). Following removal of the pyrophosphate, GGPP is converted to 15-cis-phytoene, a colorless C 40 hydrocarbon molecule. This two-step reaction is catalyzed by the soluble enzyme, phytoene synthase, an enzyme encoded by a single gene (crtB), in both cyanobacteria and plants [see, Chamovitz D, Misawa N, Sandmann G and Hirschberg J (1992) Molecular cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of a cyanobacterial gene coding for phytoene synthase, a carotenoid biosynthesis enzyme. FEBS Lett 296: 305-310; Ray J A, Bird C R, Maunders M, Grierson D and Schuch W (1987) Sequence of pTOM5, a ripening related cDNA from tomato. Nucl Acids Res 15: 10587-10588; Camara B (1993) Plant phytoene synthase complex—component 3 enzymes, immunology, and biogenesis. Meth Enzymol 214: 352-365]. All the subsequent steps in the pathway occur in membranes. Four desaturation (dehydrogenation) reactions convert phytoene to lycopene via phytofluene, ζ-carotene, and neurosporene. Each desaturation increases the number of conjugated double bonds by two such that the number of conjugated double bonds increases from three in phytoene to eleven in lycopene. Relatively little is known about the molecular mechanism of the enzymatic dehydrogenation of phytoene [see, Jones B L and Porter J W (1986) Biosynthesis of carotenes in higher plants. CRC Crit Rev Plant Sci 3: 295-324; and, Beyer P, Mayer M and Kleinig hours (1989) Molecular oxygen and the state of geometric iosomerism of intermediates are essential in the carotene desaturation and cyclization reactions in daffodil chromoplasts. Eur J Biochem 184: 141-150]. It has been established that in cyanobacteria, algae and plants the first two desaturations, from 15-cis-phytoene to ζ-carotene, are catalyzed by a single membrane-bound enzyme, phytoene desaturase [see, Jones B L and Porter J W (1986) Biosynthesis of carotenes in higher plants. CRC Crit Rev Plant Sci 3: 295-324; and, Beyer P, Mayer M and Kleinig hours (1989) Molecular oxygen and the state of geometric iosomerism of intermediates are essential in the carotene desaturation and cyclization reactions in daffodil chromoplasts. Eur J Biochem 184: 141-150]. Since the ζ-carotene product is mostly in the all-trans configuration, a cis-trans isomerization is presumed at this desaturation step. The primary structure of the phytoene desaturase polypeptide in cyanobacteria is conserved (over 65% identical residues) with that of algae and plants [see, Pecker I, Chamovitz D, Linden H, Sandmann G and Hirschberg J (1992) A single polypeptide catalyzing the conversion of phytoene to ζ-carotene is transcriptionally regulated during tomato fruit ripening. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 89: 4962-4966; Pecker I, Chamovitz D, Mann V, Sandmann G, Boger P and Hirschberg J (1993) Molecular characterization of carotenoid biosynthesis in plants: the phytoene desaturase gene in tomato. In: Murata N (ed) Research in Photosynthesis, Vol III, pp 11-18. Kluwer, Dordrectht]. Moreover, the same inhibitors block phytoene desaturase in the two systems [see, Sandmann G and Boger P (1989) Inhibition of carotenoid biosynthesis by herbicides. In: Boger P and Sandmann G (eds) Target Sites of Herbicide Action, pp 25-44. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla.]. Consequently, it is very likely that the enzymes catalyzing the desaturation of phytoene and phytofluene in cyanobacteria and plants have similar biochemical and molecular properties, that are distinct from those of phytoene desaturases in other microorganisms. One such a difference is that phytoene desaturases from Rhodobacter capsulatus, Erwinia sp. or fungi convert phytoene to neurosporene, lycopene, or 3,4-dehydrolycopene, respectively. Desaturation of phytoene in daffodil chromoplasts [see, Beyer P, Mayer M and Kleinig hours (1989) Molecular oxygen and the state of geometric iosomerism of intermediates are essential in the carotene desaturation and cyclization reactions in daffodil chromoplasts. Eur J Biochem 184: 141-150], as well as in a cell free system of Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942 [see, Sandmann G and Kowalczyk S (1989) In vitro carotenogenesis and characterization of the phytoene desaturase reaction in Anacystis. Biochem Biophys Res Com 163: 916-921], is dependent on molecular oxygen as a possible final electron acceptor, although oxygen is not directly involved in this reaction. A mechanism of dehydrogenase-electron transferase was supported in cyanobacteria over dehydrogenation mechanism of dehydrogenase-monooxygenase [see, Sandmann G and Kowalczyk S (1989) In vitro carotenogenesis and characterization of the phytoene desaturase reaction in Anacystis. Biochem Biophys Com 163: 916-921]. A conserved FAD-binding motif exists in all phytoene desaturases whose primary structures have been analyzed [see, Pecker I, Chamovitz D, Linden H, Sandmann G and Hirschberg J (1992) A single polypeptide catalyzing the conversion of phytoene to ζ-carotene is transcriptionally regulated during tomato fruit ripening. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 89: 4962-4966; Pecker I, Chamovitz D, Mann V, Sandmann G, Boger P and Hirschberg J (1993) Molecular characterization of carotenoid biosynthesis in plants: the phytoene desaturase gene in tomato. In: Murata N (ed) Research in Photosynthesis, Vol III, pp 11-18. Kluwer, Dordrectht]. The phytoene desaturase enzyme in pepper was shown to contain a protein-bound FAD [see, Hugueney P, Romer S, Kuntz M and Camara B (1992) Characterization and molecular cloning of a flavoprotein catalyzing the synthesis of phytofluene and ζ-carotene in Capsicum chromoplasts. Eur J Biochem 209: 399-407]. Since phytoene desaturase is located in the membrane, an additional, soluble redox component is predicted. This hypothetical component could employ NAD(P) + , as suggested [see, Mayer M P, Nievelstein V and Beyer P (1992) Purification and characterization of a NADPH dependent oxidoreductase from chromoplasts of Narcissus pseudonarcissus —a redox-mediator possibly involved in carotene desaturation. Plant Physiol Biochem 30: 389-398] or another electron and hydrogen carrier, such as a quinone. The cellular location of phytoene desaturase in Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6714 and Anabaena variabilis strain ATCC 29413 was determined with specific antibodies to be mainly (85%) in the photosynthetic thylakoid membranes [see, Serrano A, Gimenez P, Schmidt A and Sandmann G (1990) Immunocytochemical localization and functional determination of phytoene desaturase in photoautotrophic prokaryotes. J Gen Microbiol 136: 2465-2469]. In cyanobacteria, algae and plants ζ-carotene is converted to lycopene via neurosporene. Very little is known about the enzymatic mechanism, which is predicted to be carried out by a single enzyme [see, Linden H, Vioque A and Sandmann G (1993) Isolation of a carotenoid biosynthesis gene coding for ζ-carotene desaturase from Anabaena PCC 7120 by heterologous complementation. FEMS Microbiol Lett 106: 99-104]. The deduced amino acid sequence of ζ-carotene desaturase in Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 contains a dinucleotide-binding motif that is similar to the one found in phytoene desaturase. Two cyclization reactions convert lycopene to β-carotene. Evidence has been obtained that in Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942 [see, Cunningham F X Jr, Chamovitz D, Misawa N, Gantt E and Hirschberg J (1993) Cloning and functional expression in Escherichia coli of a cyanobacterial gene for lycopene cyclase, the enzyme that catalyzes the biosynthesis of β-carotene. FEBS Lett 328: 130-138], as well as in plants [see, Camara B and Dogbo O (1986) Demonstration and solubilization of lycopene cyclase from Capsicum chromoplast membranes. Plant Physiol 80: 172-184], these two cyclizations are catalyzed by a single enzyme, lycopene cyclase. This membrane-bound enzyme is inhibited by the triethylamine compounds, CPTA and MPTA [see, Sandmann G and Boger P (1989) Inhibition of carotenoid biosynthesis by herbicides. In: Boger P and Sandmann G (eds) Target Sites of Herbicide Action, pp 25-44. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla.]