Patents Represented by Attorney Dennis R. Hoerner
  • Patent number: 5188642
    Abstract: This invention involves a cloning or expression vector comprising a gene which encodes 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) polypeptide which, when expressed in a plant cell contains a chloroplast transit peptide which allows the polypeptide, or an enzymatically active portion thereof, to be transported from the cytoplasm of the plant cell into a chloroplast in the plant cell, and confers a substantial degree of glyphosate resistance upon the plant cell and plants regenerated therefrom.The EPSPS coding sequence may be ligated to a strong promoter, such as the 35S promoter from cauliflower mosaic virus, to create a chimeric gene. Such genes can be inserted into plant transformation vectors, and subsequently introduced into plant cells. Plant cells transformed using such genes and plants regenerated therefrom have been shown to exhibit a substantial degree of glyphosate resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Dilip M. Shah, Stephen G. Rogers, Robert B. Horsch, Robert T. Fraley
  • Patent number: 5185253
    Abstract: Transgenic plants are disclosed which are resistant to virus infection by Potato Virus X and Potato Virus Y. Plant genes and transformation vectors are also disclosed. Potato plants, for example, Russet Burbank variety, are made resistant to dual infection by Potato Virus X and Potato Virus Y by transforming the plant to express the coat proteins of the two viruses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventor: Nilgun E. Tumer
  • Patent number: 5145783
    Abstract: Glyphosate-tolerant 5-enolpyruvyl-3-phosphoshikimate (EPSP) synthases, DNA encoding glyphosate-tolerant EPSP synthases, plant genes encoding the glyphosate-tolerant enzymes, plant transformation vectors containing the genes, transformed plant cells and differentiated transformed plants containing the plant genes are disclosed. The glyphosate-tolerant EPSP synthases are prepared by substituting an alanine residue for a glycine residue in a conserved sequence found between positions 80 and 120 in the mature wild-type EPSP synthase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Ganesh M. Kishore, Dilip M. Shah
  • Patent number: 5110732
    Abstract: Fragments of the 35S promoter of cauliflower mosaic virus are disclosed which exhibit selective expression of chimeric plant genes in plant tissue. Promoter fragment A exhibits selective expression in root tissue and the radical of the seed. Promoter fragment B exhibits constitutive expression in plant tissue other than root tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Philip N. Benfey, Nam-Hai Chua
  • Patent number: 5097025
    Abstract: Five subdomains of the CaMV35S promoter are provided that cause tissue specific and/or developmentally regulated expression of chimeric genes in plants. These subdomains act as promoters for use in transformed plant cells, seeds and transgenic plants. Some of the subdomains require fusion to domain A for expression. Subdomains B2, B3, B4, and B5 exhibit expression when fused to the minimal promoter sequence in mature plants whereas only B2 and B3 confer expression in seeds and only B2, B3 and B4 confer expression at the seedling stage of development. The combination of subdomains B4 and B5 confers expression at all stages of development as does the B1+TGACG motif combination when each combination is fused with the minimal promoter sequence. The nucleotide sequence and DNA molecule that function as the enhancers are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Philip N. Benfey, Nam-Hai Chua
  • Patent number: 5034322
    Abstract: This invention relates to chimeric genes which are capable of being expressed in plant cells. Such genes contain (a) a promoter region derived in a gene which is expressed in plant cells, such as the nopaline synthase gene; (b) a coding or structural sequence which is heterologous with respect to the promoter region; and (c) an appropriate 3' non-translated region. Such genes have been used to create antibiotic-resistant plant cells; they are also useful for creating herbicide-resistant plants, and plants which contain mammalian polypeptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Stephen G. Rogers, Robert T. Fraley
  • Patent number: 5023179
    Abstract: Detection of a cellular factor from pea and tobacco which binds to a repeated pentameric motif of TGACG present in the -90 to -60 region of the CaMV 35S promoter is disclosed. Also disclosed is a 21 bp promoter element which is capable of imparting root expression capability to a rbcS-3A promoter, normally a green tissue specific promoter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Inventors: Eric Lam, Philip N. Benfey, Philip M. Gilmartin, Nam-Hai Chua
  • Patent number: 4992375
    Abstract: A method for regenerating soybean plants from cotyledonary nodes is disclosed. Soybean seeds are germinated on nutrient medium containing a cytokinin to produce a donor plant. The cotyledonary nodes of the donor plant are excised and divided into pieces. The cotyledonary node pieces are cultured on nutrient medium containing a cytokinin until callus tissue develops which contains shoots. The shoots are removed and rooted on nutrient medium free of exogenous hormone to form a plantlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventor: Martha S. Wright
  • Patent number: 4990607
    Abstract: A transacting DNA binding factor is disclosed. The ASF-1 protein factor specifically binds to the sequence motif TGACG found upstream of the promoter in many plant genes. Co-expression of this protein factor augments the level of expression of the up-regulated promoter containing the TGACG motif.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Fumiaki Katagiri, Eric Lam, Nam-Hai Chua
  • Patent number: 4971908
    Abstract: Glyphosate-tolerant 5-enolpyruvyl-3-phosphosikimate (EPSP) synthases, DNA encoding glyhphosate-tolerant EPSP synthases, plant genes encoding the glyphosate-tolerant enzymes, plant transformation vectors containing the genes, transformed plant cells and differentiated transformed plants containing the plant genes are disclosed. The glyphosate-tolerant EPSP synthases are prepared by substituting an alanine residue for a glycine residue in a conserved sequence found between positions 80 and 120 in the mature wild-type EPSP synthase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Ganesh M. Kishore, Dilip M. Shah
  • Patent number: 4970168
