Patents by Inventor Katsuhisa Saeki

Katsuhisa Saeki 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).

  • Patent number: 9650623
    Abstract: Providing an alkaline protease exhibiting an improved solubility in a liquid detergent. A mutant alkaline protease consisting of the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID No: 2 or an amino acid sequence having 80% or more sequence identity therewith, in which at least one amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of the amino acid residues at predetermined positions of the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID No: 2 or corresponding positions thereto are substituted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Masatoshi Tohata, Yumi Nishimura, Yasunao Wada, Katsuhisa Saeki, Mitsuyoshi Okuda
  • Patent number: 8778650
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an alkaline protease that has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or of an amino acid sequence having an identity of 90% or more thereto, except that one or more amino acid residues at positions selected from (a) position 6, (b) position 15, (c) position 16, (d) position 65, (e) position 66, (f) position 82, (g) position 83, (h) position 204, (i) position 319, and (j) position 337 of SEQ ID NO: 2, or at positions corresponding thereto, are substituted with certain other amino acid residues. The invention is also directed to detergent compositions and culture medium that contain the protease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Masatoshi Tohata, Mitsuyoshi Okuda, Tsuyoshi Sato, Keiji Endo, Katsuhisa Saeki
  • Publication number: 20120058928
    Abstract: An alkaline protease variant derived from an alkaline protease consisting of an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 or consisting of an amino acid sequence having an identity of 90% or more therewith, which variant has mutations wherein one or more amino acid residues at positions selected from (a) position 6, (b) position 15, (c) position 16, (d) position 65, (e) position 66, (f) position 82, (g) position 83, (h) position 204, (i) position 319, and (j) position 337 of the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2, or at positions corresponding thereto are substituted with the following amino acid residues: (a) or a position corresponding thereto: Typ, Leu, Val, Ile, Met, Tyr, Gln, Lys, Thr, Phe, Arg, Ser, Cys, Ala, or His; (b) or a position corresponding thereto: Glu, Met, Asp, Val, Gln, Arg, Cys, Trp, Ala, or Phe; (c) or a position corresponding thereto: Met, Glu, Arg, Val, Lys, Phe, Tyr, Ile, His, Asp, or Cys; (d) or a position corresponding thereto: Trp; (e) or a position corresponding t
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Masatoshi Tohata, Mitsuyoshi Okuda, Tsuyoshi Sato, Keiji Endo, Katsuhisa Saeki
  • Patent number: 7776578
    Abstract: Provided in the present invention is an alkaline protease wherein an amino acid residue at (a) position 65, (b) position 101, (c) position 163, (d) position 170, (e) position 171, (f) position 273, (g) position 320, (h) position 359 or (i) position 387 of SEQ. ID NO:1 or at a position corresponding thereto has been selected from the following amino acid residues: position (a): proline, position (b): asparagine, position (c): histidine, aspartic acid, phenylalanine, lysine, asparagine, serine, isoleucine, leucine, glutamine, threonine and valine, position (d): valine and leucine, position (e): alanine, glutamic acid, glycine and threonine, position (f): isoleucine, glycine and threonine, position (g): phenylalanine, valine, threonine, leucine, isoleucine and glycine, position (h): serine, leucine, valine, isoleucine and glutamine, position (i): alanine, lysine, glutamine, glutamic acid, arginine and histidine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Okuda, Tsuyoshi Sato, Kazuhiro Saito, Nobuyuki Sumitomo, Yoshifumi Izawa, Katsuhisa Saeki, Tohru Kobayashi, Masafumi Nomura
  • Publication number: 20080177040
    Abstract: Provided in the present invention is an alkaline protease wherein an amino acid residue at (a) position 65, (b) position 101, (c) position 163, (d) position 170, (e) position 171, (f) position 273, (g) position 320, (h) position 359 or (i) position 387 of SEQ. ID NO:1 or at a position corresponding thereto has been selected from the following amino acid residues: position (a): proline, position (b): asparagine, position (c): histidine, aspartic acid, phenylalanine, lysine, asparagine, serine, isoleucine, leucine, glutamine, threonine and valine, position (d): valine and leucine, position (e): alanine, glutamic acid, glycine and threonine, position (f): isoleucine, glycine and threonine, position (g): phenylalanine, valine, threonine, leucine, isoleucine and glycine, position (h): serine, leucine, valine, isoleucine and glutamine, position (i): alanine, lysine, glutamine, glutamic acid, arginine and histidine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: KAO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Okuda, Tsuyoshi Sato, Kazuhiro Saito, Nobuyuki Sumitomo, Yoshifumi Izawa, Katsuhisa Saeki, Tohru Kobayashi, Masafumi Nomura
