Patents by Inventor Ka-Yiu San

Ka-Yiu San 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).

  • Aerobic succinate production in bacteria
    Patent number: 7935511
    Abstract: Methods of increasing yields of succinate using aerobic culture methods and a multi-mutant E. coli strain are provided. Also provided is a mutant strain of E. coli that produces high amounts of succinic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George N. Bennett, Henry Lin
  • High molar succinate yield bacteria by increasing the intracellular NADH availability
    Patent number: 7927859
    Abstract: The invention relates to increasing the yield of succinate in bacteria by increasing the intracellular availability of cofactors such as NADH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George N. Bennett, Ailen Sánchez
  • Increased bacterial CoA and acetyl-CoA pools
    Patent number: 7901924
    Abstract: Methods of increasing the cellular pool of A-CoA and thus driving the metabolic pathways in the direction of A-CoA containing metabolites by overexpressing rate limiting enzymes in A-CoA synthesis. Methods of increasing intracellular levels of CoA and A-CoA through genetic engineering of bacterial strains in conjunction with supplementation with precursor molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George Nelson Bennett, Ravishankar V. Vadali
  • Mutant strain with increased succinic acid production
    Patent number: 7790416
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mutant strain of bacteria, which either lacks or contains mutant genes for several key metabolic enzymes, and which produces high amounts of succinic acid under anaerobic conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George N. Bennett, Ailen Sanchez
  • Reduced Phosphotransferase System Activity in Bacteria
    Publication number: 20100196958
    Abstract: A method of producing biological products using bacteria with an inactivated ptsHI and wild type err and no added glucose transport activity and which consumes nearly all glucose in the media is described. The ?ptsHI bacteria produce large quantities of recombinant protein without producing significant amounts of acetate. The bacteria grow well on standard LB broth without additional supplementation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George N. Bennett, Thomas Bryce Causey, Matthew Sing Wong, Steven Wu
  • Recycling System for Manipulation of Intracellular NADH Availability
    Publication number: 20100184195
    Abstract: The present invention describes a novel recombinant NADH recycling system that is used as a process for producing reduced compounds. In a specific embodiment, the reduced compounds include ethanol, succinate, lactate, a vitamin, a pharmaceutical and a biodegraded organic molecule. The NADH recycling system effects metabolic flux of reductive pathways in aerobic and anaerobic environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, Susana J. Berrios-Rivera, George N. Bennett
  • Recycling system for manipulation of intracellular NADH availability
    Patent number: 7709261
    Abstract: The present invention describes a novel recombinant NADH recycling system that is used as a process for producing reduced compounds. In a specific embodiment, the reduced compounds include ethanol, succinate, lactate, a vitamin, a pharmaceutical and a biodegraded organic molecule. The NADH recycling system effects metabolic flux of reductive pathways in aerobic and anaerobic environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, Susan J. Berrios-Rivera, George N. Bennett
  • Natural Products from Vinca
    Publication number: 20100048494
    Abstract: New and useful compounds C. roseus cultured hairy roots are provided, by Isolating flavone glycosides together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier This is accomplished by immersing powdered the hairy roots in methanol to produce an extract, concentrating the extract, resuspending the extract in water, extracting the compound with organic solvent, and isolating the compound from the organic solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, Ill-Min Chung, Ateeque Ahmad
  • Pantothenate Kinase Overexpression and Pantothenic Acid Supplementation in Actinomycetes
    Publication number: 20100047885
    Abstract: The invention relates to the synthesis of polyketides in Actinomycetes by overexpression of pantothenate kinase and supplementation with pantothenic acid. This results in increasing in vivo CoA production and thereby drives increased production of secondary metabolites, such as polyketides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Hei Chan Lee, Jae Kyung Sohng, Ka-Yiu San
  • Reduced Activity of Ubica in E. Coli
    Publication number: 20100009403
    Abstract: Production of products by engineered bacteria is increased by regulating cellular respiration. Cellular respiration is controlled by reducing electron transfer enzyme activity. Some examples of electron transfer enzymes include NADH dehydrogenases, Succinate dehydrogenases, ubiquinone synthesis, cytochrome O, and cytochrome D. In one example, deletion of UbiCA prevents respiration. Respiration can the be controlled by addition of ubiquinone or expression of ubiCA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George Bennett
