Patents Examined by Richard C. Ekstrom
  • Microorganisms for producing putrescine or ornithine and process for producing putrescine or ornithine using them
    Patent number: 11053525
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant microorganism for producing putrescine or ornithine, and a method for producing putrescine or ornithine using the same. Specifically, the present invention relates to a microorganism of the genus Corynebacterium capable of producing putrescine or ornithine, in which an activity of the transcriptional regulator of sugar metabolism (SugR) is weakened, an activity of the citrate synthase (GltA) is enhanced, or both are applied; and a method for producing putrescine or ornithine using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: CJ CHEILJEDANG CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hee Kyoung Jung, Hye Won Um, Hong Xian Li, Su Jin Park, Young Lyeol Yang, Kyoung Min Lee, Hyo Hyoung Lee
  • Cellobiohydrolase variants and polynucleotides encoding same
    Patent number: 11053489
    Abstract: The present invention relates to cellobiohydrolase variants, polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of producing and using the variants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: NOVOZYMES A/S
    Inventors: Mark Wogulis, Leslie Demars, Aubrey Jones, Hanshu Ding, David Osborn
  • Polypeptides having DNase activity
    Patent number: 11053483
    Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptides having DNase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Morten Gjermansen, Jesper Salomon, Klaus Gori
  • Filamentous fungal host
    Patent number: 11046736
    Abstract: The instant invention relates to filamentous fungal host cells producing and secreting a heterologous polypeptide of interest, said mutant host cell comprising and expressing a mutated ireA gene or a homologue thereof encoding a modified IreA polypeptide or a homologue thereof, said modified IreA polypeptide or homologue thereof comprising amino acid substitutions in 5 positions corresponding to positions 81 and 84 in the Aspergillus niger IreA amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:16, as well as methods of producing a polypeptide of interest in said cells and methods for constructing said cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Hiroshi Teramoto, Kaihei Kojima, Preethi Ramaiya
  • DNA polymerase variant
    Patent number: 11046939
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a Thermus aquaticus (Taq) polymerase having a strand displacement activity in which an amino acid residue in a template DNA binding site of the DNA polymerase is substituted with an amino acid to increase a total charge in the site, a nucleic acid encoding the polymerase, a vector containing the nucleic acid, a transformant containing the vector containing the nucleic acid or the nucleic acid, a method for producing the polymerase, a method for amplifying nucleic acids utilizing the polymerase, and a kit containing the polymerase. According to the present invention, a DNA polymerase having a high thermostability, capable of efficiently replicating a long-strand of a template DNA, and having a strong strand displacement activity is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignees: KYUSHU UNIVERSITY, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION, TAKARA BIO INC.
    Inventors: Yoshizumi Ishino, Sonoko Ishino, Takeshi Yamagami, Takashi Uemori, Nariaki Takatsu
  • Oleaginous microorganisms and uses of same
    Patent number: 11008577
    Abstract: Recombinant microorganisms including one or more modifications that enhance lipid production and uses of same for producing lipid. The modifications alter cell surface functions, envelope functions, and other functions. The modifications are capable of converting non-oleaginous microorganisms into oleaginous microorganisms. The lipids produced by some of the recombinant microorganisms are excreted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Timothy James Donohue, Kimberly Christensen Lemmer, Daniel Noguera, Weiping Zhang
  • Method of producing lipid
    Patent number: 10995348
    Abstract: A method of producing lipids, comprising the steps of: culturing a transformant in which the expression of a gene encoding at least any one of the following proteins (A) to (D) is enhanced in a cyanobacteria cell, and producing fatty acids or lipids containing these fatty acids as components. (A) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1; (B) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 60% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of the protein (A), and having ?-ketoacyl-ACP synthase activity; (C) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 44; and (D) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 60% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of the protein (C), and having ?-ketoacyl-ACP synthase activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Mika Terai, Akihito Kawahara, Tatsuro Ozaki
  • Pyruvate transporter
    Patent number: 10995123
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel pyruvate transporter. By using the novel enzyme of the present invention, biomass and metabolite production amounts of a microorganism can be increased. Accordingly, by massively incubating the microorganism having improved growth characteristics, biomass or target protein production efficiency, or biodiesel production efficiency can be improved, and bioenergy production costs can be reduced, which may bring out the effect of industrial development.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: IUCF-HYU (INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY COOPERATION FOUNDATION HANYANG UNIVERSITY)
    Inventors: EonSeon Jin, Kwang Suk Chang, Seung Beom Seo
  • Production of polyhydroxy alkanoates with a defined composition from an unrelated carbon source
    Patent number: 10982240
    Abstract: Cells and methods for producing polyhydroxyalkanoates. The cells comprise one or more recombinant genes selected from an R-specific enoyl-CoA hydratase gene, a PHA polymerase gene, a thioesterase gene, and an acyl-CoA-synthetase gene. The cells further have one or more genes functionally deleted. The functionally deleted genes include such genes as an enoyl-CoA hydratase gene, a 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, and a 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase gene. The recombinant cells are capable of using producing polyhydroxyalkanoates with a high proportion of monomers having the same carbon length from non-lipid substrates, such as carbohydrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Brian Frederick Pfleger, Daniel E. Agnew
  • P450-BM3 variants with improved activity
    Patent number: 10982197
