Patents Examined by Ashwin Mehta
  • Patent number: 9150873
    Abstract: The present invention relates to plant cells and plants which synthesize an increased amount of glucosaminoglycans, and to methods for preparing such plants, and also to methods for preparing glucosaminoglycans with the aid of these plant cells or plants. Here, plant cells or genetically modified plants according to the invention have glucosaminoglycan synthase activity and additionally an increased glucosamine 6-phosphate acetyltransferase activity and an increased UDP-N-acetyl-glucosamine pyrophosphorylase activity compared to wild-type plant cells or wild-type plants. The present invention furthermore relates to compositions comprising plant cells having an increased glucosaminoglycan synthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Bayer Intellectual Property GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Frohberg, Bernd Essigmann
  • Patent number: 9150875
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rice (Oryza sativa)-induced Oryza sativa modifier of plant type (OsMPT) protein which is involved in adjusting tillering angle or angle of attachment between a leaf and a stem, a gene encoding the protein, a recombinant plant expression vector including the gene, a plant transformed by the recombinant plant expression vector, a method for modifying architectures of plants by adjusting the level of the gene in the cells thereof, to a method for manufacturing an architecturally modified plant transformed by the gene, to a plant with increased yield which is manufactured by the method, and to a composition containing the gene for modifying the architectures of plants and increasing the yield thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION GYEONGSANG NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chang Deok Han, Yang Do Choi
  • Patent number: 9145563
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a transgenic plant on which a useful phenotype is conferred by regulating expression of pseudo-response regulator (PRR) genes with an approach that is different from deletion of PRR genes. According to the present invention, there is provided a transgenic plant into which a polynucleotide encoding a protein comprising a CCT motif and a pseudo-receiver domain which is a common motif of plant pseudo-response regulator genes, a fusion polynucleotide of said polynucleotide and a polynucleotide encoding at least one transcription activation domain of a transcription factor, or a recombinant vector comprising said polynucleotide or fusion polynucleotide has been introduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: RIKEN
    Inventors: Hitoshi Sakakibara, Norihito Nakamichi, Nobue Makita
  • Patent number: 9127287
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods for producing fermentable sugar obtained from a plant tissue. The methods include providing transgenic plant material comprising one or more locked carbohydrates and contacting plant material with an enzyme capable of converting the locked carbohydrate into a fermentable sugar. The methods are useful for providing sugar or sugar pre-cursors for several industrial purposes including ethanol production. The invention also encompasses plants and plant parts that produce a lock enzyme to yield a locked carbohydrate, with the consequence of accumulating the locked carbohydrate in the plant. The invention also encompasses providing a key enzyme able to convert locked carbohydrates to fermentable sugars. Key enzymes can be provided by transgenic plants or plant parts, transgenic microbes, transgenic yeast, microbes or yeast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Syngenta Participations AG
    Inventors: Richard J. Hall, Simon Warner, Rogerio Prata
  • Patent number: 9121030
    Abstract: Plant metabolism and alkaloid levels can be regulated by transcription factors that regulate the nicotinic alkaloid biosynthetic pathway. In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a transcription factor that negatively regulates alkaloid biosynthesis, such as nicotine biosynthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: 22nd Century Limited, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Page, Andrea T. Todd
  • Patent number: 9120864
    Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acids or nucleic acid fragments encoding amino acid sequences for proteins involved in the control of flowering in plants, and the use thereof for the modification of flowering, particularly inhibiting flowering. In particular, the present invention relates to nucleic acids or nucleic acid fragments encoding amino acid sequences of FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), TERMINAL FLOWER (TFL), GIGANTEA (GI) and SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP) polypeptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignees: Agricultural Victoria Services PTY LTD, AgResearch Limited
    Inventors: Igor Kardailsky, Bruce Edward Veit, Natasha Talei Forester, Milan Gagic, Kim Archer Richardson, Martin John Faville
  • Patent number: 9096863
