Patents by Inventor Alfred H. Merrill
Alfred H. Merrill has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 6750211Abstract: Compositions, methods of use, isolation and biosynthesis of diimino-piperazine derivatives useful for the modification of sphingolipid metabolism and other biological functions are described. The preferred derivative is 2,6-bis-(&ohgr;-aminobutyl)-3,5-diimino-piperazine. This is a naturally occurring biochemical compound isolated from cells. The diimino-piperazine derivatives are useful as therapeutic agents when administered to patients to treat diseases and disorders involving cell regulation.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2003Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Emory UniversityInventors: Alfred H. Merrill, Jr., Lisa Warden, Dennis C. Liotta
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Patent number: 6720184Abstract: This invention provides a method of altering the metabolism of sphingolipids in a cell comprising contacting the cell with a fumonisin, or an analog thereof. The invention also provides a method of detecting the consumption of a fumonisin or a fumonisin analog in a subject comprising (A) detecting, in a sample from the subject, the state of the metabolic pathway of sphingolipids and (B) comparing the state of the metabolic pathway to that of a normal subject, the presence of a change in the state of the metabolic pathway indicating the consumption of a fumonisin or a fumonisin analog. Also provided is a method of detecting the presence of a fumonisin or fumonisin analog contamination in a sample from a food or feed comprising detecting a reaction of the metabolic pathway of sphingolipids, the presence of the reaction indicating the presence of a fumonisin or fumonisin analog contamination. Furthermore, novel fumonisin analogs and compositions comprising fumonisins and fumonisin analogs are provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2000Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: Emory UniversityInventors: Alfred H. Merrill, Jr., Elaine W. Wang, Dennis C. Liotta, Ronald T. Riley
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Publication number: 20040039212Abstract: Derivatives of sphingolipids of the formula: 1Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2003Publication date: February 26, 2004Inventors: Dennis C. Liotta, Alfred H. Merrill, Thomas E. Keane, Kapil N. Bhalla, Eva M. Schmelz
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Publication number: 20030166666Abstract: Compositions, methods of use, isolation and biosynthesis of diimino-piperazine derivatives useful for the modification of sphingolipid metabolism and other biological functions are described. The preferred derivative is 2,6-bis-(&ohgr;-aminobutyl)-3,5-diimino-piperazine. This is a naturally occurring biochemical compound isolated from cells. The diimino-piperazine derivatives are useful as therapeutic agents when administered to patients to treat diseases and disorders involving cell regulation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2003Publication date: September 4, 2003Inventors: Alfred H. Merrill, Lisa Warden, Dennis C. Liotta
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Patent number: 6610835Abstract: Derivatives of sphingolipids of the formula: are provided wherein the substituents are as defined in the specification and wherein there is at least one R2 substituent in the sphingolipid derivative. The compounds are useful in the treatment of of abnormal cell proliferation, including benign and malignant tumors, the promotion of cell differentiation, the induction of apoptosis, the inhibition of protein kinase C, and the treatment of inflammatory conditions, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease as well as proliferation of smooth muscle cells in the course of development of plaques in vascular tissue. The invention also includes a method for triggering the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria that includes administering an effective amount of a sphingolipid or its derivative or prodrug to a host in need thereof.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 1999Date of Patent: August 26, 2003Assignee: Emory UniversityInventors: Dennis C. Liotta, Alfred H. Merrill, Jr., Thomas E. Keane, Kapil N. Bhalla, Eva M Schmelz
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Patent number: 6552025Abstract: Compositions, methods of use, isolation and biosynthesis of diimino-piperazine derivatives useful for the modification of sphingolipid metabolism and other biological functions are described. The preferred derivative is 2,6-bis-(&ohgr;-aminobutyl)-3,5-diimino-piperazine. This is a naturally occurring biochemical compound isolated from cells. The diimino-piperazine derivatives are useful as therapeutic agents when administered to patients to treat diseases and disorders involving cell regulation.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2000Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Emory UniversityInventors: Alfred H. Merrill, Jr., Lisa Warden, Dennis C. Liotta