. Cyanobacteria carry out only the β-cyclization and therefore do not contain ε-carotene, δ-carotene and α-carotene and their oxygenated derivatives. The β-ring is formed through the formation of a “carbonium ion” intermediate when the C-1,2 double bond at the end of the linear lycopene molecule is folded into the position of the C-5,6 double bond, followed by a loss of a proton from C-6. No cyclic carotene has been reported in which the 7,8 bond is not a double bond. Therefore, full desaturation as in lycopene, or desaturation of at least half-molecule as in neurosporene, is essential for the reaction. Cyclization of lycopene involves a dehydrogenation reaction that does not require oxygen. The cofactor for this reaction is unknown. A dinucleotide-binding domain was found in the lycopene cyclase polypeptide of Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942, implicating NAD(P) or FAD as coenzymes with lycopene cyclase. The addition of various oxygen-containing side groups, such as hydroxy-, methoxy-, oxo-, epoxy-, aldehyde or carboxylic acid moieties, form the various xanthophyll species. Little is known about the formation of xanthophylls. Hydroxylation of β-carotene requires molecular oxygen in a mixed-function oxidase reaction. Clusters of genes encoding the enzymes for the entire pathway have been cloned from the purple photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus [see, Armstrong G A, Alberti M, Leach F and Hearst J E (1989) Nucleotide sequence, organization, and nature of the protein products of the carotenoid biosynthesis gene cluster of Rhodobacter capsulatus. Mol Gen Genet 216: 254-268] and from the nonphotosynthetic bacteria Erwinia herbicola [see, Sandmann G, Woods W S and Tuveson R W (1990) Identification of carotenoids in Erwinia herbicola and in transformed Escherichia coli strain. FEMS Microbiol Lett 71: 77-82; Hundle B S, Beyer P, Kleinig H, Englert hours and Hearst J E (1991) Carotenoids of Erwinia herbicola and an Escherichia coli HB101 strain carrying the Erwinia herbicola carotenoid gene cluster. Photochem Photobiol 54: 89-93; and, Schnurr G, Schmidt A and Sandmann G (1991) Mapping of a carotenogenic gene cluster from Erwinia herbicola and functional identification of six genes. FEMS Microbiol Lett 78: 157-162] and Erwinia uredovora [see, Misawa N, Nakagawa M, Kobayashi K, Yamano S, Izawa I, Nakamura K and Harashima K (1990) Elucidation of the Erwinia uredovora carotenoid biosynthetic pathway by functional analysis of gene products in Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol 172: 6704-6712]. Two genes, al-3 for GGPP synthase [see, Nelson M A, Morelli G, Carattoli A, Romano N and Macino G (1989) Molecular cloning of a Neurospora crassa carotenoid biosynthetic gene (albino-3) regulated by blue light and the products of the white collar genes. Mol Cell Biol 9: 1271-1276; and, Carattoli A, Romano N, Ballario P, Morelli G and Macino G (1991) The Neurospora crassa carotenoid biosynthetic gene (albino 3). J Biol Chem 266: 5854-5859] and al-1 for phytoene desaturase [see, Schmidhauser T J, Lauter F R, Russo V E A and Yanofsky C (1990) Cloning sequencing and photoregulation of al-1, a carotenoid biosynthetic gene of Neurospora crassa. Mol Cell Biol 10: 5064-5070] have been cloned from the fungus Neurospora crassa. However, attempts at using these genes as heterologous molecular probes to clone the corresponding genes from cyanobacteria or plants were unsuccessful due to lack of sufficient sequence similarity. The first “plant-type” genes for carotenoid synthesis enzyme were cloned from cyanobacteria using a molecular-genetics approach. In the first step towards cloning the gene for phytoene desaturase, a number of mutants that are resistant to the phytoene-desaturase-specific inhibitor, norflurazon, were isolated in Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942 [see, Linden H, Sandmann G, Chamovitz D, Hirschberg J and Boger P (1990) Biochemical characterization of Synechococcus mutants selected against the bleaching herbicide norflurazon. Pestic Biochem Physiol 36: 46-51]. The gene conferring norflurazon-resistance was then cloned by transforming the wild-type strain to herbicide resistance [see, Chamovitz D, Pecker I and Hirschberg J (1991) The molecular basis of resistance to the herbicide norflurazon. Plant Mol Biol 16: 967-974; Chamovitz D, Pecker I, Sandmann G, Boger P and Hirschberg J (1990) Cloning a gene for norflurazon resistance in cyanobacteria. Z Naturforsch 45c: 482-486]. Several lines of evidence indicated that the cloned gene, formerly called pds and now named crtP, codes for phytoene desaturase. The most definitive one was the functional expression of phytoene desaturase activity in transformed Escherichia coli cells [see, Linden H, Misawa N, Chamovitz D, Pecker I, Hirschberg J and Sandmann G (1991) Functional complementation in Escherichia coli of different phytoene desaturase genes and analysis of accumulated carotenes. Z Naturforsch 46c: 1045-1051; and, Pecker I, Chamovitz D, Linden H, Sandmann G and Hirschberg J (1992) A single polypeptide catalyzing the conversion of phytoene to ζ-carotene is transcriptionally regulated during tomato fruit ripening. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 89: 4962-4966]. The crtP gene was also cloned from Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 by similar methods [see, Martinez-Ferez I M and Vioque A (1992) Nucleotide sequence of the phytoene desaturase gene from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and characterization of a new mutation which confers resistance to the herbicide norflurazon. Plant Mol Biol 18: 981-983]. The cyanobacterial crtP gene was subsequently used as a molecular probe for cloning the homologous gene from an alga [see, Pecker I, Chamovitz D, Mann V, Sandmann G, Boger P and Hirschberg J (1993) Molecular characterization of carotenoid biosynthesis in plants: the phytoene desaturase gene in tomato. In: Murata N (ed) Research in Photosynthesis, Vol III, pp 11-18. Kluwer, Dordrectht] and higher plants [see, Bartley G E, Viitanen P V, Pecker I, Chamovitz D, Hirschberg J and Scolnik P A (1991) Molecular cloning and expression in photosynthetic bacteria of a soybean cDNA coding for phytoene desaturase, an enzyme of the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 88: 6532-6536; and, Pecker I, Chamovitz D, Linden H, Sandmann G and Hirschberg J (1992) A single polypeptide catalyzing the conversion of phytoene to ζ-carotene is transcriptionally regulated during tomato fruit ripening. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 89: 4962-4966]. The phytoene desaturases in Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942 and Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 consist of 474 and 467 amino acid residues, respectively, whose sequences are highly conserved (74% identities and 86% similarities). The calculated molecular mass is 51 kDa and, although it is slightly hydrophobic (hydropathy index −0.2), it does not include a hydrophobic region which is long enough to span a lipid bilayer membrane. The primary structure of the cyanobacterial phytoene desaturase is highly conserved with the enzyme from the green alga Dunalliela bardawil (61% identical and 81% similar; [see, Pecker I, Chamovitz D, Mann V, Sandmann G, Boger P and Hirschberg J (1993) Molecular characterization of carotenoid biosynthesis in plants: the phytoene desaturase gene in tomato. In: Murata N (ed) Research in Photosynthesis, Vol III, pp 11-18. Kluwer, Dordrectht]) and from tomato [see, Pecker I, Chamovitz D, Linden H, Sandmann G and Hirschberg J (1992) A single polypeptide catalyzing the conversion of phytoene to ζ-carotene is transcriptionally regulated during tomato fruit ripening. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 89: 4962-4966], pepper [see, Hugueney P, Romer S, Kuntz M and Camara B (1992) Characterization and molecular cloning of a flavoprotein catalyzing the synthesis of phytofluene and ζ-carotene in Capsicum chromoplasts. Eur J Biochem 209: 399-407] and soybean [see, Bartley G E, Viitanen P V, Pecker I, Chamovitz D, Hirschberg J and Scolnik P A (1991) Molecular cloning and expression in photosynthetic bacteria of a soybean cDNA coding for phytoene desaturase, an enzyme of the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 88: 6532-6536] (62-65% identical and ˜79% similar; [see, Chamovitz D (1993) Molecular analysis of the early steps of carotenoid biosynthesis in cyanobacteria: Phytoene synthase and phytoene desaturase. Ph.D. Thesis, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem]). The eukaryotic phytoene desaturase polypeptides are larger (64 kDa); however, they are processed during import into the plastids to mature forms whose sizes are comparable to those of the cyanobacterial enzymes. There is a high degree of structural similarity in carotenoid enzymes of Rhodobacter capsulatus, Erwinia sp. and Neurospora crassa [reviewed in Armstrong G A, Hundle B S and Hearst J E (1993) Evolutionary conservation and structural similarities of carotenoid biosynthesis gene products from photosynthetic and nonphotosynthetic organisms. Meth Enzymol 214: 297-311], including in the crtI gene-product, phytoene desaturase. As indicated above, a high degree of conservation of the primary structure of phytoene desaturases also exists among oxygenic photosynthetic organisms. However, there is little sequence similarity, except for the FAD binding sequences at the amino termini, between the “plant-type” crtP gene products and the “bacterial-type” phytoene desaturases (crtI gene products; 19-23% identities and 42-47% similarities). It has been hypothesized that crtP and crtI are not derived from the same ancestral gene and that they originated independently through convergent evolution [see, Pecker I, Chamovitz D, Linden H, Sandmann G and Hirschberg J (1992) A single polypeptide catalyzing the conversion of phytoene to ζ-carotene is transcriptionally regulated during tomato fruit ripening. