Patents Examined by Chih-Min Kam
  • Patent number: 8956848
    Abstract: A UBP1 protease mutant and the sequence coding it, their application and products and the methods used to produce them may be used in the production of recombinant proteins, particularly on an industrial scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Instytut Biotechnoloii I Antybiotykow
    Inventors: Andrzej Plucienniczak, Anna Wojtowicz, Diana Mikiewicz-Sygula, Grazyna Plucienniczak
  • Patent number: 8951758
    Abstract: The present invention provides various GH61 protein variants comprising various amino acid substitutions. The GH61 protein variants have an improved ability to synergize with cellulase enzymes, thereby increasing the yield of fermentable sugars obtained by saccharification of biomass. In some embodiments, sugars obtained from saccharification are fermented to produce numerous end-products, including but not limited to alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Codexis, Inc.
    Inventors: Jie Yang, Xiyun Zhang, Jungjoo Yoon, Kripa Rao, John H. Grate, David Elgart, Dipnath Baidyaroy
  • Patent number: 8940506
    Abstract: The disclosure provides method and composition utilizing fluorescent amino acids and endogenous fluorescent proteins comprising a moiety capable of undergoing FRET. The methods and compositions of the disclosure are useful in analyzing protein structure and function, and screening molecular inhibitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Jiayu Liao, Yang Song, Yongfeng Zhao, Yan Liu
  • Patent number: 8927237
    Abstract: An acylating agent and a hydrolase are caused to act on a hydroxypyranone represented by formula (I) in a water-containing organic solvent, to thereby produce an acyloxypyranone compound represented by formula (II) (wherein R1 represents an acyl group). Then, an acetylene organic metal compound represented by formula (III) (wherein R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a tri-substituted silyl group, and M represents an alkali metal atom, aluminum, or a magnesium monohalide) and a coordinating additive are caused to act on the acyloxypyranone compound represented by formula (II), to thereby produce an alkyne compound represented by formula (IV). The alkyne compound represented by formula (IV) is hydrolyzed with acid, to thereby produce a dihydrofuran compound represented by formula (V).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Ootsuka, Tomohiro Akeboshi, Akiko Yamazaki, Yusuke Iriyama
  • Patent number: 8921079
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of using transaminase polypeptides in the synthesis of chiral amines from prochiral ketones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Codexis, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Hughes, Paul N. Devine, Fred J. Fleitz, Brendan T. Grau, John Limanto, Christopher Savile, Emily Mundorff
  • Patent number: 8921061
    Abstract: Reagent materials and associated test elements are provided. In one embodiment, a test element having dual functionality includes a first coenzyme-dependent enzyme or a substrate for the first enzyme, a second coenzyme-dependent enzyme or a substrate for the second enzyme, and a coenzyme selected from the group consisting of thio-NAD, thio-NADP, and a compound according to formula (I). In one aspect, the first analyte is hydroxybutyrate and the first enzyme is a hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, and the second analyte is glucose and the second enzyme is a glucose dehydrogenase or a glucose oxidase. Other aspects of the subject application are directed to unique reagent materials. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits shall become apparent from the description and drawings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher D. Wilsey
  • Patent number: 8911976
    Abstract: The invention relates to an enzyme stabilizer comprising a lignin derivative produced by reaction between lignin and a hydrophilic compound, and to a method of saccharifying lignocellulosic biomass which employs the enzyme stabilizer. According to the invention it is possible to accomplish effective saccharification of cellulosic biomass with saccharifying enzymes, by enhancing saccharifying enzyme activity and preventing nonspecific adsorption of saccharifying enzyme onto substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute
    Inventors: Yasumitsu Uraki, Harumi Honma, Tatsuhiko Yamada, Satoshi Kubo, Masanobu Nojiri
  • Patent number: 8906636
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of recombinant toxin protein production in bacterial hosts. In particular, the present invention relates to production processes for obtaining high levels of a recombinant CRM197, Diphtheria Toxin, Pertussis Toxin, Tetanus Toxoid Fragment C, Cholera Toxin B, Cholera holotoxin, and Pseudomonas Exotoxin A, from a bacterial host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Pfenex Inc.