  • Patent number: 7371839
    Abstract: The present invention relates to alkaline proteases having high specific activity and strong oxidant resistance. The present invention also relates to alkaline proteases having excellent detergency that are to be added to a detergent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: KAO Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Hatada, Akinori Ogawa, Yasushi Kageyama, Tsuyoshi Sato, Hiroyuki Araki, Nobuyuki Sumitomo, Mitsuyoshi Okuda, Katsuhisa Saeki
  • Patent number: 7368273
    Abstract: An alkaline protease wherein an amino acid residue at (a) position 65, (b) position 101, (c) position 163, (d) position 17-0, (e) position 171, (f) position 273, (g) position 320, (h) position 359 or (i) position 387 of SEQ. ID NO: 2 or at a position corresponding thereto has been selected from the following amino acid residues: position (a): proline, position (b): asparagine, position (e): histidine, aspartic acid, phenylalanine, lysine, asparagine, seine, isoleucine, leucine, glutamine, threonine and valine, position (d): valine and leucine, position (e): alanine, glutamic acid, glycine and threonine, position (K): isoleucine, glycine and threonine, position (g): phenylalanine, valine, threonine, leucine, isoleucine and glycine, position (h): seine, leucine, valine, isoleucine and glutamine, position (i): alanine, lysine, glutamine, glutamic acid, arginine and histidine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Okuda, Tsuyoshi Sato, Kazuhiro Saito, Nobuyuki Sumitomo, Yoshifumi Izawa, Katsuhisa Saeki, Tohru Kobayashi, Masafumi Nomura
  • Patent number: 7297528
    Abstract: An alkaline protease having the following properties; a gene encoding the same; a microorganism producing the same; and washing compositions containing the same; (i) acting over a broad pH value range of 4 to 13 and achieving, at pH 6 to 12, 80% or more the activity at the optimum pH value; (ii) when treated at 40° C. for 30 minutes, being stable over a pH value range of 6 to 11; (iii) having an isoelectric point of about 8.9 to 9.1; and (iv) having casein digesting activity that is not inhibited by oleic acid. The alkaline protease of the present invention is highly stable to various surface active agents and fatty acids, and exhibits high stability to oxidizing agents, and is therefore useful as an enzyme to be used in detergents for automatic dishwashers and laundry detergents, both containing bleaching components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio Takaiwa, Mitsuyoshi Okuda, Katsuhisa Saeki, Hiromi Kubota, Jun Hitomi, Yasushi Kageyama, Shitsuw Shikata, Masafumi Nomura
  • Publication number: 20040203129
    Abstract: The present invention relates to alkaline proteases having high specific activity and strong oxidant resistance. The present invention also relates to alkaline proteases having excellent detergency that is to be added to a detergent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Applicant: KAO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Hatada, Akinori Ogawa, Yasushi Kageyama, Tsuyoshi Sato, Hiroyuki Araki, Nobuyuki Sumitomo, Mitsuyoshi Okuda, Katsuhisa Saeki
  • Patent number: 6803222
    Abstract: The present invention relates to alkaline proteases having high specific activity and strong oxidant resistance. The present invention also relates to alkaline proteases having excellent detergency that is to be added to a detergent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Hatada, Akinori Ogawa, Yasushi Kageyama, Tsuyoshi Sato, Hiroyuki Araki, Nobuyuki Sumitomo, Mitsuyoshi Okuda, Katsuhisa Saeki
  • Publication number: 20040142837