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 89: 4962-4966]. This hypothesis is supported by the different dehydrogenation sequences that are catalyzed by the two types of enzymes and by their different sensitivities to inhibitors. Although not as definite as in the case of phytoene desaturase, a similar distinction between cyanobacteria and plants on the one hand and other microorganisms is also seen in the structure of phytoene synthase. The crtB gene (formerly psy) encoding phytoene synthase was identified in the genome of Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942 adjacent to crtP and within the same operon [see, Bartley G E, Viitanen P V, Pecker I, Chamovitz D, Hirschberg J and Scolnik P A (1991) Molecular cloning and expression in photosynthetic bacteria of a soybean cDNA coding for phytoene desaturase, an enzyme of the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 88: 6532-6536]. This gene encodes a 36-kDa polypeptide of 307 amino acids with a hydrophobic index of −0.4. The deduced amino acid sequence of the cyanobacterial phytoene synthase is highly conserved with the tomato phytoene synthase (57% identical and 70% similar; Ray J A, Bird C R, Maunders M, Grierson D and Schuch W (1987) Sequence of pTOM5, a ripening related cDNA from tomato. Nucl Acids Res 15: 10587-10588]) but is less highly conserved with the crtB sequences from other bacteria (29-32% identical and 48-50% similar with ten gaps in the alignment). Both types of enzymes contain two conserved sequence motifs also found in prenyl transferases from diverse organisms [see, Bartley G E , Viitanen P V, Pecker I, Chamovitz D, Hirschberg J and Scolnik P A (1991) Molecular cloning and expression in photosynthetic bacteria of a soybean cDNA coding for phytoene desaturase, an enzyme of the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 88: 6532-6536; Carattoli A, Romano N, Ballario P, Morelli G and Macino G (1991) The Neurospora crassa carotenoid biosynthetic gene (albino 3). J Biol Chem 266: 5854-5859; Armstrong G A, Hundle B S and Hearst J E (1993) Evolutionary conservation and structural similarities of carotenoid biosynthesis gene products from photosynthetic and nonphotosynthetic organisms. Meth Enzymol 214: 297-311; Math S K, Hearst J E and Poulter C D (1992) The crtE gene in Erwinia herbicola encodes geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 89: 6761-6764; and, Chamovitz D (1993) Molecular analysis of the early steps of carotenoid biosynthesis in cyanobacteria: Phytoene synthase and phytoene desaturase. Ph.D. Thesis, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem]. It is conceivable that these regions in the polypeptide are involved in the binding and/or removal of the pyrophosphate during the condensation of two GGPP molecules. The crtQ gene encoding ζ-carotene desaturase (formerly zds) was cloned from Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 by screening an expression library of cyanobacterial genomic DNA in cells of Escherichia coli carrying the Erwinia sp. crtB and crtE genes and the cyanobacterial crtP gene [see, Linden H, Vioque A and Sandmann G (1993) Isolation of a carotenoid biosynthesis gene coding for ζ-carotene desaturase from Anabaena PCC 7120 by heterologous complementation. FEMS Microbiol Lett 106: 99-104]. Since these Escherichia coli cells produce ζ-carotene, brownish-red pigmented colonies that produced lycopene could be identified on the yellowish background of cells producing ζ-carotene. The predicted ζ-carotene desaturase from Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 is a 56-kDa polypeptide which consists of 499 amino acid residues. Surprisingly, its primary structure is not conserved with the “plant-type” (crtP gene product) phytoene desaturases, but it has considerable sequence similarity to the bacterial-type enzyme (crtI gene product) [see, Sandmann G (1993) Genes and enzymes involved in the desaturation reactions from phytoene to lycopene. (abstract), 10th International Symposium on Carotenoids, Trondheim CL1-2]. It is possible that the cyanobacterial crtQ gene and crtI gene of other microorganisms originated in evolution from a common ancestor. The crtL gene for lycopene cyclase (formerly lcy) was cloned from Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942 utilizing essentially the same cloning strategy as for crtP. By using an inhibitor of lycopene cyclase, 2-(4-methylphenoxy)-triethylamine hydrochloride (MPTA), the gene was isolated by transformation of the wild-type to herbicide-resistance [see, Cunningham F X Jr, Chamovitz D, Misawa N, Gantt E and Hirschberg J (1993) Cloning and functional expression in Escherichia coli of a cyanobacterial gene for lycopene cyclase, the enzyme that catalyzes the biosynthesis of β-carotene. FEBS Lett 328: 130-138]. Lycopene cyclase is the product of a single gene product and catalyzes the double cyclization reaction of lycopene to β-carotene. The crtL gene product in Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942 is a 46-kDa polypeptide of 411 amino acid residues. It has no sequence similarity to the crtY gene product (lycopene cyclase) from Erwinia uredovora or Erwinia herbicola. The gene for β-carotene hydroxylase (crtZ) and zeaxanthin glycosilase (crtX) have been cloned from Erwinia herbicola [see, Hundle B, Alberti M, Nievelstein V, Beyer P, Kleinig H, Armstrong G A, Burke D H and Hearst J E (1994) Functional assignment of Erwinia herbicola Eho10 carotenoid genes expressed in Escherichia coli. Mol Gen Genet 254: 406-416; Hundle B S, Obrien D A, Alberti M, Beyer P and Hearst J E (1992) Functional expression of zeaxanthin glucosyltransferase from Erwinia herbicola and a proposed diphosphate binding site. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 89: 9321-9325] and from Erwinia uredovora [see, Misawa N, Nakagawa M, Kobayashi K, Yamano S, Izawa I, Nakamura K and Harashima K (1990) Elucidation of the Erwinia uredovora carotenoid biosynthetic pathway by functional analysis of gene products in Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol 172: 6704-6712]. The gene encoding beta-C-4-oxygenase from H. pluvialis is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,795. The gene encoding lycopene cyclase from tomato is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,252,141. Like all other isoprenoids carotenoids are built from the 5-carbon compound isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP). IPP in plastids is produced in the “DOXP pathway” from pyruvate and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate [Lichtenthaler H K, Schwender J, Disch A, Rohmer M: Biosynthesis of isoprenoids in higher plant chloroplasts proceeds via a mevalonate-independent pathway. FEBS Lett. 1997, 400:271-274; Lichtenthaler H K, Rohmer M, Schwender J: Two independent biochemical pathways for isopentenyl diphosphate and isoprenoid biosynthesis in higher plants. Physiol.Plant. 1997, 101:643-652]. The first enzyme in the pathway is 1-deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate (DOXP) synthase (DXS), whose gene was cloned from pepper C. annuum [Bouvier F, d'Harlingue A, Suire C, Backhaus R A, Camara B: Dedicated roles of plastid transketolases during the early onset of isoprenoid biogenesis in pepper fruits. Plant Physiol. 1998, 117:1423-1431 ] Mentha piperita [Lange B M, Croteau R: Isoprenoid biosynthesis via a mevalonate-independent pathway in plants: cloning and heterologous expression of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase from peppermint. Arch.Biochem.Biophys. 1999, 365:170-174], tomato ( L. esculentum ) [Lois L M, Rodriguez-Concepcion M, Gallego F, Campos N, Boronat A: Carotenoid biosynthesis during tomato fruit development: regulatory role of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase. Plant J. 2000, 22:503-513] and Arabidopsis thaliana [Araki N, Kusumi K, Masamoto K, Niwa Y, Iba K: Temperature-sensitive Arabidopsis mutant defective in 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase within the plastid non-mevalonate pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis. Physiol.Plant. 2000, 108:19-24]. In the temperature-sensitive mutant of Arabidopsis, chs5, DXS is impaired. At the restrictive temperature chlorotic leaves develop in young leaf tissues, but not in mature leaves, indicating that DXS functions preferentially at an early stage of leaf development [Araki N, Kusumi K, Masamoto K, Niwa Y, Iba K: Temperature-sensitive Arabidopsis mutant defective in 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase within the plastid non-mevalonate pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis. Physiol.Plant. 2000, 108:19-24]. It has been suggested that DXS could potentially be a regulatory step in carotenoid biosynthesis during early fruit ripening in tomato [Lois L M, Rodriguez-Concepcion M, Gallego F, Campos N, Boronat A: Carotenoid biosynthesis during tomato fruit development: regulatory role of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase. Plant J. 2000, 22:503-513]. DOXP is converted to 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate via 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate, 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol and 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2-phosphate. These steps are catalyzed by the enzymes DXR, ISPD (ygbP), ISPE and ISPF, respectively (reviewed in: [Eisenreich W, Rohdich F, Bacher A: Deoxyxylulose phosphate pathway to terpenoids. Trends Plant Sci. 2001, 6:78-84]). The gene Dxr was cloned from A. thaliana [Schwender J, Muller C, Zeidler J, Lichtenthaler H K: Cloning and heterologous expression of a cDNA encoding 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase of Arabidopsis thaliana. FEBS Lett. 1999, 455: 140-144] and M. piperita [Lange B M, Croteau R: Isoprenoid biosynthesis via a mevalonate-independent pathway in plants: cloning and heterologous expression of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase from peppermint. Arch.Biochem.Biophys. 1999, 365:170-174]; The gene IspD was cloned from A. thaliana [Rohdich F, Wungsintaweekul J, Eisenreich W, Richter G, Schuhr C A, Hecht S, Zenk M H, Bacher A: Biosynthesis of terpenoids: 4-Diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol synthase of Arabidopsis thaliana. Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.U.S.A. 2000, 97:6451-6456] and the gene ispE was cloned from M. piperita [Lange B M, Croteau R: Isoprenoid biosynthesis via a mevalonate-independent pathway in plants: cloning and heterologous expression of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase from peppermint. Arch.Biochem.Biophys. 1999, 365:170-174] and tomato [Rohdich F, Wungsintaweekul J, Luttgen H, Fischer M, Eisenreich W, Schuhr C A, Fellermeier M, Schramek N, Zenk M H, Bacher A: Biosynthesis of terpenoids: 4-diphosphocytidyl-2-C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase from tomato. Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.U.S.A. 2000, 97:8251-8256]. An enzyme encoded by the gene LytB, which was recently cloned from Adonis aestivalis, has been hypothesized to catalyze a subsequent reaction that affects the ratio of IPP to dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) [Cunningham F X Jr, Lafond T P, Gantt E: Evidence of a role for LytB in the nonmevalonate pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis. J.Bacteriol. 2000, 182:5841-5848]. IPP is isomerized to DMAPP by the enzyme IPP isomerase (encoded by the gene Ipi). There are two Ipi genes in plants and one of them is predicted to be targeted to the plastids (reviewed in: [Cunningham F X Jr, Gantt E: Genes and enzymes of carotenoid biosynthesis in plants. Ann.Rev.Plant Physiol.Plant Mol.Biol. 1998, 49:557-583]). Sequential addition of 3 IPP molecules to DMADP gives the 20-carbon molecule geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP), which is catalyzed by a single enzyme GGPP synthase (GGPS). The genome of Arabidopsis contains a family of 12 genes that are similar to Ggps [Kaul S, Analysis of the genome sequence of the flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Nature 2000, 408:796-815]. It is not yet clear how many of them are involved in the formation of GGPP in the plastids. Five Ggps genes were shown to be expressed in different tissues during plant development [Okada K, Saito T, Nakagawa T, Kawamukai M, Kamiya Y: Five geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthases expressed in different organs are localized into three subcellular compartments in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiol. 2000, 122:1045-1056]. The first committed step in the carotenoid pathway is the condensation of two GGPP molecules to produce 15-cis phytoene, catalyzed by a membrane-associated enzyme phytoene synthase (PSY) ( FIG. 1 ) [Camara B: Plant phytoene synthase complex—component enzymes, immunology, and biogenesis. Methods Enzymol. 1993, 214:352-365]. PSY shares amino acid sequence similarity with GGPP synthase and other prenyl-transferases. Partial purification of PSY from tomato indicated that the enzyme is associated with the isoprenoid biosynthesis enzymes IPI and GGPPS in a protein complex that is larger than 200 kDa [Fraser P D, Schuch W, Bramley P M: Phytoene synthase from tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum ) chloroplasts—partial purification and biochemical properties. Planta 2000, 211:361-369]. In tomato there are two genes for PSY, Psy-1, which encodes a fruit and flower-specific isoform, and Psy-2, which encodes an isoform that predominates in green tissues [Bartley G E , Scolnik P A: cDNA cloning, expression during development, and genome mapping of PSY2, a second tomato gene encoding phytoene synthase. J.Biol.Chem. 1993, 268:25718-25721; Fraser P D, Kiano J W, Truesdale M R, Schuch W, Bramley P M: Phytoene synthase-2 enzyme activity in tomato does not contribute to carotenoid synthesis in ripening fruit. Plant Mol.Biol. 1999, 40:687-698]. PSY is a rate limiting step in ripening tomato fruits [Fraser P D, Truesdale M R, Bird C R, Schuch W, Bramley P M: Carotenoid biosynthesis during tomato fruit development. Plant Physiol. 1994, 105:405-413], in canola ( Brassica napus ) seeds [Shewmaker C K, Sheehy J A, Daley M, Colburn S, Ke D Y: Seed-specific overexpression of phytoene synthase: increase in carotenoids and other metabolic effects. Plant J. 1999, 20:401-412] and in marigold flowers [Moehs C P, Tian L, Osteryoung K W, Dellapenna D: Analysis of carotenoids biosynthetic gene expression during marigold petal development. Plant Mol.Biol. 2001, 45:281-293]. This feature would make PSY suitable to be a key regulator of carotenogenesis. Two structurally and functionally similar enzymes, phytoene desaturase (PDS) and ζ-carotene desaturase (ZDS), convert phytoene to lycopene via ζ-carotene. These FAD-containing enzymes catalyze each two symmetric dehydrogenation reactions that require plastoquinone [Mayer M P, Nievelstein V, Beyer P: Purification and characterization of a NADPH dependent oxidoreductase from chromoplasts of Narcissus pseudonarcissus —A redox-mediator possibly involved in carotene desaturation. Plant.Physiol.Biochem. 1992, 30:389-398; Norris S R, Barrette T R, Dellapenna D: Genetic dissection of carotenoid synthesis in Arabidopsis defines plastoquinone as an essential component of phytoene desaturation. Plant Cell 1995, 7:2139-2149] and a plastid terminal oxidase as electron acceptors [Carol P, Kuntz M: A plastid terminal oxidase comes to light: implications for carotenoid biosynthesis and chlororespiration. Trends Plant Sci 2001, 6:31-36]. When co-expressed in E. coli, PDS and ZDS from Arabidopsis convert phytoene to 7,9,7′,9′-tetra-cis-lycopene (poly-cis lycopene, ‘pro-lycopene’), while the bacterial CRTI phytoene desaturase produces all-trans lycopene [Bartley G E , Scolnik P A, Beyer P: Two arabidopsis thaliana carotene desaturases, phytoene desaturase and z-carotene desaturase, expressed in Escherichia coli, catalyze a poly-cis pathway to yield pro-lycopene. Eur.J.Biochem. 1999, 259:396-403]. The mechanism of carotenoid isomerization is yet unknown. However, it is predicted that a gene product of the locus tangerine (t) in tomato is involved in this process. In fruits of the recessive mutant tangerine lycopene is replaced by poly-cis lycopene and different isomers of up stream intermediates, such as neorosporene, zeta-carotene and phytofluene. Cyclization of lycopene marks a branching point in the pathway; one route is leading to β-carotene and its derivative xanthophylls, and the other leading to α-carotene and lutein. Lycopene β-cyclase (LCY-B, CRTL-B) catalyzes a two-step reaction that creates one β-ionone ring at each end of the lycopene molecule to produce β-carotene, whereas lycopene ε-cyclase (LCY-E, CRTL-E) creates one ε-ring to give δ-carotene. It is presumed that α-carotene (β,ε-carotene) is synthesized by both enzymes. In view of the occurrence of a heterodimeric lycopene β-cyclase in Gram-positive bacteria [Krubasik P, Sandmann G: A carotenogenic gene cluster from Brevibacterium linens with novel lycopene cyclase genes involved in the synthesis of aromatic carotenoids. Mol.Gen.Genet. 2000, 263:423-432; Viveirosa M, Krubasikb P, Sandmannb G, Houssaini-Iraquic M: Structural and functional analysis of the gene cluster encoding carotenoid biosynthesis in Mycobacteriuni aurum A+. FEMS Microbiol.Lett. 2000, 187:95-101], it is alluring to consider that lycopene cyclases in plants work as dimmers as well. In this case it is possible that α-carotene is synthesized by a LCY-B/LCY-E heterodimer. Interestingly, lettuce ( Lactuca sativa ) contains a bi-cyclase CRTL-E that converts lycopene to ε-carotene [Cunningham F X, Jr., Gantt E: One ring or two? Determination of ring number in carotenoids by lycopene e-cyclases. Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.U.S.A. 2001, 98:2905-2910]. There is a high degree of structural resemblance, 30% identity in amino acid sequence, between LCY-B and LCY-E in both tomato and Arabidopsis. The two enzymes contain a characteristic FAD/NAD(P)-binding sequence motif at the amino termini of the mature polypeptides. In tomato there are two lycopene β-cyclase enzymes, LCY-B (CRTL-B) [Pecker I, Gabbay R, Cunningham F X Jr, Hirschberg J: Cloning and characterization of the cDNA for lycopene beta-cyclase from tomato reveals decrease in its expression during fruit ripening. Plant Mol.Biol. 1996, 30:807-819] and CYC-B (‘B-cyclase’) [Ronen G, Carmel-Goren L, Zamir D, Hirschberg J: An alternative pathway to b-carotene formation in plant chromoplasts discovered by map-based cloning of Beta and old-gold color mutations in tomato. Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.U.S.A. 2000, 97:11102-11107], whose amino acid sequences are 53% identical. LCY-B is active in green tissues, whereas CYC-B functions in chromoplast-containing tissues only. Interestingly, the amino acid sequence of CYC-B is more similar (86.1% identical) to capsanthin-capsorubin synthase (CCS) from pepper, an enzyme that converts antheraxanthin and violaxanthin to the red xanthophylls capsanthin and capsorubin, respectively [Bouvier F, Hugueney P, d'Harlingue A, Kuntz M, Camara B: Xanthophyll biosynthesis in chromoplasts: Isolation and molecular cloning of an enzyme catalyzing the conversion of 5,6-epoxycarotenoid into ketocarotenoid. Plant J. 1994, 6:45-54]. A deletion mutation in the Ccs gene (locus y), which results in the accumulation of violaxanthin, is responsible for the recessive phenotype of yellow fruit in pepper [Lefebvre V, Kuntz M, Camara B, Palloix A: The capsanthin-capsorubin synthase gene: a candidate gene for the y locus controlling the red fruit colour in pepper. Plant Mol.Biol. 1998, 36:785-789]. CCS exhibits low activity of lycopene β-cyclase when expressed in E. coli [Hugueney P, Badillo A, Chen H C, Klein A, Hirschberg J, Camara B, Kuntz M: Metabolism of cyclic carotenoids: A model for the alteration of this biosynthetic pathway in Capsicum annuum chromoplasts. Plant J. 1995, 8:417-424]. Similarities in function, gene structure and map position, strongly suggest that the genes Ccs and Cyc-b are orthologs that have originated by a gene duplication event from a common ancestor, most probably Lcy-b [Ronen G, Carmel-Goren L, Zamir D, Hirschberg J: An alternative pathway to b-carotene formation in plant chromoplasts discovered by map-based cloning of Beta and old-gold color mutations in tomato. Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.U.S.A. 2000, 97:11102-11107]. While in tomato the duplicated gene has retained its original catalytic function, the second cyclase in pepper acquired during evolution a new enzymatic activity of a similar biochemical nature. Conservation of amino acid sequences as well as similar mechanisms of catalysis suggest that all plant cyclases, including CCS and perhaps also neoxanthin synthase, have evolved from a common ancestor, most probably the cyanobacterial CrtL. Hydroxylation of cyclic carotenes at the 3C, 3′C positions is carried out by two types of enzymes, one is specific for β-rings and the other for ε-rings [Sun Z R, Gantt E, Cunningham F X Jr: Cloning and functional analysis of the β-carotene hydroxylase of Arabidopsis thaliana. J.Biol.Chem. 1996, 271:24349-24352; Pogson B, Mcdonald K A, Truong M, Britton G, Dellapenna D: Arabidopsis carotenoid mutants demonstrate that lutein is not essential for photosynthesis in higher plants. Plant Cell 1996, 8:1627-1639]. The β-carotene hydroxylase is ferredoxin dependent and requires iron, features characteristic of enzymes that exploit iron-activated oxygen to oxygenate carbohydrates [Bouvier F, Keller Y, d'Harlingue A, Camara B: Xanthophyll biosynthesis: molecular and functional characterization of carotenoid hydroxylases from pepper fruits ( Capsicum annuum L.). Biochim.Biophys.Acta 1998, 1391:320-328]. Consequently, β-carotene is converted to zeaxanthin via β-cryptoxanthin. There are two β-carotene hydroxylases in both Arabidopsis [Kaul S, Analysis of the genome sequence of the flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Nature 2000, 408:796-815] and tomato [GenBank Accession numbers: Y14810 and Y14809]. In the latter, one hydroxylase is expressed in green tissues and the other is exclusively expressed in the flower (unpublished data). The gene that ncodes for the ε-ring hydroxylase has not been identified yet. Zeaxanthin epoxidase (Zep1, ABA2) converts zeaxanthin to violaxanthin via antheraxanthin by introducing 5,6-epoxy groups into the 3-hydroxy-β-rings in a redox reaction that requires reduced ferredoxin [Bouvier F, d'Harlingue A, Hugueney P, Marin E, Marionpoll A, Camara B: Xanthophyll biosynthesis—Cloning, expression, functional reconstitution, and regulation of beta-cyclohexenyl carotenoid epoxidase from pepper ( Capsicum annuum ). J.Biol.Chem. 1996, 271:28861-28867]. Zep1 was cloned from Nicotiana plombaginifolia [Marin E, Nussaume L, Quesada A, Gonneau M, Sotta B, Hugueney P, Frey A, Marionpoll A: Molecular identification of zeaxanthin epoxidase of Nicotiana plumbaginifolia, a gene involved in abscisic acid biosynthesis and corresponding to the ABA locus of Arabidopsis thaliana. EMBO J. 1996, 15:2331-2342] and pepper [Bouvier F, d'Harlingue A, Hugueney P, Marin E, Marionpoll A, Camara B: Xanthophyll biosynthesis—Cloning, expression, functional reconstitution, and regulation of beta-cyclohexenyl carotenoid epoxidase from pepper ( Capsicum annuum ). J.Biol.Chem. 1996, 271:28861-28867]. In leaves violaxanthin can be converted back to zeaxanthin by violaxanthin deepoxidase (VDE), an enzyme that is activated by low pH generated in the chloroplast lumen under strong light. Zeaxanthin is effective in thermal dissipation of excess excitation energy in the light-harvesting antennae and thus plays a key role in protecting the photosynthetic system against damage by strong light. The inter-conversion of zeaxanthin and violaxanthin is known also as the “xanthophyll cycle”. Lack of the xanthophyll cycle in the Arabidopsis mutant npq1, due to a null mutation in Vde, increases the sensitivity of the plants to high light [Niyogi K K, Grossman A R, Bjorkman O: Arabidopsis mutants define a central role for the xanthophyll cycle in the regulation of photosynthetic energy conversion. Plant Cell 1998, 10:1121-1134]. The Vde gene was originally cloned from lettuce [Bugos R C, Yamamoto H Y: Molecular cloning of violaxanthin de-epoxidase from romaine lettuce and expression in Escherichia coli. Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.U.S.A. 1996, 93:6320-6325]. The amino acid sequences of ZEP and VDE indicate that they are members of the lipocalins, a group of proteins that bind and transport small hydrophobic molecules [Hieber A D, Bugos R C, Yamamoto H Y: Plant lipocalins: violaxanthin de-epoxidase and zeaxanthin epoxidase. Biochim.Biophys.Acta 2000, 1482:84-91]. Carotenoid pigments are essential components in all photosynthetic organisms. They assist in harvesting light energy and protect the photosynthetic apparatus against harmful reactive oxygen species that are produced by over-excitation of chlorophyll. They also furnish distinctive yellow, orange and red colors to fruits and flowers to attract animals. Carotenoids are typically 40-carbon isoprenoids, which consist of eight isoprene units. The polyene chain in carotenoids contains up to 15 conjugated double bonds, a feature that is responsible for their characteristic absorption spectra and specific photochemical properties. These double bonds enable the formation of cis-trans geometric isomers in various positions along the molecule. Indeed, while the bulk of carotenoids in higher plants occur in the all-trans configuration, different cis isomers exist as well however in small proportions. As discussed above, in plants, carotenoids are synthesized within the plastids from the central isoprenoid pathway [reviewed in Hirschberg 2001 Carotenoid biosynthesis in flowering plants Curr. Opin. Plant Biol. 4:210-218], which is incorporated herein by reference; summarized in FIG. 1 ). The first carotenoid in the committed pathway is phytoene, which is produced by the enzyme phytoene synthase (PSY) through a condensation of two molecules of geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGDP). Four double bonds are subsequently introduced to phytoene by two enzymes, phytoene desaturase (PDS) and ζ-carotene desaturase (ZDS), each catalyzes two symmetric dehydrogenation steps to yield ζ-carotene and lycopene, respectively. It is recognized that cis-trans isomerizations do take place in vivo since phytoene is synthesized in the 15-cis configuration, while most of the further carotenoids are found in the all-trans form [Britton, G. (1988). Biosynthesis of carotenoids. In Plant Pigments, T. W. Goodwin, ed. (London and New York: Academic Press), pp. 133-180]. Furthermore, a small proportion of cis-isomers exist in many carotenoid species, for example 9-cis and 13-cis isomers of β-carotene, zeaxanthin and violaxanthin. However, the process of carotenoid isomerization has remained unexplained. The existence of a potential carotene isomerase enzyme could be expected from the phenotype of recessive mutation in tomato [Tomes, M. L., Quackenbush, F. W., Nelson, O. E., and North, B. (1953). The inheritance of carotenoid pigment system in the tomato. Genetics 38, 117-127] which accumulates prolycopene (7Z, 9Z, 7′Z, 9′Z tetra-cis lycopene), as well as poly-cis isomers of phytofluen, ζ-carotene and neurosporene [Zechmeister, L., LeRosen, A. L., Went, F. W., and Pauling, L. Prolycopene, a naturally occurring stereoisomer of lycopene. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1941: 27, 468-474; Clough, J. M., and Pattenden, G.: Naturally occurring poly-cis carotenoids: Stereochemistry of poly-cis lycopene and in congeners in ‘tangerine’ tomato fruits. J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun. 1979: 14, 616-619]. Co-expression of phytoene desaturase and ζ-carotene desaturase from Arabidopsis thaliana in Escherichia coli cells that synthesized phytoene produced mainly pro-lycopene whereas all-trans lycopene was produced in these cells by the bacterial phytoene desaturase [Bartley, G. E., Scolnik, P. A., and Beyer, P. (1999). Two Arabidopsis thaliana carotene desaturases, phytoene desaturase and ζ-carotene desaturase, expressed in Escherichia coli, catalyze a poly-cis pathway to yield pro-lycopene. Eur. J. Biochem. 259, 396-403]. This result supports the hypothesis that an active isomerization function is required in conjunction of the plant-type carotene desaturation reactions that yield lycopene, however, as of yet, no such enzymatic activity was described. In view of the importance of carotenoids in physiological systems as well as the pigment and coloration industries, there is a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, polypeptides having carotenoids isomerase catalytic activity and nucleic acids encoding same, which polypeptides and nucleic acids can be used in a variety of applications as is further delineated hereinbelow.