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and materials, such as newly characterized genes, and novel processes, for converting a host from a phenotype whereby the host is unable to carry out glucosinolate (GSL) biosynthesis or chain elongation from an amino acid GSL-precursor to a phenotype whereby the host carries out said biosynthesis or elongation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: University of Denmark
    Inventors: Fernando Geu Flores, Morten Thrane Nielsen, Michael Daigaard Mikkelsen, Barbara Ann Halkier, Morten Emil Møldrup
  • Patent number: 9085774
    Abstract: The present invention is in the field of genetics, especially plant genetics, and provides agents capable of controlling gene expression. The present invention specifically provides sequences of naturally occurring, tissue-specifically expressed microRNAs. The invention further provides for transgenic expression constructs comprising sequences encoding said microRNAs. By incorporation of the microRNA encoding sequence the expression from said expression construct is specifically silenced in the tissue where the naturally occurring microRNA is naturally expressed. Thereby the expression profile resulting from the promoter is modulated and leakiness is reduced. The invention further provides for a method for modulating transgenic expression by incorporating sequences encoding said microRNAs into transgenic expression constructs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: BASF Plant Science GmbH
    Inventors: Peifeng Ren, Hee-Sook Song, John McMillan
  • Patent number: 9074215
    Abstract: Disclosed are: a method for producing a chrysanthemum plant having delphinidin-containing petals using a transcriptional regulatory region for a chrysanthemum-derived flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H) gene; and a chrysanthemum plant, a progeny or a vegetative proliferation product of the plant, or a part or a tissue of the plant, the progeny or the vegetative proliferation product, and particularly a petal or a cut flower of the plant. In the method for producing a chrysanthemum plant having delphinidin-containing petals, a flavonoid 3?,5?-hydroxylase (F3?5?H) is caused to be expressed in a chrysanthemum plant using a transcriptional regulatory region for a chrysanthemum-derived flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H) gene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignees: Incorporated Adminstrative Agency, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Suntory Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Naonobu Noda, Ryutaro Aida, Sanae Sato, Akemi Ohmiya, Yoshikazu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9072232
    Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV150221. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV150221, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV150221 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV150221 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV150221.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Richard G. Stelpflug, Joel Roucolle
  • Patent number: 9072231
    Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV251849. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV251849, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV251849 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV251849 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV251849.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Richard G. Stelpflug, Joel Roucolle
  • Patent number: 9057076
    Abstract: Disclosed is a novel compound contained in blue rose. This novel compound, which is contained in blue rose, has a chemical structure represented by general formula (I): [wherein R1 is a group as set forth in claim 1; and R2 represents —OH, or R1 and R2 together form —O—]. Also disclosed are a rose plant containing the aforesaid compound, and a part of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: SUNTORY HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuko Fukui, Yoshikazu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9051380
    Abstract: The invention provides a novel MYB class transcription factor gene (nucleic acid sequences, protein sequences, and variants and fragments thereof) designated MYB14 by the applicants, that is useful for manipulating the production of flavonoids, specifically condensed tannins, in plants. The invention provides the isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding proteins with at least 70% identity to any one of MYB14 polypeptide sequences of SEQ ID NO: 14 and 46 to 54. The invention also provides, constructs, vectors, host cells, plant cells and plants genetically modified to contain the polynucleotide. The invention also provides methods for producing plants with altered flavonoid, specifically condensed tannin production, making use of the MYB14 nucleic acid molecules of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Grasslanz Technology Limited
    Inventors: Kerry Ruth Hancock, Margaret Greig
  • Patent number: 9040776
    Abstract: The invention relates to genes coding for TCP family transcription factors and having a biological role in the development of axillary buds and branch growth. Furthermore, the invention relates to the promoters of the transcription of said genes, to the genetic constructs containing same and to the uses thereof, including the use of agents that modulate the expression of these genes in order to modify plant architecture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas
    Inventors: Mar Martín Trillo, María Luisa Rodríguez Buey, Pilar Cubas Domínguez
  • Patent number: 9029635
    Abstract: A nucleic acid suitable for reducing the enzymatic activity of an invertase for configuring a sucrose storage organ of a plant, wherein the sucrose concentration is increased relative to the sucrose concentration of an unchanged control sucrose storage organ of the same genotype at a comparable stage of development. The increase in sucrose concentration by X percentage points can thereby lead to a changed or unchanged sucrose storage organ yield, wherein, in the case of a reduction in the sucrose storage organ yield, the reduction is a maximum of 5X percent. The invention further relates to a method for increasing the sucrose yield in agricultural production of sugar beet or sugar cane plants, wherein sugar beet or sugar cane plants are used, the genetic makeup thereof being set up for reducing the enzymatic activity of an invertase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignees: KWS Saat AG, Suedzucker AG Mannheim/Ochsenfurt
    Inventors: Karsten Harms, Britta Schulz
  • Patent number: 9024112
    Abstract: A novel means for accelerating the flowering time in Rosaceae fruit trees such as apples and pears is provided, by inoculating a viral RNA into a cotyledon of a Rosaceae fruit tree seedling immediately after rooting with a particle gun technique, wherein the viral RNA is concentrated from a proliferating host infected with a recombinant apple latent spherical virus (FT-ALSV) expressing an Arabidopsis FT gene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Incorporated National University Iwate University
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Yoshikawa, Noriko Yamagishi, Shintaro Sasaki, Sadao Komori, Masato Wada, Norimitsu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9012719
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for expressing a multidomain enzyme in a plant are provided. The compositions include plants, seeds, plant tissues, and plant parts expressing a modified multidomain enzyme enzyme. The modified multidomain enzyme has a heterologous linker region that is not cleaved when the modified multidomain enzyme is expressed in a plant. In various embodiments, the linker region comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:18, 19, or 20. Further provided are methods for producing a modified multidomain enzyme enzyme comprising cultivating plants expressing the modified multidomain enzyme. Downstream uses of transgenic plant material of the invention include agronomical and industrial uses, for example, human food, animal feed, pharmaceuticals, biofuel, industrial alcohol, fermentation feedstocks, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Syngenta Participations AG
    Inventor: Stacy M. Miles
  • Patent number: 8987556
    Abstract: The present invention provides isolated polynucleotide sequences encoding ?-D-N-acetylhexosaminidase. The present invention further provides DNA construct comprising the polynucleotide sequence coding for ?-D-N-acetylhexosaminidase in sense or antisense orientation, RNAi construct, recombinant vector comprising the construct and host cells comprising the recombinant vector disclosed in the present invention. The present invention further provides transgenic plant, plant cell, transgenic progeny and seeds expressing the polynucleotide with reduced ?-D-N-acetylhexosaminidase protein accumulation, having enhanced fruit shelf life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: National Institute of Plant Genome Research
    Inventors: Asis Datta, Subhra Chakraborty, Niranjan Chakraborty, Vijaykumar Meli Siddesh, Sumit Ghosh
  • Patent number: 8986963
    Abstract: Designer Calvin-cycle-channeled and photosynthetic NADPH-enhanced pathways, the associated designer genes and designer transgenic photosynthetic organisms for photobiological production of butanol and related higher alcohols from carbon dioxide and water are provided. The butanol and related higher alcohols include 1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, isobutanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 1-hexanol, 1-octanol, 1-pentanol, 1-heptanol, 3-methyl-1-pentanol, 4-methyl-1-hexanol, 5-methyl-1-heptanol, 4-methyl-1-pentanol, 5-methyl-1-hexanol, and 6-methyl-1-heptanol. The designer photosynthetic organisms such as designer transgenic oxyphotobacteria and algae comprise designer Calvin-cycle-channeled and photosynthetic NADPH-enhanced pathway gene(s) and biosafety-guarding technology for enhanced photobiological production of butanol and related higher alcohols from carbon dioxide and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: James Weifu Lee
  • Patent number: 8987555
    Abstract: Two genes, A622 and NBB1, can be influenced to achieve a decrease of nicotinic alkaloid levels in plants. In particular, suppression of one or both of A622 and NBB1 may be used to decrease nicotine in tobacco plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: 22nd Century Limited, LLC
    Inventors: Takashi Hashimoto, Akira Kato