Patents Examined by Charles L. Patterson
  • Method for cloning and expression of AcuI restriction endonuclease and AcuI methylase in E. coli
    Patent number: 7011966
    Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant DNA encoding the AcuI restriction endonuclease as well as AcuI methylase, and expression of AcuI restriction endonuclease and AcuI methylase in E. coli cells containing the recombinant DNA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: New England Biolabs, Inc.
    Inventors: James Samuelson, Shuang-yong Xu, Diana O'Loane
  • Methods and materials for identifying novel pesticide agents
    Patent number: 7011975
    Abstract: Materials and methods for identifying novel pesticide agents are disclosed herein. Specifically exemplified is a full length aminopeptidase N isolated from Manduca sexta, insect cells expressing APN, and methods of screening pesticide agents using the same. Also disclosed are methods of identifying novel APN inhibitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Adang, Ke Luo
  • L-pantolactone-hydrolase and a method for producing D-pantolactone
    Patent number: 6998258
    Abstract: The present invention relates to proteins which have an enzymatic activity for hydrolyzing L-pantolactone. The invention further relates to nucleic acids which code for these proteins, to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, genetically modified microorganisms and to a process for preparing D-pantolactone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Maria Kesseler, Bernhard Hauer, Thomas Friedrich, Ralf Mattes
  • Enzyme which cleaves ester groups and which is derived from
    Patent number: 6995005
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ester-group-cleaving enzyme obtainable by culturing the microorganism Thermomonospora fusca in a suitable nutrient medium, optionally in the presence of an inducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Gesellschaft fuer Biotechnologische Forschung mbH (GBF)
    Inventors: Wolf-Dieter Deckwer, Rolf-Joachim Mueller, Ilona Kleeberg, Joop van den Heuvel
  • Process for manufacturing of tagatose
    Patent number: 6991923
    Abstract: Tagatose is manufactured by hydrolyzing lactose to galactose and glucose and isomerizing galactose to tagatose and chromatographic separation and recycling any unconverted compounds. Thereby high yields of pure tagatose are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Arla Foods Amba
    Inventors: Hans Bertelsen, Kristian Eriknauer, Karen Bøttcher, Hans Jørgen Singel Christensen, Peter Stougaard, Ole Cai Hansen, Flemming Jørgensen
  • Carotenoid ketolase gene
    Patent number: 6984523
    Abstract: A ketolase gene has been isolated from Rhodococcus erythropolis AN12 strain encoding a carotenoid modification enzyme of the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway. The gene and gene product are the first isolated from a Rhodococcus strain. Six conserved amino acid motifs have been identified as the characteristic of this type of ketolase enzymes. The gene and gene product of the present invention may be used in a variety of ways for the production of keto-carotenoid compounds in a variety of organisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Qiong Cheng, Luan Tao
  • Isolated human drug-metabolizing proteins, nucleic acid molecules encoding human drug-metabolizing proteins, and uses thereof
    Patent number: 6967094
    Abstract: The present invention provides amino acid sequences of peptides that are encoded by genes within the human genome, the proteins of the present invention. The present invention specifically provides isolated peptide and nucleic acid molecules, methods of identifying orthologs and paralogs of the proteins of the present invention, and methods of identifying modulators of the proteins of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Applera Corporation
    Inventors: Trevor Woodage, Ming-Hui Wei, Chinnappa Kodira, Valentina Di Francesco, Ellen M. Beasley
  • Isolated human kinase proteins, nucleic acid molecules encoding human kinase proteins, and uses thereof
    Patent number: 6955625
    Abstract: The present invention provides amino acid sequences of peptides that are encoded by genes within the human genome, the kinase peptides of the present invention. The present invention specifically provides isolated peptide and nucleic acid molecules, methods of identifying orthologs and paralogs of the kinase peptides, and methods of identifying modulators of the kinase peptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Applera Corporation
    Inventors: Ellen M. Beasley, Wei Shao, Karen A. Ketchum, Valentina Di Francesco
  • Isolated human drug-metabolizing proteins, nucleic acid molecules encoding human drug-metabolizing proteins, and uses thereof
    Patent number: 6953681
    Abstract: The present invention provides amino acid sequences of peptides that are encoded by genes within the human genome, the proteins of the present invention. The present invention specifically provides isolated peptide and nucleic acid molecules, methods of identifying orthologs and paralogs of the proteins of the present invention, and methods of identifying modulators of the proteins of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Applera Corporation
    Inventors: Trevor Woodage, Ming-Hui Wei, Chinnappa Kodira, Valentina Di Francesco, Ellen M. Beasley
  • Prolidase and its gene and method for producing prolidase
    Patent number: 6951750
    Abstract: Provided are a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and having prolidase activities, a prolidase gene coding for the protein, a prolidase gene comprising the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, recombinant DNA having the gene inserted into vector DNA, and a transformant or transductant comprising the recombinant DNA, and a method for producing prolidase using the transformant or transductant. The present invention can improve the prolidase through protein engineering. The present invention can be also used for improving microorganisms used in the production of enzymes for food processing and fermented foods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignees: Kikkoman Corporation, Noda Institute for Scientific Research
    Inventors: Kotaro Ito, Takeharu Nakahara, Yasuji Koyama, Toshifumi Matsuda, Tadashi Takahashi, Kenichiro Matsushima, Genryou Umitsuki, Tsutomu Masuda
  • N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase and DNA encoding the same
    Patent number: 6946281
