Patents Assigned to Gevo, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8283505
    Abstract: This invention is directed to methods for recovery of C3-C6 alcohols from dilute aqueous solutions, such as fermentation broths. Such methods provide improved volumetric productivity for the fermentation and allows recovery of the alcohol. Such methods also allow for reduced energy use in the production and drying of spent fermentation broth due to increased effective concentration of the alcohol product by the simultaneous fermentation and recovery process which increases the quantity of alcohol produced and recovered per quantity of fermentation broth dried. Thus, the invention allows for production and recovery of C3-C6 alcohols at low capital and reduced operating costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Gevo, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Evanko, Aharon M. Eyal, David A. Glassner, Fudu Miao, Aristos A. Aristidou, Kent Evans, Patrick R. Gruber, Andrew C. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 8273565
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to recombinant microorganisms comprising one or more dihydroxyacid dehydratase (DHAD)-requiring biosynthetic pathways and methods of using said recombinant microorganisms to produce beneficial metabolites derived from said DHAD-requiring biosynthetic pathways. In various aspects of the invention, the recombinant microorganisms may be engineered to overexpress one or more polynucleotides encoding one or more Aft proteins or homologs thereof. In some embodiments, the recombinant microorganisms may comprise a cytosolically localized DHAD enzyme. In additional embodiments, the recombinant microorganisms may comprise a mitochondrially localized DHAD enzyme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Gevo, Inc.
    Inventors: Catherine Asleson Dundon, Aristos Aristidou, Andrew Hawkins, Doug Lies, Lynne Albert
  • Patent number: 8232089
    Abstract: The present invention provides recombinant microorganisms comprising isobutanol producing metabolic pathway with at least one isobutanol pathway enzyme localized in the cytosol, wherein said recombinant microorganism is selected to produce isobutanol from a carbon source. Methods of using said recombinant microorganisms to produce isobutanol are also provided. In various aspects of the invention, the recombinant microorganisms may comprise a cytosolically active isobutanol pathway enzymes. In some embodiments, the invention provides mutated, modified, and/or chimeric isobutanol pathway enzymes with cytosolic activity. In various embodiments described herein, the recombinant microorganisms may be microorganisms of the Saccharomyces clade, Crabtree-negative yeast microorganisms, Crabtree-positive yeast microorganisms, post-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, pre-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, and non-fermenting yeast microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Gevo, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Urano, Catherine Asleson Dundon
  • Publication number: 20120190089
    Abstract: The present invention is generally provides recombinant microorganisms comprising engineered metabolic pathways capable of producing C3-C5 alcohols under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The invention further provides ketol-acid reductoisomerase enzymes which have been mutated or modified to increase their NADH-dependent activity or to switch the cofactor preference from NADPH to NADH and are expressed in the modified microorganisms. In addition, the invention provides isobutyraldehyde dehydrogenase enzymes expressed in modified microorganisms. Also provided are methods of producing beneficial metabolites under aerobic and anaerobic conditions by contacting a suitable substrate with the modified microorganisms of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicants: California Institute of Technology, Gevo, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Buelter, Peter Meinhold, Reid M. Renny Feldman, Andrew C. Hawkins, Sabine Bastian, Frances Arnold, Jun Urano
  • Publication number: 20120171741
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for preparing renewable and relatively high purity p-xylene from biomass, and from C5 molecules in particular. For example, biomass treated to provide a fermentation feedstock is fermented with a microorganism capable of producing a C5 alcohol such as 3-methyl-1-butanol, followed by dehydration to provide a C5 alkene such as 3-methyl-1-butanol, forming one or more C8 olefins such as 2,5-dimethyl-3-hexene via metathesis, then dehydrocyclizing the C8 olefins in the presence of a dehydrocyclization catalyst to selectively form renewable p-xylene with high overall yield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: GEVO, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew W. Peters, Joshua D. Taylor, Thomas Jackson Taylor, Leo E. Manzer
  • Patent number: 8193402
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to renewable compositions derived from fermentation of biomass, and integrated methods of preparing such compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Gevo, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Gruber, Matthew W. Peters, Josefa M. Griffith, Yassin Al Obaidi, Leo E. Manzer, Joshua D. Taylor, David E. Henton
  • Publication number: 20120107890
    Abstract: This invention is directed to methods for recovery of C3-C6 alcohols from dilute aqueous solutions, such as fermentation broths. Such methods provide improved volumetric productivity for the fermentation and allows recovery of the alcohol. Such methods also allow for reduced energy use in the production and drying of spent fermentation broth due to increased effective concentration of the alcohol product by the simultaneous fermentation and recovery process which increases the quantity of alcohol produced and recovered per quantity of fermentation broth dried. Thus, the invention allows for production and recovery of C3-C6 alcohols at low capital and reduced operating costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: GEVO, INC.