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>While reducing the present invention to practice, map-based cloning was used to clone the gene that encodes the recessive mutation tangerine (t) [Tomes, M. L. (1952). Flower color modification associated with the gene t. Rep. Tomato Genet. Coop. 2, 12] in tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum ). Fruits of tangerine are orange and accumulate prolycopene (7Z, 9Z, 7′Z, 9′Z tetra-cis lycopene) instead of the all-trans lycopene [(Zechmeister, L., LeRosen, A. L., Went, F. W., and Pauling, L. Prolycopene, a naturally occurring stereoisomer of lycopene. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1941: 27, 468-474; Clough, J. M., and Pattenden, G. Naturally occurring poly-cis carotenoids: Stereochemistry of poly-cis lycopene and in congeners in ‘tangerine’ tomato fruits. J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun. 1979: 14, 616-619)], which is normally synthesized in wild type fruits. The phenotype of tangerine is manifested also in yellowish young leaves and sometimes light green foliage and in pale colored flowers. The data presented herein indicates that the tangerine gene, designated CrtISO, encodes a redox-type enzyme that is structurally related to the bacterial-type phytoene desaturase, CRTI. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an isolated nucleic acid comprising a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 75, at least 80, at least 85, at least 90, at least 95 or at least 100%, similar (=identical acids+homologous acids) to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI, the polypeptide having carotenoids isomerase catalytic activity. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an isolated nucleic acid comprising a polynucleotide at least 75, at least 80, at least 85, at least 90, at least 95 or at least 100% identical to positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14 or to positions 1341-6442 of SEQ ID NO:16, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, the polynucleotide comprises a cDNA. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the polynucleotide comprises a genomic DNA. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the polynucleotide comprises at least one intron sequence. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the polynucleotide is intronless. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the isolated nucleic acid further comprising a promoter operably linked to the polynucleotide in a sense orientation. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the isolated nucleic acid further comprising a promoter operably linked to the polynucleotide in an antisense orientation. According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a vector comprising any of the isolated nucleic acids described herein. According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, the vector is suitable for expression in a eukaryote. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the vector is suitable for expression in a prokaryote. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the vector is suitable for expression in a plant. According to still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a transduced organism genetically transduced by any of the nucleic acids or vectors described herein, whereby the organism is a eukaryote, e.g., a plant, or prokaryote, e.g., a bacteria or cyanobacteria. According to an additional aspect of the present invention there is provided a transduced cell expressing from a transgene a recombinant polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95% or 100% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI, the polypeptide having a carotenoids isomerase catalytic activity, the cell having a level of the carotenoids isomerase catalytic activity over that of a non-transduced and otherwise similar cell, whereby the cell is a eukaryote cell, e.g., a plant cell, or a prokaryote cell, e.g., a bacteria or cyanobacteria, wherein, the cell can be either isolated, grown in culture or form a part of an organism, e.g., a transgenic organism such as a transgenic plant. According to yet an additional aspect of the present invention there is provided a transgenic plant having cells expressing from a transgene a recombinant polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95% or 100% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI, the polypeptide having a carotenoids isomerase catalytic activity, the cell having a level of the carotenoids isomerase catalytic activity over that of a non-transduced and otherwise similar cell. According to still an additional aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of increasing a content of all-trans geometric isomers of carotenoids in a carotenoids producing cell, the method comprising, expressing in the cell, from a transgene, a recombinant polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95% or 100% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI, the polypeptide having a carotenoids isomerase catalytic activity. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of decreasing a content of all-trans geometric isomers of carotenoids in a carotenoids producing cell, the method comprising, expressing in the cell, from a transgene, a RNA molecule capable of reducing a level of a natural RNA encoding a carotenoids isomerase in the cell. According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, the RNA molecule is antisense RNA, operative via antisense inhibition. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the RNA molecule is sense RNA, operative via RNA inhibition. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the RNA molecule is a ribozyme, operative via ribozyme cleavage inhibition. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the RNA molecule comprises a sequence at least 50%, at least 55% at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95% or 100% complementary (=identical to complementary strand) to a stretch of at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 40, at least 50, at least 60, at least 100, at least 200, at least 300, at least 500, at least 700, at least 1000 or at least 2000 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. According to yet a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of modulating a ratio between all-trans geometric isomers of carotenoids and cis-carotenoids in a carotenoids producing cell, the method comprising, expressing in the cell, from a transgene, a RNA molecule capable of modulating a level of RNA encoding a carotenoids isomerase in the cell. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the RNA molecule is sense RNA augmenting a level of the RNA encoding the carotenoids isomerase, thereby increasing the ratio. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the RNA molecule comprises a sequence at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95% or 100% identical to positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [ blastn] software of the NCBI, and encoding a polypeptide having a carotenoids isomerase catalytic activity. According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, the RNA molecule is antisense RNA, operative via antisense inhibition, thereby decreasing the ratio. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the RNA molecule is sense RNA, operative via RNA inhibition, thereby decreasing the ratio. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the RNA molecule is a ribozyme, operative via ribozyme cleavage inhibition, thereby decreasing the ratio. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the RNA molecule comprises a sequence at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95% or 100% complementary to a stretch of at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 40, at least 50, at least 60, at least 100, at least 200, at least 300, at least 500, at least 700, at least 1000 or at least 2000 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. According to still a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of decreasing a content of all-trans geometric isomers of carotenoids in a carotenoids producing cell, the method comprising, introducing into the cell an antisense nucleic acid molecule capable of reducing a level of a natural mRNA encoding a carotenoids isomerase in the cell via at least one antisense mechanism. According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, the antisense nucleic acid molecule is antisense RNA. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the antisense nucleic acid molecule is an antisense oligonucleotide of at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 40, at least 50, at least 60, or at least 100 nucleotides. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the antisense nucleic acid molecule comprises a sequence at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95% or 100% complementary to a stretch of at least 15, at least 16. at least 17. at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 40, at least 50, at least 60, at least 100, at least 200, at least 300, at least 500, at least 700, at least 1000 or at least 2000 contiguous nucleotides between positions 421-2265 of SEQ ID NO:14, as determined using the Standard nucleotide-nucleotide BLAST [blastn] software of the NCBI. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the oligonucleotide is a synthetic oligonucleotide and comprises a man-made modification rendering the synthetic oligonucleotide more stable in cell environment. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the synthetic oligonucleotide is selected from the group consisting of methylphosphonate oligonucleotide, monothiophosphate oligonucleotide, dithiophosphate oligonucleotide, phosphoramidate oligonucleotide, phosphate ester oligonucleotide, bridged phosphorothioate oligonucleotide, bridged phosphoramidate oligonucleotide, bridged methylenephosphonate oligonucleotide, dephospho internucleotide analogs with siloxane bridges, carbonate bridge oligonucleotide, carboxymethyl ester bridge oligonucleotide, carbonate bridge oligonucleotide, carboxymethyl ester bridge oligonucleotide, acetamide bridge oligonucleotide, carbamate bridge oligonucleotide, thioether bridge oligonucleotide, sulfoxy bridge oligonucleotide, sulfono bridge oligonucleotide and α-anomeric bridge oligonucleotide. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an expression construct for directing an expression of a gene-of-interest in a plant tissue, the expression construct comprising a regulatory sequence of CrtISO of tomato. According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, the plant tissue is selected from the group consisting of flower, fruit and leaves. According to still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of isolating a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95% or 100% similar to SEQ ID NO:15 and hence potentially having a carotenoids isomerase catalytic activity from a carotenoid producing species, the method comprising screening a cDNA or genomic DNA library prepared from isolated RNA or genomic DNA extracted from the species with a nucleic acid probe of at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 40, at least 50, at least 60, at least 100, at least 200, at least 300, at least 500, at least 700, at least 1000 or at least 2000 nucleotides and being at least 50% identical to a contiguous stretch of nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:14 or 16 or their complementary sequences and isolating clones reacting with the probe. According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of isolating a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 50% similar to SEQ ID NO:15 and hence potentially having a carotenoids isomerase catalytic activity from a carotenoid producing species, the method comprising providing at least one PCR primer of at least 15, at least 16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 40, at least 50, at least 60 or at least 100 nucleotides being at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95% or 100% identical to a contiguous stretch of nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:14 or 16 or their complementary sequences and using the at least one PCR primer in a PCR reaction to amplify at least a segment of the polynucleotide from DNA or cDNA derived from the species. According to still another aspect of the present invention there is provided an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95% or 100% similar to SEQ ID NO:15, as determined using the Standard protein-protein BLAST [blastp] software of the NCBI, the polypeptide having carotenoids isomerase catalytic activity. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In case of conflict, the patent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

Circuit configuration for a capacitive sensor
The circuit configuration includes a measuring capacitor (KM1) having a variable capacitance, which is set by means of a physical measured quantity (p) to be detected, a reference capacitor (KRef1) and a buffer amplifier (OV1). An input of the buffer amplifier (OV1) is at least temporarily coupled to the measuring capacitor (KM1) such that an output of the buffer amplifier (OV1) supplies a signal voltage essentially proportional to a measurement voltage occurring on the measuring capacitor (KM1). At the beginning of each measuring cycle, the measuring capacitor (KM1) is discharged to a predetermined residual charge, whereas the reference capacitor (KRef1) is charged to a predetermined reference charge. Afterwards, the reference charge is transferred as completely as possible from the reference capacitor (KRef1) to the measuring capacitor (KM1). To this end, the input and output of the buffer amplifier (OV1) are temporarily coupled to one another via the first reference capacitor (KRef1) during operation. The circuit configuration thus supplies a signal voltage dependent on a reciprocal of the capacitance of the measuring capacitor and, in addition, has a current consumption that is practically independent of the instantaneous capacitance of the measuring capacitor (KM1).