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel protein having N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase activity; a DNA encoding the protein; a recombinant vector containing the DNA; a transformant obtainable by introducing the recombinant vector into a host cell; and a process for producing the protein or N-acetylmannosamine using the transformant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Koizumi, Kazuhiko Tabata, Tetsuo Endo, Akio Ozaki
  • Transition state analogs
    Patent number: 6946272
    Abstract: Antigens capable of eliciting antibodies which can catalyze chemical reactions, in particular, the cleavage or formation of a peptide linkage, comprising a hapten or a hapten and a suitable carrier molecule are disclosed. Haptens include, among others, silicon and boron containing compounds. Antibodies which are catalytically active for chemical reactions, in particular, the cleavage or formation of a selected peptide linkage or an ester bond, and which are elicited by such antigens are disclosed as well as methods for producing the antibodies and methods for catalyzing the cleavage or formation of a peptide linkage or in ester bond in a molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Proteinix Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Powell, Richard C. Titmas, Richard J. Massey
  • Epoxide hydrolases, nucleic acids encoding them and methods for making and using them
    Patent number: 6943001
    Abstract: The invention is directed to polypeptides having epoxide hydrolase activity, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, antibodies that bind to these polypeptides, and methods for making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. The epoxide hydrolases are used to catalyze the hydrolysis of epoxides and arene oxides to their corresponding diols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Diversa Corporation
    Inventors: Lishan Zhao, Eric J. Mathur, David Weiner, Toby Richardson, Aileen Milan, Mark J. Burk, Bin Han, Jay M. Short
  • Cloning, overexpression and therapeutic use of bioactive histidine ammonia lyase
    Patent number: 6939541
    Abstract: Histidine ammonia lyase (HAL) isolated from Corynebacteriaceae can decrease serum histidine levels, induce accumulation of urocanic acid, and is not inhibited by L-histidinol. As a result, histidine ammonia lyases similar to the one isolated from Corynebacteriaceae are uniquely suitable for combination therapy with L-histidinol to treat histidine- and/or histamine-dependent pathologies, for example, infectious viruses, such as human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), as well as cancers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Joseph Roberts, Natarajan Sethuraman, Thomas MacAllister
  • Bacterial RNase P proteins and their use in identifying antibacterial compounds
    Patent number: 6936432
    Abstract: The invention features novel RNase P molecules and nucleic acids encoding the same. Methods for discovery of antimicrobial compounds are also featured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Message Pharmaceuticals
    Inventors: Venkat Gopalan, Milan Jovanovic, Paul S. Eder, Tony Giordano, Gordon D. Powers, K. Asish Xavier
  • Compositions and methods for regulating autolytic processes in bacteria
    Patent number: 6929913
    Abstract: A nucleic acid sequence required for regulating the autolytic activity of bacteria is provided. Also provided are polypeptides encoded by the gene or mutant gene as well as vector and host cells for expressing these polypeptides. Methods for identifying and using agents which interact with the gene or mutant gene or polypeptides encoded thereby to inhibit bacterial growth and infectivity are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Trustees of Dartmouth College
    Inventor: Ambrose Cheung
  • 25501, a human transferase family member and uses therefor
    Patent number: 6929938
    Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acids molecules, designated 25501 nucleic acid molecules, which encode novel transferase family members. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing 25501 nucleic acid molecules, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and nonhuman transgenic animals in which a 25501 gene has been introduced or disrupted. The invention still further provides isolated 25501 proteins, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides and anti-25501 antibodies. Diagnostic and therapeutic methods utilizing compositions of the invention are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventor: Rachel E. Meyers
  • Compositions and methods for identifying agents which regulate autolytic processes in bacteria
    Patent number: 6927059
    Abstract: A nucleic acid sequence which regulates the autolytic activity of bacteria is provided. Methods for identifying and using agents which interact with the gene to inhibit bacterial growth and infectivity also are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Trustees of Dartmouth College
    Inventor: Ambrose Cheung
  • Glutaminase, glutaminase gene, novel recombinant DNA, and process for manufacturing glutaminase
    Patent number: 6919195
    Abstract: Glutaminase which comprises (a) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, or (b) a protein which comprises an amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution, or addition of one or plurality of amino acids relative to the amino acid sequence (a), and has glutaminase activity. A glutaminase gene which encodes (a) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, or (b) a protein which comprises an amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution, or addition of one or a plurality of amino acids relative to the amino acid sequence (a), and has glutaminase activity. The present invention enables glutaminase to be produced efficiently and thus greatly contributes to the relevant industries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Kikkoman Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichiro Matsushima, Kotaro Ito, Yasuji Koyama
  • Method for cloning and expression of Tth111II restriction endonuclease-methylase in E. coli
    Patent number: 6919194
    Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant DNA which encodes the Tth111II restriction endonuclease-methylase fusion protein (Tth111IIRM), expression of Tth111II restriction endonuclease-methylase fusion protein in E. coli cells containing the recombinant DNA, and purification of Tth111II endonuclease-methylase fusion protein to near homogeneity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: New England Biolabs, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhenyu Zhu, Derek Robinson, Jack Benner, Shuang-yong Xu