    Inventors: William A. Evanko, Aharon M. Eyal, David A. Glassner, Fudu Miao, Aristos A. Aristidou, Kent Evans, Patrick R. Gruber, Andrew C. Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20120107891
    Abstract: This invention is directed to methods for recovery of C3-C6 alcohols from dilute aqueous solutions, such as fermentation broths. Such methods provide improved volumetric productivity for the fermentation and allows recovery of the alcohol. Such methods also allow for reduced energy use in the production and drying of spent fermentation broth due to increased effective concentration of the alcohol product by the simultaneous fermentation and recovery process which increases the quantity of alcohol produced and recovered per quantity of fermentation broth dried. Thus, the invention allows for production and recovery of C3-C6 alcohols at low capital and reduced operating costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: GEVO, INC.
    Inventors: William A. Evanko, Aharon M. Eyal, David A. Glassner, Fudu Miao, Aristos A. Aristidou, Kent Evans, Patrick R. Gruber, Andrew C. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 8158404
    Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant microorganisms comprising biosynthetic pathways and methods of using said recombinant microorganisms to produce various beneficial metabolites. In various aspects of the invention, the recombinant microorganisms may further comprise one or more modifications resulting in the reduction or elimination of 3 keto-acid (e.g., acetolactate and 2-aceto-2-hydroxybutyrate) and/or aldehyde-derived by-products. In various embodiments described herein, the recombinant microorganisms may be microorganisms of the Saccharomyces clade, Crabtree-negative yeast microorganisms, Crabtree-positive yeast microorganisms, post-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, pre-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, and non-fermenting yeast microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Gevo, Inc.
    Inventors: Doug Lies, Stephanie Porter-Scheinman, Julie Kelly, Catherine Asleson Dundon, Aristos Aristidou, Andrew Hawkins
  • Patent number: 8153415
    Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant microorganisms comprising biosynthetic pathways and methods of using said recombinant microorganisms to produce various beneficial metabolites. In various aspects of the invention, the recombinant microorganisms may further comprise one or more modifications resulting in the reduction or elimination of 3 keto-acid (e.g., acetolactate and 2-aceto-2-hydroxybutyrate) and/or aldehyde-derived by-products. In various embodiments described herein, the recombinant microorganisms may be microorganisms of the Saccharomyces clade, Crabtree-negative yeast microorganisms, Crabtree-positive yeast microorganisms, post-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, pre-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, and non-fermenting yeast microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Gevo, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Buelter, Andrew Hawkins, Stephanie Porter-Scheinman, Peter Meinhold, Catherine Asleson Dundon, Aristos Aristidou, Jun Urano, Doug Lies, Matthew Peters, Melissa Dey, Justas Jancauskas, Julie Kelly, Ruth Berry
  • Patent number: 8133715
    Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant microorganisms comprising biosynthetic pathways and methods of using said recombinant microorganisms to produce various beneficial metabolites. In various aspects of the invention, the recombinant microorganisms may further comprise one or more modifications resulting in the reduction or elimination of 3 keto-acid (e.g., acetolactate and 2-aceto-2-hydroxybutyrate) and/or aldehyde-derived by-products. In various embodiments described herein, the recombinant microorganisms may be microorganisms of the Saccharomyces clade, Crabtree-negative yeast microorganisms, Crabtree-positive yeast microorganisms, post-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, pre-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, and non-fermenting yeast microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Gevo, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Buelter, Andrew Hawkins, Stephanie Porter-Scheinman, Peter Meinhold, Catherine Asleson Dundon, Aristos Aristidou, Jun Urano, Matthew Peters, Melissa Dey, Justas Jancauskas, Julie Kelly, Ruth Berry
  • Publication number: 20120058532
    Abstract: The present invention is generally provides recombinant microorganisms comprising engineered metabolic pathways capable of producing C3-C5 alcohols under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The invention further provides ketol-acid reductoisomerase enzymes which have been mutated or modified to increase their NADH-dependent activity or to switch the cofactor preference from NADPH to NADH and are expressed in the modified microorganisms. In addition, the invention provides isobutyraldehyde dehydrogenase enzymes expressed in modified microorganisms. Also provided are methods of producing beneficial metabolites under aerobic and anaerobic conditions by contacting a suitable substrate with the modified microorganisms of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicants: California Institute of Technology, Gevo, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Buelter, Peter Meinhold, Reid M. Renny Feldman, Andrew Hawkins, Sabine Bastian, Frances Arnold, Jun Urano
  • Publication number: 20120045809
    Abstract: The present invention provides recombinant microorganisms comprising an isobutanol producing metabolic pathway and methods of using said recombinant microorganisms to produce isobutanol. In various aspects of the invention, the recombinant microorganisms comprise isobutanol producing metabolic pathway with one or more isobutanol pathway enzymes localized in the mitochondria. In various embodiments described herein, the recombinant microorganisms may be Crabtree-negative yeast microorganisms, microorganisms of the Saccharomyces clade, Crabtree-positive yeast microorganisms, post-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, pre-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, and non-fermenting yeast microorganisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: GEVO, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Buelter, Peter Meinhold, Christopher Smith, Aristos Aristidou, Catherine Asleson Dundon, Jun Urano