  • Increasing NADPH-Dependent Products
    Publication number: 20100009418
    Abstract: A method of increasing cellular NADPH levels by expressing one or more genes that encode an enzyme that causes the production of NADPH. The system is combined with other enzymes that require NADPH, thus improving the overall yield of the desired product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George Bennett, Henry Lin, Irene Martinez, Jiangfeng Zhu
  • Simultaneous anaerobic production of isoamyl acetate and succinic acid
    Patent number: 7569380
    Abstract: In vivo method of producing esters from acetyle coA, such as isoamyl acetate and succinate, has been developed by producing null mutants in pathways that use acetyl coA and by overexpressing products that use NADH and in order to maintain the proper redox balance between NADH and NAD+. The method is exemplified with null mutations in ldhA, adhE, ackA-pta and overexpression of pyruvate carboxylase and alcohol acetyltransferase. This strain produces higher levels of both isoamyl acetate and succinate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, Ailen Sanchez, George N. Bennett, Cheryl Renee Dittrich
  • Increased Bacterial CoA and Acetyl-CoA Pools
    Publication number: 20090186398
    Abstract: Methods of increasing the cellular pool of A-CoA and thus driving the metabolic pathways in the direction of A-CoA containing metabolites by overexpressing rate limiting enzymes in A-CoA synthesis. Methods of increasing intracellular levels of CoA and A-CoA through genetic engineering of bacterial strains in conjunction with supplementation with precursor molecules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George Nelson Bennett, Ravishankar V. Vadali
  • Increasing intracellular NADPH availability in
    Patent number: 7326557
    Abstract: A method of increasing cellular NADPH levels by expressing one or more genes that encode a enzyme that causes the production of NADPH. The system can be combined with other enzymes that require NADPH, thus improving the overall production of the desired protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George N. Bennett, Ailen Sanchez
  • Recycling System for Manipulation of Intracellular NADH Availability
    Publication number: 20080009034
    Abstract: The present invention describes a novel recombinant NADH recycling system that is used as a process for producing reduced compounds. In a specific embodiment, the reduced compounds include ethanol, succinate, lactate, a vitamin, a pharmaceutical and a biodegraded organic molecule. The NADH recycling system effects metabolic flux of reductive pathways in aerobic and anaerobic environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, Susana Berrios-Rivera, George Bennett
  • Aerobic Succinate Production in Bacteria
    Publication number: 20070249028
    Abstract: Methods of increasing yields of succinate using aerobic culture methods and a multi-mutant E. coli strain are provided. Also provided is a mutant strain of E. coli that produces high amounts of succinic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George Bennett, Henry Lin
  • Recycling system for manipulation of intracellular NADH availability
    Patent number: 7256016
    Abstract: The present invention describes a novel recombinant NADH recycling system that is used as a process for producing reduced compounds. In a specific embodiment, the reduced compounds include ethanol, succinate, lactate, a vitamin, a pharmaceutical and a biodegraded organic molecule. The NADH recycling system effects metabolic flux of reductive pathways in aerobic and anaerobic environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, Susana J. Berrios-Rivera, George N. Bennett
  • Mutant E. coli Strain with Increased Succinic Acid Production
    Publication number: 20070184539
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mutant strain of bacteria, which either lacks or contains mutant genes for several key metabolic enzymes, and which produces high amounts of succinic acid under anaerobic conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George Bennett, Allen Sanchez
  • Aerobic succinate production in bacteria
    Patent number: 7244610
    Abstract: Methods of increasing yields of succinate using aerobic culture methods and a multi-mutant E. coli strain are provided. Also provided is a mutant strain of E. coli that produces high amounts of succinic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George N. Bennett, Henry Lin
  • Simultaneous anaerobic production of isoamyl acetate and succinic acid
    Publication number: 20060141594
    Abstract: In vivo method of producing esters from acetyle coA, such as isoamyl acetate and succinate, has been developed by producing null mutants in pathways that use acetyl coA and by overexpressing products that use NADH and in order to maintain the proper redox balance between NADH and NAD+. The method is exemplified with null mutations in ldhA, adhE, ackA-pta and overexpression of pyruvate carboxylase and alcohol acetyltransferase. This strain produces higher levels of both isoamyl acetate and succinate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, Ailen Sanchez, George Bennett, Cheryl Dittrich