1. A circuit configuration for a capacitive sensor, which configuration comprises: a first measuring capacitor (KM1) of variable capacitance discharged to a predeterminable residual charge and having a variable capacitance, which is set by means of a physical, measured quantity (p) to be detected, a first reference capacitor (KRef1) carrying a reference charge, and a first buffer amplifier (OV1), of which an input is coupled at least temporarily with the first measuring capacitor (KM1) such that an output of the first buffer amplifier (OV1) delivers a first signal voltage, which is essentially proportional to a measured voltage occurring on the first measuring capacitor (KM1), wherein input and output of the first buffer amplifier (OV1) are coupled during operation temporarily together via the first reference capacitor (KRef1) such that the reference charge of the first reference capacitor (KRef1) is transferred as completely as possible onto the first measuring capacitor (KM1). 2. Circuit configuration as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, for discharging the first measuring capacitor (KM1), a first switch (S11), which places a first electrode of the first measuring capacitor (KM1) temporarily at a first reference potential. 3. Circuit configuration as claimed in claim 2, wherein a second electrode of the first measuring capacitor (KM1) is at a fixed, second reference potential. 4. Circuit configuration as claimed in claim 3, wherein the two reference potentials are equal for the first meeting capacitor (KM1), so that its residual charge is essentially equal to zero. 5. Circuit configuration as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first reference capacitor (KRef1) is coupled with a first electrode to the output of the first buffer amplifier (OV1) and wherein, for charging the first reference capacitor (KRef1) with the reference charge, a second switch (S12) is provided, which couples the first reference capacitor (KRef1) via a second electrode temporarily to an output of a supply electronics (VE) supplying the charging voltage. 6. Circuit configuration as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, for transferring the reference charge onto the first measuring capacitor (KM1), a third switch (S13) temporarily coupling the second electrode of the first reference capacitor (KRef1) to the input of the first buffer amplifier (OV1). 7. Circuit configuration as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a sample-hold circuit (SH1) for sampling and holding the signal voltage. 8. Circuit configuration as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second measuring capacitor (KM2) is provided and wherein the input of the first buffer amplifier (OV1) is temporarily coupled with the second measuring capacitor (KM1) such that the output of the buffer amplifier (OV1) delivers a signal voltage, which is essentially proportional to a measurement voltage occurring on the second measuring capacitor (KM1). 9. Circuit configuration as claimed in claim 8, further comprising: a second reference capacitor (KRef2) carrying a reference charge and a second buffer amplifier (OV2) of which an input is coupled at least temporarily with the first measuring capacitor (KM1) such that an output of the second buffer amplifier (OV2) delivers a second signal voltage, which is essentially proportional to the measurement voltage occurring on the first measuring capacitor (KM1), wherein input and output of the second buffer amplifier (OV2) are temporarily coupled together in operation via the second reference capacitor (KRef2) such that the reference charge is transferred as completely as possible from the second reference capacitor (KRef2) onto the first measuring capacitor (KM1). 10. Circuit configuration as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a reactive stage (BS1) having a capacitance, which is as close as possible to a parasitic capacitance that partially appropriates the reference charge delivered from the first reference capacitor (KRef1). 11. Circuit configuration as claimed in claim 1, wherein a conductor (VL) connecting the first measuring capacitor (KM1) with the input of the first buffer amplifier (OV1) has an actively protecting shield (GD). 12. Sensor with a circuit configuration as claimed in claim 1. 13. Method for setting a signal voltage, which represents instantaneously a variable, physical, measured quantity (p), especially a static pressure of a fluid, which method comprises the following steps: causing a change in the capacitance of an adjustable measuring capacitor (KM1), such change corresponding with a change in the measured quantity (p); discharging the measuring capacitor (KM1) to a predetermined residual charge, producing a reference charge on a reference capacitor (KRef1), transferring the reference charge from the reference capacitor (KRef1) onto the measuring capacitor (KM1) for producing a measurement voltage instantaneously representing its capacity, and amplifying the measurement voltage with an amplification of about one for producing the signal voltage. 14. Method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the signal voltage is sampled and temporarily held for producing a measurement signal (xp) reacting to the change in the measured quantity (p). 15. Method as claimed in claim 13, wherein a charging voltage is applied to the reference capacitor (KRef1) for producing the reference charge, the application being for a sufficiently long period of time to cause a predetermined reference voltage drop across the reference capacitor. 16. Method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the residual charge, to which the measuring capacitor (KRef1) is discharged, is about equal to zero.



Process for the preparation of l-amino acids using strains of the enterobacteriaceae family which contain an attenuated acek gene
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of L-amino acids, in particular L-threonine, in which the following steps are carried out: a) fermentation of microorganisms of the Enterobacteriaceae family which produce the desired L-amino acid and in which the aceK gene, or the nucleotide sequence which codes for this, is attenuated, in particular eliminated, b) concentration of the L-amino acid in the medium or in the cells of the bacteria, and c) isolation of the L-amino acid.
