The identification, by SDS-PAGE, of four red algae used as sea vegetables or ingredients by the food industry, was performed. They were Palmaria palmata (Dulse), Chondrus crispus (Pioca), Porphyra umbilicalis (Nori), Gracilaria verrucosa (Ogo-nori). For each species, variations in protein patterns were observed, according to the season. However, for all species, some protein bands were always present during the yearly cycle of the plant. The reference pattern of P. palmata was composed of six protein bands with apparent molecular weights between 59.6 and 15.2 kDa. The G. verrucosa pattern was constituted of eight permanent bands. Two pattern bands, with apparent molecular weights of 49.1 and 45.9 kDa,differentiated the G. verrucosa profile from other seaweed patterns. C. crispus could be identified by a reference pattern composed of seven bands; three, with close molecular weights (49.3; 46.2 and 43.2 kDa), were characteristic of this species. Finally, the P. umbilicalis pattern showed seven bands with molecular weights between 73.1 and 15.9 kDa. The presence of a band with a molecular weight above 70 kDa appeared to be specific to the Porphyra pattern. So the SDS-PAGE seemed able to identify the four red species used by the food industry, but this analytical method appeared to be applicable only to raw material dried in mild conditions.

SDS PAGE was tested as an analytical tool for the identification of fourgreen algae (Ulva rigida, U. rotundata, Enteromorphaintestinalis, E. compressa) used as food ingredients. A referencepattern composed of the bands present all year long was performed foreach species. The pattern for Ulva rotundata consists of 7 bandslocated between 69.9 and 15.5 kDa with the presence of triplicate bandsat 29.5, 26.3 and 22.9 kDa. The pattern for Ulva rigida is consistsof three bands with apparent molecular weights of 68.5, 56.4 and 44.7kDa. The Enteromorpha compressa pattern is characterised by sixbands located between 65.8 and 19.8 kDa. A double band withmolecular weights of 23.1 and 23.9 distinguished this pattern from theothers. Six bands situated between 66.4 and 19.4 kDa with a specifictriplicate band of 25.9, 23.9 and 22.5 kDa constituted the specific patternof Enteromorpha intestinalis. SDS PAGE appears to be suitable forthe identification of green seaweed foods.