    Abstract: The present invention provides improved P450-BM3 variants with improved activity. In some embodiments, the P450-BM3 variants exhibit improved activity over a wide range of substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Codexis, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Osborne, Vesna Mitchell, Khin Yu Naing Htwe, Xiyun Zhang, Erika M. Milczek, Jeffrey C. Moore
  • Microorganisms that co-consume glucose with non-glucose carbohydrates and methods of use
    Patent number: 10982234
    Abstract: Microorganisms that co-consume glucose with non-glucose carbohydrates, such as xylose, and methods of using same. The microorganisms comprise modifications that reduce or ablate the activity of a phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP):carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS) protein or modifications that reduce or ablate the activity of a phosphoglucose isomerase and a GntR. The PTS protein may be selected from an enzyme I (EI), an HPr, an FPr, and an enzyme IIGlc (EIIGlc). Additional modifications include reduction or ablation of the activity of a pyruvate formate lyase, a lactate dehydrogenase, and a fumarate reductase and inclusion of recombinant pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase genes. The microorganisms are particularly suited to co-consuming glucose and xylose in media containing these substrates and producing ethanol therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Jennifer L. Reed, Joonhoon Kim
  • Genetically modified microorganism and method for producing indigo dye
    Patent number: 10975243
    Abstract: A genetically modified microorganism includes: an exogenous nucleic acid sequence encoding naphthalene dioxygenase (NDO), wherein the endogenous icd gene of the genetically modified microorganism is knocked out, in which the endogenous icd gene encodes isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), and wherein the genetically modified microorganism is capable of using glutamic acid and/or a salt thereof as a nitrogen source to grow and producing indigo dye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Pei-Ching Chang, Jhong-De Lin, Chang-Jung Chang, Ya-Lin Lin, Hsiang-Yuan Chu, Jie-Len Huang
  • Carbonyl reductase variant and its use in preparation of (R)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyrate
    Patent number: 10961515
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a carbonyl reductase variant and its use in the preparation of (R)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyrate. The carbonyl reductase variant is obtained by mutating phenylalanine-85 in an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4 to methionine. An amino acid or amino acids at one or more positions other than position 85 in the amino acid sequence of the carbonyl reductase may be further replaced. The application also provides a recombinant expression vector carrying the gene encoding the carbonyl reductase variant, a genetically-engineered bacterium carrying the carbonyl reductase variant gene and glucose dehydrogenase gene, and an application of this bacterium in the asymmetric reduction of 4-chloroacetoacetate to prepare (R)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Fudan University
    Inventors: Fener Chen, Zedu Huang, Zexu Wang, Minjie Liu
  • Mutant DNA polymerases
    Patent number: 10961518
    Abstract: Mutant Type-A DNA polymerases having increased resistance to one or more polymerization activity inhibitors are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiangdong Meng, Man Cheng
  • Detergent compositions and uses thereof
    Patent number: 10954478
    Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptides having hexosaminidase activity, and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: NOVOZYMES A/S
    Inventors: Christian B. Oehlenschlaeger, Dorotea R. Segura, Rebecca M. Vejborg, Henrik M. Geertz-Hansen, Lilian E. T. Baltsen, Jesper Salomon
  • UDP-glycosyltransferases
    Patent number: 10947515
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant host comprising a recombinant nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having at least about: a. 85% identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1; b. 85% identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3; c. 85% identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 6; d. 85% identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 9; e. 85% identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 11; f. 85% identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 14; g. 85% identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 17; h. 85% identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 20; i. 85% identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 22; or j. 85% identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: DSM IP ASSETS B.V.
    Inventors: Viktor Marius Boer, Johannes Gustaaf Emst Van Leeuwen, Priscilla Zwartjens, Catharina Petronella Antonia Maria Kolen
  • Expression of proteins in gram-negative bacteria wherein the ratio of periplasmic volume to cytoplasmic volume is between 0.5:1 and 10:1
    Patent number: 10941406
    Abstract: Provided are modified Gram-negative bacteria having an increased periplasmic volume. Also provided are methods of expressing exogenous genes in the bacteria and targeting protein production to the periplasmic space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: GELTOR, INC.
    Inventor: Nikolay Ouzounov
  • Thermostable protease and methods of making and using the same
    Patent number: 10932481
    Abstract: Proteolytic enzyme variants that exhibit improved thermal stability relative to the wild type protease Bacillus licheniformis PWD-1 protease kerA are provided. The protease variants are derived by the mutation of at least one amino acid residue of the mature Bacillus licheniformis PWD-1 protease kerA. The variant proteases are useful as animal feed additives to improve the digestibility and/or the nutritional value of the animal feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: BioResource International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeng-Jie Wang, Sanjeewa Rupasinghe
  • Enzymatically produced cellulose
    Patent number: 10927392
    Abstract: Enzymatic reactions are disclosed herein comprising water, glucose-1-phosphate, cellodextrin, and at least one cellodextrin phosphorylase enzyme comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:6. These reactions produce a low molecular weight, insoluble cellulose with enhanced features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: DUPONT INDUSTRIAL BIOSCIENCES USA, LLC
    Inventors: Natnael Behabtu, Ayrookaran J. Poulose, Zheyong Yu, Zhenghong Zhang
  • Variant G6P G7P glucoamylase compositions and methods
    Patent number: 10927357
    Abstract: The invention is directed to novel variant glucoamylases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Fornia BioSolutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Jie Yang, Xiyun Zhang, Goutami Banerjee, Khin Oo