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Patent number: 6127578Abstract: This invention provides a method of altering the metabolism of sphingolipids in a cell comprising contacting the cell with a fumonisin, or an analog thereof. The invention also provides a method of detecting the consumption of a fumonisin or a fumonisin analog in a subject comprising (A) detecting, in a sample from the subject, the state of the metabolic pathway of sphingolipids and (B) comparing the state of the metabolic pathway to that of a normal subject, the presence of a change in the state of the metabolic pathway indicating the consumption of a fumonisin or a fumonisin analog. Also provided is a method of detecting the presence of a fumonisin or fumonisin analog contamination in a sample from a food or feed comprising detecting a reaction of the metabolic pathway of sphingolipids, the presence of the reaction indicating the presence of a fumonisin or fumonisin analog contamination. Furthermore, novel fumonisin analogs and compositions comprising fumonisins and fumonisin analogs are provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 1996Date of Patent: October 3, 2000Assignees: Emory University, The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of AgricultureInventors: Alfred H. Merrill, Jr., Elaine W. Wang, Dennis C. Liotta, Ronald T. Riley
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Patent number: 5518879Abstract: This invention provides a method of altering the metabolism of sphingolipids in a cell comprising contacting the cell with a fumonisin, or an analog thereof. The invention also provides a method of detecting the consumption of a fumonisin or a fumonisin analog in a subject comprising (A) detecting, in a sample from the subject, the state of the metabolic pathway of sphingolipids and (B) comparing the state of the metabolic pathway to that of a normal subject, the presence of a change in the state of the metabolic pathway indicating the consumption of a fumonisin or a fumonisin analog. Also provided is a method of detecting the presence of a fumonisin or fumonisin analog contamination in a sample from a food or feed comprising detecting a reaction of the metabolic pathway of sphingolipids, the presence of the reaction indicating the presence of a fumonisin or fumonisin analog contamination. Furthermore, novel fumonisin analogs and compositions comprising fumonisins and fumonisin analogs are provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 1993Date of Patent: May 21, 1996Assignees: Emory University, The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of AgricultureInventors: Alfred H. Merrill, Jr., Elaine W. Wang, Ronald T. Riley
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Patent number: 5459057Abstract: A method and composition for enhancing biological response modifiers, such as promoting cellular differentiation, by using a Vitamin A or an analog thereof and sphingosine or an analog thereof.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1993Date of Patent: October 17, 1995Assignee: Emory UniversityInventors: Alfred H. Merrill, Jr., Joseph M. Kinkade, Jr., Victoria L. Stevens
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Patent number: 5232837Abstract: This invention provides a method of altering the metabolism of sphingolipids in a cell comprising contacting the cell with a fumonisin, or an analog thereof. The invention also provides a method of detecting the consumption of a fumonisin or a fumonisin analog in a subject comprising (A) detecting, in a sample from the subject, the state of the metabolic pathway of sphingolipids and (B) comparing the state of the metabolic pathway to that of a normal subject, the presence of a change in the state of the metabolic pathway indicating the consumption of a fumonisin or a fumonisin analog. Also provided is a method of detecting the presence of a fumonisin or fumonisin analog contamination in a sample from a food or feed comprising detecting a reaction of the metabolic pathway of sphingolipids, the presence of the reaction indicating the presence of a fumonisin or fumonisin analog contamination. Furthermore, novel fumonisin analogs and compositions comprising fumonisins and fumonisin analogs are provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 1991Date of Patent: August 3, 1993Assignees: Emory University, The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of AgricultureInventors: Alfred H. Merrill, Jr., Elaine W. Wang, Dennis C. Liotta, Ronald T. Riley
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Patent number: 5190876Abstract: A method and composition for enhancing the action of biological response modifiers, such as promoting cellular differentiation, by using Vitamin A or an analog thereof and sphingosine or an analog thereof.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1988Date of Patent: March 2, 1993Assignee: Emory UniversityInventors: Alfred H. Merrill, Jr., Joseph M. Kinkade, Jr., Victoria L. Stevens
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Patent number: 5110987Abstract: A method of preparing a substituted derivative of sphingosine comprising the steps of reducing serine methyl ester by a hydride reagent to form an aldehyde or aldehyde derivative, adding acetylide anions to the aldehyde to form an erythro-isomer or propargyl alcohol and inverting the propargyl alcohol by S.sub.N 2 inversion to form a threo-isomer. Either isomer can then be deprotected to form an alkyne with a 2-aminopropane 1,3-diol head group; this alkyne can be reduced to form sphingosine or a sphingosine derivitive which can be functionalized at the 4 and 5 positions to form a substituted derivative of sphingosine.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1988Date of Patent: May 5, 1992Assignee: Emory UniversityInventors: Dennis Liotta, Alfred H. Merrill