Patents by Inventor Toro Nakahara

Toro Nakahara 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).

  • Microorganisms capable of producing highly unsaturated fatty acids and process for producing highly unsaturated fatty acids by using the microorganisms
    Patent number: 6582941
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the Schizochytrium genus SR21 strain and a microorganism belonging to the same species as does said SR21 strain or having substantially the same fungological properties as does said SR21 strain, the said SR21 strain and microorganism having the ability to produce the (n-3) series of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and the (n-6) series of docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and the invention also relates to a process for preparing the (n-3) series of DHA and the (n-6) series of DPA utilizing said microorganisms. The microorganisms according to the present invention are superior in their proliferation character and their propensity to produce fat, and have the ability to produce the (n-3) series of DHA and the (n-6) series of DPA very well. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively produce the (n-3) series of DHA and/or the (n-6) series of DPA, which are useful in the fields of foods and pharmaceuticals, using the microorganisms according to the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignees: Japan as represented by Director-General of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, Suntory Limited
    Inventors: Toshihiro Yokochi, Toro Nakahara, Takanori Higashihara, Satohiro Tanaka, Toshiaki Yaguchi
  • Method of producing a polyunsaturated fatty acid containing culture and polyunsaturated fatty acid containing oil using microorganisms
    Patent number: 6461839
    Abstract: Present invention provides a method to efficiently manufacture an oil-containing product including long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, or a high added value oil containing long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The method comprises culturing a microorganism belonging to the Genus Labyrinthula. The Labyrinthula microorganism is cultured in a medium containing oil or fatty acid as a carbon source, and the produced long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid is recovered from the culture. With the present invention, it is possible to efficiently produce from the vegetable oil and the like, an oil containing product comprising long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids such as docosahexanoic acid having a carbon number of 20 or more, and two or more unsaturated bonds, or an oil containing the long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid. Further, the method of the present invention may be used to reform oil by converting the plant oil and like to high added value oil containing the long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Toshihiro Yokochi, Toro Nakahara, Masakazu Yamaoka, Ryuichiro Kurane
  • Method of producing a polyunsaturated fatty acid containing culture and polyunsaturated fatty acid containing oil using microorganisms
    Publication number: 20010041358
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of efficiently manufacturing an oil-containing product including long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid or an high added value oil containing long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, by using microorganisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Applicant: Secretary of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Toshihiro Yokochi, Toro Nakahara, Masakazu Yamaoka, Ryuichiro Kurane