    Abstract: An alkaline protease having the following properties; a gene encoding the same; a microorganism producing the same; and washing compositions containing the same; (i) acting over a broad pH value range of 4 to 13 and achieving, at pH 6 to 12, 80% or more the activity at the optimum pH value; (ii) when treated at 40° C. for 30 minutes, being stable over a pH value range of 6 to 11; (iii) having an isoelectric point of about 8.9 to 9.1; and (iv) having casein digesting activity that is not inhibited by oleic acid. The alkaline protease of the present invention is highly stable to various surface active agents and fatty acids, and exhibits high stability to oxidizing agents, and is therefore useful as an enzyme to be used in detergents for automatic dishwashers and laundry detergents, both containing bleaching components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Applicant: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio Takaiwa, Mitsuyoshi Okuda, Katsuhisa Saeki, Hiromi Kubota, Jun Hitomi, Yasushi Kageyama, Shitsuw Shikata, Masafumi Nomura
  • Patent number: 6759228
    Abstract: An alkaline protease having the following properties; a gene encoding the same; a microorganism producing the same; and washing compositions containing the same; (i) acting over a broad pH value range of 4 to 13 and achieving, at pH 6 to 12, 80% or more the activity at the optimum pH value; (ii) when treated at 40° C. for 30 minutes, being stable over a pH value range of 6 to 11; (iii) having an isoelectric point of about 8.9 to 9.1; and (iv) having casein digesting activity that is not inhibited by oleic acid. The alkaline protease of the present invention is highly stable to various surface active agents and fatty acids, and exhibits high stability to oxidizing agents, and is therefore useful as an enzyme to be used in detergents for automatic dishwashers and laundry detergents, both containing bleaching components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio Takaiwa, Mitsuyoshi Okuda, Katsuhisa Saeki, Hiromi Kubota, Jun Hitomi, Yasushi Kageyama, Shitsuw Shikata, Masafumi Nomura
  • Publication number: 20040002432
    Abstract: Provided in the present invention is an alkaline protease wherein an amino acid residue at (a) position 65, (b) position 101, (c) position 163, (d) position 170, (e) position 171, (f) position 273, (g) position 320, (h) position 359 or (i) position 387 of SEQ. ID NO: 1 or at a position corresponding thereto has been selected from the following amino acid residues: position (a): proline, position (b): asparagine, position (c): histidine, aspartic acid, phenylalanine, lysine, asparagine, serine, isoleucine, leucine, glutamine, threonine and valine, position (d): valine and leucine, position (e): alanine, glutamic acid, glycine and threonine, position (f): isoleucine, glycine and threonine, position (g): phenylalanine, valine, threonine, leucine, isoleucine and glycine, position (h): serine, leucine, valine, isoleucine and glutamine, position (i): alanine, lysine, glutamine, glutamic acid, arginine and histidine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Applicant: KAO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Okuda, Tsuyoshi Sato, Kazuhiro Saito, Nobuyuki Sumitomo, Yoshifumi Izawa, Katsuhisa Saeki, Tohru Kobayashi, Masafumi Nomura
  • Publication number: 20030022351
    Abstract: The present invention relates to alkaline proteases having high specific activity oxidant resistance, as well as an enzyme having excellent detergency that is to be added to a detergent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Hatada, Akinori Ogawa, Yasushi Kageyama, Tsuyoshi Sato, Hiroyuki Araki, Nobuyuki Sumitomo, Mitsuyoshi Okuda, Katsuhisa Saeki
  • Patent number: 6509183
    Abstract: A DNA fragment coding for alkaline pullulanase, which contains about 6.3 Kb base pairs and has a restriction map shown in FIG. 2, a recombinant vector containing the DNA fragment, and a microorganism carrying the vector. Also disclosed is a method of preparing alkaline pullulanase which comprises culturing a transformant microorganism which has been transformed with a recombinant vector containing a DNA fragment coding for alkaline pullulanase, having a restriction enzyme map shown in FIG. 2 and having about 6.3 Kb base pairs. According to the method of the invention, alkaline pullulanase which is useful as a component of detergents can be mass-produced in a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Ara, Kazuaki Igarashi, Katsuhisa Saeki, Shuji Kawai, Susumu Ito
  • Publication number: 20020064854
