Patents Assigned to The Board of Trustees of the Universtiy of Illinois
  • Highly active xylose reductase from
    Patent number: 7381553
    Abstract: A new xylose reductase encoding gene from Neurspora crassa was heterologously expressed in E. coli as a His-tag fusion protein and subsequently purified in high yield. This xylose reductase was shown to have a high turnover rate and catalytic efficiency, high stability at room temperature, broad pH profile, and a preference of NADPH over NADH. This enzyme is utilized in production of xylitol and other sugar alcohols such as sorbitol and also in the metabolic enhancement of organisms used for fermentation of plant biomass into ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Universtiy of Illinois
    Inventors: Huimin Zhao, Ryan Woodyer, Michael Simurdiak, Wilfred A. van der Donk
  • Surface modified protein microparticles
    Patent number: 7217410
    Abstract: A microparticle contains a cross-linked protein shell, and a surface coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Universtiy of Illinois
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Suslick, Farah Jean-Jacques Toublan, Stephen A. Boppart, Daniel L. Marks