Patents Assigned to Sapphire Energy, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8669059
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and compositions for high throughput screening of genetically modified photosynthetic organisms for plasmic state. The present invention provides methods of producing one or more proteins, including biomass degrading enzymes in a plant. Also provided are the methods of producing biomass degradation pathways in alga cells, particularly in the chloroplast. Single enzymes or multiple enzymes may be produced by the methods disclosed. The methods disclosed herein allow for the production of biofuel, including ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignees: The Scripps Research Institute, Sapphire Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Mayfield, Bryan O'Neill, Michael Mendez, Kari Mikkelson, Yan Poon
  • Publication number: 20120322157
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides novel proteins that when over expressed in algae result in an increase or change in fatty acid and/or glycerol lipid production and/or accumulation, without a substantial decrease in the growth rate of the alga or the break down of algal components, such as chlorophyll. The present disclosure also describes methods of using the novel proteins to increase or change the production and/or accumulation of fatty acids and/or glycerol lipids in algae. In addition, these proteins are useful tools in obtaining information about the fatty acid and triacyglyceride (TAG) synthetic pathways in algae.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: SAPPHIRE ENERGY, INC
    Inventors: Christopher Yohn, April Brand, Michael Mendez, Craig A. Behnke
  • Publication number: 20120322102
    Abstract: Algae transformed with one or more polynucleotides encoding proteins that confer herbicide resistance are provided. The algae can be grown in small or large scale cultures that include one or more herbicides for the production and isolation of various products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: SAPPHIRE ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Su-Chiung Fang, Yan Poon, Michael Mendez
  • Publication number: 20120309014
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and compositions for high throughput screening of genetically modified photosynthetic organisms for plasmic state. The present invention provides methods of producing one or more proteins, including biomass degrading enzymes in a plant. Also provided are the methods of producing biomass degradation pathways in alga cells, particularly in the chloroplast. Single enzymes or multiple enzymes may be produced by the methods disclosed. The methods disclosed herein allow for the production of biofuel, including ethanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicants: The Scripps Research Institute, Sapphire Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Mayfield, Bryan O'Neill, Michael Mendez, Kari Mikkelson, Yan Poon
  • Publication number: 20120309939
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of expressing therapeutic proteins in photosynthetic organisms and the therapeutic proteins produced by the methods. The therapeutic proteins include high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein, fibronectin domain (10) (10FN3), fibronectin domain (14) (14FN3), interferon beta (IFN?), proinsulin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The photosynthetic organisms include prokaryotes such as cyanobacteria and eukaryotes such as alga and plants. Transformation of eukaryotes is preferably the plastid genome, more preferably the chloroplast genome.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicants: THE SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, SAPPHIRE ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Beth A. Rasala, Rosa M. F. Cardoso, Machiko Muto, Stephen P. Mayfield, Philip A. Lee, Craig A. Behnke, Michael Mendez
  • Patent number: 8318436
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and compositions for high throughput screening of genetically modified photosynthetic organisms for plasmic state. The present invention provides methods of producing one or more proteins, including biomass degrading enzymes in a plant. Also provided are the methods of producing biomass degradation pathways in alga cells, particularly in the chloroplast. Single enzymes or multiple enzymes may be produced by the methods disclosed. The methods disclosed herein allow for the production of biofuel, including ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignees: Sapphire Energy, Inc., The Scripps Research Institute
    Inventors: Stephen Mayfield, Bryan O'Neill, Michael Mendez, Yan Poon
  • Patent number: 8314222
    Abstract: The functional analysis of genes frequently requires the manipulation of large genomic regions. A yeast-bacteria shuttle vector is described that can be used to clone large regions of DNA by homologous recombination. Also described is a method for isolating entire genomes, including chloroplast genomes, or large portions thereof, and manipulating the same. Also described are methods for determining minimal genomes, minimal pathway requirements, and minimal organelle genomes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Sapphire Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Mendez, Bryan O'Neill, Kari Mikkelson
  • Publication number: 20120288918
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are transformed non-vascular photosynthetic organisms that are salt tolerant, nucleotides and vectors useful in conducting such transformations, and transformed strains produced by such transformations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: Sapphire Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Shane Edward Hopkins, Tanya Joy Shin, Melisa C. Low, Yan Poon, Alvin Aram Cho
  • Patent number: 8292975
    Abstract: Processes of converting to feedstocks comprising hydrocarbons to compositions comprising light hydrocarbon products are described herein. Also described are processes and methods of producing and refining compositions comprising terpenes from biomass that can be suitable as a fuel product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignees: Sapphire Energy, Inc., The University of Tulsa
    Inventors: Jason L. Pyle, Alex M. Aravanis, Daniel Crunkleton, Geoffrey L. Price
  • Publication number: 20120253056