    Abstract: Transgenic plants are disclosed which are resistant to virus infection by Potato Virus X and Potato Virus Y. Plant genes and transformation vectors are also disclosed. Potato plants, for example, Russet Burbank variety, are made resistant to dual infection by Potato Virus X and Potato Virus Y by transforming the plant to express the coat proteins of the two viruses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventor: Nilgun E. Tumer
  • Patent number: 4940835
    Abstract: This invention involves a cloning or expression vector comprising a gene which encodes 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) polypeptide which, when expressed in a plant cell contains a chloroplast transit peptide which allows the polypeptide, or an enzymatically active portion thereof, to be transported from the cytoplasm of the plant cell into a chloroplast in the plant cell, and confers a substantial degree of glyphosate resistance upon the plant cell and plants regenerated therefrom.The EPSPS coding sequence may be ligated to a strong promoter, such as the 35S promoter from cauliflower mosaic virus, to create a chimeric gene. Such genes can be inserted into plant transformation vectors, and subsequently introduced into plant cells. Plant cells transformed using such genes and plants regenerated therefrom have been shown to exhibit a substantial degree of glyphosate resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1990
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Dilip M. Shah, Stephen G. Rogers, Robert B. Horsch, Robert T. Fraley
  • Patent number: 4891190
    Abstract: An incrustation resistive crystallizer apparatus is disclosed. The crystallizer housing has conduit means for ingress of solution to be crystallized, separate conduit means for ingress and egress of cooling fluid, means for recovery of mother liquor and product crystals either together or separately. A plurality of essentially horizontal perforated plates substantially conforming to the interior shape of the housing are vertically spaced along the housing length. A support member capable of translational movement along the housing length holds the plates in the above-described position. A plurality of mobile bodies are disposed on the upper surface of the plates. A heat transfer conduit disposed substantially parallel to the coaxial support member penetrates through apertures in the horizontal plates. A compound excitation device adapted to produce two waveforms is attached to the support member. The first waveform causes translational plate movement for scraping the surface of the heat transfer conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Don E. Carter, Yung C. Hsu
  • Patent number: 4891191
    Abstract: An improved countercurrent solid-liquid contacting apparatus, and more particularly an improved counter-current crystallizer column is disclosed. The present invention embraces the discover that column efficiency and product purity can be substantially enhanced by reducing axial liquid back-mixing by using stationary solid beds and transport means at spaced intervals along the column length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Don E. Carter, Yung C. Hsu, Jason J. Tang
  • Patent number: 4855495
    Abstract: An enhanced 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid composition and method of preparation are disclosed. The enhanced composition comprises greater than 2.2 and less than about 10 moles of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid equivalent per mole of calcium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventor: Masaharu Takano
  • Patent number: 4829052
    Abstract: Synthetic polypeptides are disclosed which exhibit potent serine protease inhibition. Methods and compositions useful for treating conditions caused by unwanted serine protease activity are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: George I. Glover, Charles A. McWherter, Charles S. Schasteen
  • Patent number: 4806687
    Abstract: Ortho-alkylanilines are prepared by catalytic hydrodesulfurization of ortho-aminobenzyl sulfides using a cobalt-molybdenum oxide catalyst. For example, 2-methyl-6-trifluoromethylaniline is prepared by catalytic hydrodesulfurization of 3-trifluoromethyl-2-aminobenzyl sulfides. The substituted anilines prepared by the method of this invention are useful as intermediates in the synthesis of compounds shown to have herbicidal activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Terry M. Balthazor, Samuel J. Tremont
  • Patent number: 4794002
    Abstract: A process for surface modifying a variety of polymeric support surfaces is disclosed in which a predetermined modifying polymer is irreversibly absorbed onto essentially all the surfaces of the support polymer accessible to the modifying polymer. The modifying polymer is selected to impart the desired surface characteristics to the modified polymeric surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Jay M. Henis, Mary K. Tripodi, Donald I. Stimpson
  • Patent number: 4753876
    Abstract: This invention discloses the use of marker genes which do not involve antibiotics for environmental tracking of microorganisms. Such marker genes include chromogenic marker genes, and marker genes that allow a cell to proliferate on media containing a sole nutrient source which cannot be utilized by untransformed cells. Genetic transformation using such marker genes is used to create cells with two or more phenotypic traits that do not coexist in natural, untransformed cells. As one example, pseudonomad cells have been transformed with beta-galactosidase and lactose permease genes, to create cells which are (1) fluorescent, (2) able to hydrolyze X-gal or ONPG, and (3) capable of proliferation on lactose as a sole carbon source. Such cells are useful as soil inoculants, and their descendants can be tracked by using these characteristics. The marker genes may be placed under the control of inducible promoters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Bruce C. Hemming, David J. Drahos
  • Patent number: 4677220
    Abstract: A regioselective process for the preparation of .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester is disclosed. A controlled aqueous coupling reaction between .beta.-methyl-L-aspartate-N-carboxyanhydride and L-phenylalanine produces the aspartyl methyl ester of .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine which is subsequently hydrolyzed and selectively esterified without isolation. The hydrochloride salt of .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester, which is selectively precipitated from the esterification mixture, can be neutralized to .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Jacob S. Tou, Billy D. Vineyard