1. A process for the preparation of L-amino acids, in particular L-threonine, which comprises carrying out the following steps: a) fermentation of microorganisms of the Enterobacteriaceae family which produce the desired L-amino acid and in which the aceK gene, or the nucleotide sequences which code for this, is or are attenuated, in particular eliminated, b) concentration of the desired L-amino acid in the medium or in the cells of the microorganisms, and c) isolation of the desired L-amino acid, constituents of the fermentation broth and/or the biomass in its entirety or portions (>0 to 100%) thereof optionally remaining in the product. 2. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein microorganisms in which further genes of the biosynthesis pathway of the desired L-amino acid are additionally enhanced are employed. 3. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein microorganisms in which the metabolic pathways which reduce the formation of the desired L-amino acid are at least partly eliminated are employed. 4. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the expression of the polynucleotide which codes for the aceK gene is attenuated, in particular eliminated. 5. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the regulatory and/or catalytic properties of the polypeptide (enzyme protein) for which the polynucleotide aceK codes are reduced. 6. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein, for the preparation of L-amino acids, microorganisms of the Enterobacteriaceae family in which in addition at the same time one or more of the genes chosen from the group consisting of: 6.1 the thrABC operon which codes for aspartate kinase, homoserine dehydrogenase, homoserine kinase and threonine synthase, 6.2 the pyc gene which codes for pyruvate carboxylase, 6.3 the pps gene which codes for phosphoenol pyruvate synthase, 6.4 the ppc gene which codes for phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase, 6.5 the pntA and pntB genes which code for transhydrogenase, 6.6 the rhtB gene which imparts homoserine resistance, 6.7 the mqo gene which codes for malate:quinone oxidoreductase, 6.8 the rhtC gene which imparts threonine resistance, 6.9 the thrE gene which codes for the threonine export protein, 6.10 the gdhA gene which codes for glutamate dehydrogenase, 6.11 the hns gene which codes for the DNA-binding protein HLP-II, 6.12 the pgm gene which codes for phosphoglucomutase, 6.13 the fba gene which codes for fructose biphosphate aldolase, 6.14 the ptsH gene which codes for the phosphohistidine protein hexose phosphotransferase, 6.15 the ptsI gene which codes for enzyme I of the phosphotransferase system, 6.16 the crr gene which codes for the glucose-specific IIA component, 6.17 the ptsG gene which codes for the glucose-specific IIBC component, 6.18 the lrp gene which codes for the regulator of the leucine regulon, 6.19 the mopB gene which codes for 10 Kd chaperone, 6.20 the ahpc gene which codes for the small sub-unit of alkyl hydroperoxide reductase, 6.21 the ahpF gene which codes for the large sub-unit of alkyl hydroperoxide reductase, 6.22 the cysK gene which codes for cysteine synthase A, 6.23 the cysB gene which codes for the regulator of the cys regulon, 6.24 the cysJ gene which codes for the flavoprotein of NADPH sulfite reductase, 6.25 the cysI gene which codes for the haemoprotein of NADPH sulfite reductase and 6.26 the cysH gene which codes for adenylyl sulfate reductase, is or are enhanced, in particular over-expressed, are fermented. 7. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein, for the preparation of L-amino acids, microorganisms of the Enterobacteriaceae family in which in addition at the same time one or more of the genes chosen from the group consisting of: 7.1 the tdh gene which codes for threonine dehydrogenase, 7.2 the mdh gene which codes for malate dehydrogenase, 7.3 the gene product of the open reading frame (orf) yjfA, 7.4 the gene product of the open reading frame (orf) ytfP, 7.5 the pckA gene which codes for phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase 7.6 the poxB gene which codes for pyruvate oxidase 7.7 the aceA gene which codes for isocitrate lyase, 7.8 the dgsA gene which codes for the DgsA regulator of the phosphotransferase system, 7.9 the fruR gene which codes for the fructose repressor, 7.10 the rpoS gene which codes for the sigma38 factor, 7.11 the aspA gene which codes for aspartate ammonium lyase, 7.12 the aceB gene which codes for malate synthase A and 7.13 the ugpB gene which codes for the periplasmic binding protein of the sn-glycerol 3-phosphate transport system is or are attenuated, in particular eliminated or reduced in expression, are fermented.
<SOH> FIELD OF THE INVENTION <EOH>This invention relates to a process for the fermentative preparation of L-amino acids, in particular L-threonine, using strains of the Enterobacteriaceae family in which the aceK gene is attenuated.
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The invention provides a process for the fermentative preparation of L-amino acids, in particular L-threonine, using microorganisms of the Enterobacteriaceae family which in particular already produce L-amino acids and in which the nucleotide sequence which codes for the aceK gene is attenuated. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

Process for the preparation of l-amino acids using strains of the enterobacteriaceae family which contain an enhanced soda gene
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of L-amino acids, in particular L-threonine, in which the following steps are carried out: a) fermentation of microorganisms of the Enterobacteriaceae family which produce the desired L-amino acid and in which at least the sodA gene, or the nucleotide sequence which codes for this, is enhanced, in particular over-expressed, b) concentration of the desired L-amino acid in the medium or in the cells of the bacteria, and c) isolation of the desired L-amino acid.
1. A process for the preparation of L-amino acids, in particular L-threonine, which comprises carrying out the following steps: a) fermentation of microorganisms of the Enterobacteriaceae family which produce the desired L-amino acid and in which at least the sodA gene, or the nucleotide sequence which codes for this, is enhanced, in-particular over-expressed, b) concentration of the desired L-amino acid in the medium or in the cells of the microorganisms, and c) isolation of the desired L-amino acid, constituents of the fermentation broth and/or the biomass in its entirety or portions (>0 to 100%) thereof optionally remaining in the product. 2. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein microorganisms in which further genes of the biosynthesis pathway of the desired L-amino acid are additionally enhanced are employed. 3. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein microorganisms in which the metabolic pathways which reduce the formation of the desired L-amino acid are at least partly eliminated are employed. 4. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the expression of the polynucleotide which codes for the sodA gene is increased. 5. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the regulatory and/or catalytic properties of the polypeptide (protein) for which the polynucleotide sodA codes are improved or increased. 6. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein, for the preparation of L-amino acids, microorganisms of the Enterobacteriaceae family in which in addition at the same time one or more of the genes chosen from the group consisting of: 6.1 the thrABC operon which codes for aspartate kinase, homoserine dehydrogenase, homoserine kinase and threonine synthase, 6.2 the pyc gene which codes for pyruvate carboxylase, 6.3 the pps gene which codes for phosphoenol pyruvate synthase, 6.4 the ppc gene which codes for phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase, 6.5 the pntA and pntB genes which code for transhydrogenase, 6.6 the rhtb gene which imparts homoserine resistance, 6.7 the mqo gene which codes for malate:quinone oxidoreductase, 6.8 the rhtC gene which imparts threonine resistance, 6.9 the thrE gene which codes for the threonine export protein, 6.10 the gdhA gene which codes for glutamate dehydrogenase, 6.11 the hns gene which codes for the DNA-binding protein HLP-II, 6.12 the pgm gene which codes for phosphoglucomutase, 6.13 the fba gene which codes for fructose biphosphate aldolase, 6.14 the ptsH gene which codes for the phosphohistidine protein hexose phosphotransferase, 6.15 the ptsI gene which codes for enzyme I of the phosphotransferase system, 6.16 the crr gene which codes for the glucose-specific IIA component, 6.17 the ptsG gene which codes for the glucose-specific IIBC component, 6.18 the lrp gene which codes for the regulator of the leucine regulon, 6.19 the mopB gene which codes for 10 Kd chaperone, 6.20 the ahpc gene which codes for the small sub-unit of alkyl hydroperoxide reductase, 6.21 the ahpF gene which codes for the large sub-unit of alkyl hydroperoxide reductase, 6.22 the cysk gene which codes for cysteine synthase A, 6.23 the cysB gene which codes for the regulator of the cys regulon, 6.24 the cysJ gene which codes for the flavoprotein of NADPH sulfite reductase, 6.25 the cysI gene which codes for the haemoprotein of NADPH sulfite reductase, 6.26 the cysH gene which codes for adenylyl sulfate reductase, 6.27 the phoB gene which codes for the positive regulator PhoB of the pho regulon, 6.28 the phoR gene which codes for the sensor protein of the pho regulon, 6.29 the phoE gene which codes for protein E of outer cell membrane, 6.30 the malE gene which codes for the periplasmic binding protein of maltose transport 6.31 the pykF gene which codes for fructose-stimulated pyruvate kinase I, 6.32 the talB gene which codes for transaldolase B, 6.33 the rseA gene which codes for a membrane protein which acts as a negative regulator on sigmaE activity, 6.34 the rseC gene which codes for a global regulator of the sigmaE factor, 6.35 the pfkB gene which codes for 6-phosphofructokinase II, 6.36 the sucA gene which codes for the decarboxylase sub-unit of 2-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, 6.37 the sucB gene which codes for the dihydrolipoyltranssuccinase E2 sub-unit of 2-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, 6.38 the sucC gene which codes for the β-sub-unit of succinyl-CoA synthetase, 6.39 the sucD gene which codes for the α-sub-unit of succinyl-CoA synthetase, is or are enhanced, in particular over-expressed, are fermented. 7. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein, for the preparation of L-amino acids, microorganisms of the Enterobacteriaceae family in which in addition at the same time one or more of the genes chosen from the group consisting of: 7.1 the tdh gene which codes for threonine dehydrogenase, 7.2 the mdh gene which codes for malate dehydrogenase, 7.3 the gene product of the open reading frame (orf) yjfA, 7.4 the gene product of the open reading frame (orf) ytfP, 7.5 the pckA gene which codes for phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase, 7.6 the poxB gene which codes for pyruvate oxidase, 7.7 the aceA gene which codes for isocitrate lyase, 7.8 the dgsA gene which codes for the DgsA regulator of the phosphotransferase system, 7.9 the fruR gene which codes for the fructose repressor, 7.10 the rpoS gene which codes for the sigma38 factor is or are attenuated, in particular eliminated or reduced in expression, are fermented.
<SOH> FIELD OF THE INVENTION <EOH>This invention relates to a process for the fermentative preparation of L-amino acids, in particular L-threonine, using strains of the Enterobacteriaceae family in which at least the sodA gene is enhanced.
<SOH> SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION <EOH>The invention provides a process for the fermentative preparation of L-amino acids, in particular L-threonine, using microorganisms of the Enterobacteriaceae family which in particular already produce L-amino acids and in which at least the nucleotide sequence which codes for the sodA gene is enhanced. detailed-description description="Detailed Description" end="lead"?

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