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and processes for the recovery of oleaginous compounds from biomass and in particular biomass comprises photosynthetic microorganisms. Also disclosure are oleaginous compounds obtained using the disclosed methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: SAPPHIRE ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: RICHARD J. CRANFORD, Alex M. Aravanis, Stilianos G. Roussis
  • Publication number: 20120252054
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of transforming various species of algae, for example, algae from the genus Scenedesmus and the genus Dunaliella, vectors and nucleic acid constructs useful in conducting such transformations, and recombinant algae, for example, Scenedesmus and Dunaliella produced using the vectors and methods disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: SAPPHIRE ENERGY INC
    Inventors: Kyle M. Botsch, Amy C. Curran, Wendy Levine, Bryan O'Neill, Shawn Joseph Szyjka, Michael Mendez
  • Patent number: 8268553
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and compositions for high throughput screening of genetically modified photosynthetic organisms for plasmic state. The present invention provides methods of producing one or more proteins, including biomass degrading enzymes in a plant. Also provided are the methods of producing biomass degradation pathways in alga cells, particularly in the chloroplast. Single enzymes or multiple enzymes may be produced by the methods disclosed. The methods disclosed herein allow for the production of biofuel, including ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignees: Sapphire Energy, Inc., The Scripps Research Institute
    Inventors: Stephen Mayfield, Bryan O'Neill, Michael Mendez, Kari Mikkelson, Yan Poon
  • Publication number: 20120231546
    Abstract: Provided herein are novel ACCases and nucleotides encoding the same, that when introduced into a cell or organism results in an increase and/or accumulation of fatty acids, glycerol lipids, and/or oils in the cell or organism, and/or a change in the types of fatty acids, glycerol lipids, and/or oils that are normally present in the cell or organism. Also provided herein are organisms transformed with the novel ACCases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: Sapphire Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig A. Behnke, David Molina, Soyan Lieberman, Jamie Bacher, Shuiqin Wu
  • Publication number: 20120220021
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are transformed non-vascular photosynthetic organisms that are herbicide resistant, nucleotides and vectors useful in conducting such transformations, and transformed strains produced by such transformations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: SAPPHIRE ENERGY ,INC.
    Inventors: Tanya Joy Shin, Yan Poon, Melisa C. Low, Shane Edward Hopkins, Alvin Aram Cho
  • Publication number: 20120190872
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and processes for the recovery of oleaginous compounds from biomass and in particular biomass comprises photosynthetic microorganisms. Also disclosure are oleaginous compounds Obtained using the disclosed methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: SAPPHIRE ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: RICHARD J. CRANFORD, ALEX M. ARAVANIS, STILIANOS G. ROUSSIS
  • Patent number: 8192628
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and processes for the recovery of oleaginous compounds from biomass and in particular biomass comprises photosynthetic microorganisms. Also disclosure are oleaginous compounds obtained using the disclosed methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Sapphire Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Cranford, Alex M. Aravanis, Stilianos G. Roussis
  • Publication number: 20120116138
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for upgrading (for example, removing heteroatoms, metals, or metalloids) an oil composition derived or extracted from a biomass. The upgraded oil composition can be used to make a desired product, for example, a fuel product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: SAPPHIRE ENERGY, INC
    Inventors: Brian L. Goodall, Alex M. Aravanis, Graig A. Behnke, Richard J. Cranford, Daniel J. Sajkowski
  • Publication number: 20120107853
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and compositions for high throughput screening of genetically modified photosynthetic organisms for plasmic state. The present invention provides methods of producing one or more proteins, including biomass degrading enzymes in a plant. Also provided are the methods of producing biomass degradation pathways in alga cells, particularly in the chloroplast. Single enzymes or multiple enzymes may be produced by the methods disclosed. The methods disclosed herein allow for the production of biofuel, including ethanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicants: THE SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, SAPPHIRE ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Mayfield, Bryan O'Neill, Michael Mendez, Yan Poon
  • Publication number: 20120094386
    Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for engineering salt tolerance and producing products by photosynthetic organisms. The photosynthetic organisms can be genetically modified to be salt tolerant as compared to an unmodified organism and to produce useful products. The methods and compositions of the disclosure are useful in many therapeutic and industrial applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: SAPPHIRE ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Mendez, Su-Chiung Fang, Stephane Richard
  • Patent number: 8143039
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and compositions for high throughput screening of genetically modified photosynthetic organisms for plasmic state. The present invention provides methods of producing one or more proteins, including biomass degrading enzymes in a plant. Also provided are the methods of producing biomass degradation pathways in alga cells, particularly in the chloroplast. Single enzymes or multiple enzymes may be produced by the methods disclosed. The methods disclosed herein allow for the production of biofuel, including ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignees: Sapphire Energy, Inc., The Scripps Research Institute
    Inventors: Stephen Mayfield, Bryan O'Neill, Michael Mendez, Yan Poon