    Abstract: An alkaline protease having the following properties; a gene encoding the same; a microorganism producing the same; and washing compositions containing the same; (i) acting over a broad pH value range of 4 to 13 and achieving, at pH 6 to 12, 80% or more the activity at the optimum pH value; (ii) when treated at 40° C. for 30 minutes, being stable over a pH value range of 6 to 11; (iii) having an isoelectric point of about 8.9 to 9.1; and (iv) having casein digesting activity that is not inhibited by oleic acid. The alkaline protease of the present invention is highly stable to various surface active agents and fatty acids, and exhibits high stability to oxidizing agents, and is therefore useful as an enzyme to be used in detergents for automatic dishwashers and laundry detergents, both containing bleaching components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: KAO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mikio Takaiwa, Mitsuyoshi Okuda, Katsuhisa Saeki, Hiromi Kubota, Jun Hitomi, Yasushi Kageyama, Shitsuw Shikata, Masafumi Nomura
  • Patent number: 6376227
    Abstract: An alkaline protease having the following properties; a gene encoding the same; a microorganism producing the same; and washing compositions containing the same; (i) acting over a broad pH value range of 4 to 13 and achieving, at pH 6 to 12, 80% or more the activity at the optimum pH value; (ii) when treated at 40° C. for 30 minutes, being stable over a pH value range of 6 to 11; (iii) having an isoelectric point of about 8.9 to 9.1; and (iv) having casein digesting activity that is not inhibited by oleic acid. The alkaline protease of the present invention is highly stable to various surface active agents and fatty acids, and exhibits high stability to oxidizing agents, and is therefore useful as an enzyme to be used in detergents for automatic dishwashers and laundry detergents, both containing bleaching components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio Takaiwa, Mitsuyoshi Okuda, Katsuhisa Saeki, Hiromi Kubota, Jun Hitomi, Yasushi Kageyama, Shitsuw Shikata, Masafumi Nomura
  • Patent number: 5635468
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquefying alkaline .alpha.-amylase having the enzymatic properties described below, a production process thereof and a detergent composition containing the same.1) Action:It hydrolyzes .alpha.-1,4-glucosidic linkages in starches, amylose, amylopectin and partial degradation products thereof and from amylose, forms glucose (G1), maltose (G2), maltotriose (G3), maltotetraose (G4), maltopentaose (G5) and maltohexaose (G6). It however does not act on pullulan.2) Isoelectric point:It has an isoelectric point higher than 8.5 when measured by an isoelectric focusing electrophoresis.The amylase according to the present invention has a liquefying activity capable of permitting degrading starches and starchy polysaccharides at high random, and has an optimum pH on the alkaline side. Owing to the high isoelectric point, it can be purified readily. Detergents with the amylase incorporated therein have excellent detergency especially against the soil of smeared food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Ara, Katsuhisa Saeki, Kazuaki Igarashi, Mikio Takaiwa, Takaaki Uemura, Shuji Kawai, Susumu Ito, Hiroshi Hagihara, Tohru Kobayashi, Atsushi Tanaka, Eiichi Hoshino
  • Patent number: 5429766
    Abstract: A novel detergent composition containing an alkaline pullulanase is disclosed. The alkaline pullulanase has its optimum pH in an alkaline range and not deactivated by surfactants. Further it has strong resistance to almost all detergent components such as chelating agents, protease, etc. The the detergent composition of this invention has excellent detergency especially against starch soils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Taeko Sone, Masaki Tosaka, Katsuhisa Saeki, Katsutoshi Ara, Katsuhiko Deguchi, Kazuaki Igarashi
  • Patent number: 5316691
    Abstract: A detergent composition containing an alkaline pullulanase, a surfactant, alkaline agents and/or inorganic electrolytes, divalent metal ion scavengers and bleaching agents is disclosed. The alkaline pullulanase has an optimum pH range of 8.5-10.0 on pullulan, an optimum temperature of about 50.degree. C. and is not deactivated by surfactants. Further, the pullulanase has a strong resistance to almost all detergent components such as chelating agents, proteases, etc. The pullulanase is isolated from Bacillus sp. KSM-AP 1378 deposited as FERM BP-3048. The composition specifically contains 0.1-10 wt. % alkaline pullulanase B, 0.5-60 wt. % surfactant, 0-90 wt. % alkaline agents and/or inorganic electrolytes, 0-50 wt. % divalent metal ion scavengers, and 0-85 wt. % bleaching agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Taeko Sone, Masaki Tosaka, Katsuhisa Saeki, Katsutoshi Ara, Katsuhiko Deguchi, Kazuaki Igarashi