  • Publication number: 20120040080
    Abstract: Methods for producing a biofuel precursor are provided. Also provided are biocatalysts that convert a feedstock to a biofuel precursor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: GEVO, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew C. Hawkins, David A. Glassner, Thomas Buelter, James Wade, Peter Meinhold, Matthew W. Peters, Patrick R. Gruber, William A. Evanko, Aristos A. Aristidou
  • Publication number: 20120034666
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to recombinant microorganisms comprising one or more dihydroxyacid dehydratase (DHAD)-requiring biosynthetic pathways and methods of using said recombinant microorganisms to produce beneficial metabolites derived from said DHAD-requiring biosynthetic pathways. In various aspects of the invention, the recombinant microorganisms may be engineered to overexpress one or more polynucleotides encoding one or more Nfs1 proteins or homologs thereof and/or one or more polynucleotides encoding one or more Isd11 proteins or homologs thereof. In some embodiments, the recombinant microorganisms may comprise a cytosolically localized DHAD enzyme. In additional embodiments, the recombinant microorganisms may comprise a mitochondrially localized DHAD enzyme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: GEVO, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew C. HAWKINS, Aristos Aristidou, Doug Lies, Lynne H. Albert
  • Publication number: 20120028323
    Abstract: The present invention provides recombinant microorganisms comprising an isobutanol producing metabolic pathway and methods of using said recombinant microorganisms to produce isobutanol. In various aspects of the invention, the recombinant microorganisms may comprise a modification resulting in the reduction of pyruvate decarboxylase and/or glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. In various embodiments described herein, the recombinant microorganisms may be microorganisms of the Saccharomyces clade, Crabtree-negative yeast microorganisms, Crabtree-positive yeast microorganisms, post-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, pre-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, and non-fermenting yeast microorganisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: GEVO, INC.
    Inventors: Reid M. Renny Feldman, Uvini Gunawardena, Jun Urano, Peter Meinhold, Aristos Aristidou, Catherine Asleson Dundon, Christopher Smith
  • Publication number: 20120028322
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to recombinant microorganisms comprising one or more dihydroxyacid dehydratase (DHAD)-requiring biosynthetic pathways and methods of using said recombinant microorganisms to produce beneficial metabolites derived from said DHAD-requiring biosynthetic pathways. In various aspects of the invention, the recombinant microorganisms may be engineered to overexpress one or more polynucleotides encoding one or more Aft proteins or homologs thereof. In some embodiments, the recombinant microorganisms may comprise a cytosolically localized DHAD enzyme. In additional embodiments, the recombinant microorganisms may comprise a mitochondrially localized DHAD enzyme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: GEVO, INC.
    Inventors: Catherine Asleson Dundon, Aristos Aristidou, Andrew Hawkins, Doug Lies, Lynne H. Albert
  • Publication number: 20120028324
    Abstract: The present invention is generlly provides recombinant microorganisms comprising engineered metabolic pathways capable of producing C3-C5 alcohols under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The invention further provides ketol-acid reductoisomerase enzymes which have been mutated or modified to increase their NADH-dependent activity or to switch the cofactor preference from NADPH to NADH and are expressed in the modified microorganisms. In addition, the invention provides isobutyraldehyde dehydrogenase enzymes expressed in modified microorganisms. Also provided are methods of producing beneficial metabolites under aerobic and anaerobic conditions by contacting a suitable substrate with the modified microorganisms of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicants: California Institute of Technology, Gevo, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Buelter, Peter Meinhold, Reid M. Renny Feldman, Andrew Hawkins, Sabine Bastian, Frances Arnold, Jun Urano
  • Patent number: 8101808
    Abstract: This invention is directed to methods for recovery of C3-C6 alcohols from dilute aqueous solutions, such as fermentation broths. Such methods provide improved volumetric productivity for the fermentation and allows recovery of the alcohol. Such methods also allow for reduced energy use in the production and drying of spent fermentation broth due to increased effective concentration of the alcohol product by the simultaneous fermentation and recovery process which increases the quantity of alcohol produced and recovered per quantity of fermentation broth dried. Thus, the invention allows for production and recovery of C3-C6 alcohols at low capital and reduced operating costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: GEVO, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Evanko, Aharon M. Eyal, David A. Glassner, Fudu Miao, Aristos A. Aristidou, Kent Evans, Patrick R. Gruber, Andrew C. Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20120015417
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to recombinant microorganisms comprising one or more dihydroxyacid dehydratase (DHAD)-requiring biosynthetic pathways and methods of using said recombinant microorganisms to produce beneficial metabolites derived from said DHAD-requiring biosynthetic pathways. In various aspects of the invention, the recombinant microorganisms may be engineered to overexpress one or more polynucleotides encoding one or more Aft proteins or homologs thereof. In some embodiments, the recombinant microorganisms may comprise a cytosolically localized DHAD enzyme. In additional embodiments, the recombinant microorganisms may comprise a mitochondrially localized DHAD enzyme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: GEVO, INC.
    Inventors: Catherine Asleson Dundon, Aristos Aristidou, Andrew Hawkins, Doug Lies, Lynne H. Albert