    Inventors: Diane M. Retallack, Lawrence Chew
  • Patent number: 8906654
    Abstract: Described are novel Kluyveromyces marxianus strains NRRL Y-50798 and Y-50799, that were obtained by UV-C irradiation of wild-type K. marxianus NRRL Y-1109 cultures. The UV-C-mutagenized strains were incubated under anaerobic conditions on xylose or glucose medium for a period of 5 months at 46° C. before being selected. These mutagenized strains have potential application in large-scale industrial conversion of lignocellulosic sugars to fuel ethanol given their ability to ferment at temperatures at 46° C. and above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventor: Stephen R. Hughes
  • Patent number: 8895272
    Abstract: Methods for producing a biofuel are provided. Also provided are biocatalysts that convert a feedstock to a biofuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: GEVO, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew C. Hawkins, David A. Glassner, Thomas Buelter, James L. Wade, Peter Meinhold, Matthew W. Peters, Patrick R. Gruber, William A. Evanko, Aristos A. Aristidou, Marco Landwehr
  • Patent number: 8895281
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing a site-specific physiologically active polypeptide conjugate in a high yield by treating a physiologically active polypeptide with a non-peptidyl polymer in the presence of an alcohol at a specific pH, which can be desirably employed in the development of long acting formulations of various peptide drugs having high in-vivo activity and markedly prolonged in-blood half-life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hanmi Science Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Dae Hae Song, Jae Hee Shin, Jae Min Lee, Young Kyung Park, Se Chang Kwon, Gwan Sun Lee
  • Patent number: 8889830
    Abstract: A novel hemoglobin-albumin complex which has high stability of the oxygenated form, has high biocompatibility, and is easily prepared (synthesized), and an artificial plasma expander and an artificial oxygen carrier containing the complex are provided. The hemoglobin-albumin complex of the invention is characterized by having hemoglobin as the core, and albumin as the shell bound via a crosslinker to the above hemoglobin. Also, the artificial oxygen carrier of the invention is characterized by containing the hemoglobin-albumin complex of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Chuo University
    Inventors: Teruyuki Komatsu, Daiki Tomita
  • Patent number: 8883468
    Abstract: (3S,5R)-3,8-dimethyl-5-(prop-1-en-2-yl)-octahydroazulen-1-ols, their use as flavor or fragrance ingredient, and a process of their production by oxidation in the presence of laccase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Givaudan S.A.
    Inventors: Boris Schilling, Thierry Granier, Esther Locher
  • Patent number: 8883437
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a compound having formula (I) as an enzymatic substrate for the detection of a nitroreductase activity, wherein: W1, W2, W3 and W4 are independently H, Br, Cl, F, I, alkyl, alkoxy, thiomethyl, perfluoroalkyl, nitro, cyano, carboxyl (including the esters or amides thereof) or any combination of same; n=0, 1 or 2; X is NR, CZ5Z6, S or O, R being H, alkyl, aralkyl, aryl, alkanoic or alkylsulphonic, Z5 and Z6 being an alkyl; Y is N or N+R, R being alkyl, aralkyl, aryl, alkanoic or alkylsulphonic; Z1, Z2, Z3 and Z4 are independently H, Br, Cl, F, I, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, perfluoroalkyl, nitro, cyano, carboxyl, sulphonyl, including the sulphonyl or carboxyl amides or esters thereof, and the salts of same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: bioMérieux S.A.
    Inventors: Olivier Fabrega, Arthur James, Sylvain Orenga, John Perry, Vindhya Salwatura, Stephen Stanforth
  • Patent number: 8883143
    Abstract: A method for selection and treatment of externally caused migraine headache, the method includes identifying a patient group having chronic migraine headache; determining the identified patient group, a specific patient with a post traumatic migraine headache; and administering to the selected patient by injection of a therapeutically effective amount of an invertebrate presynaptic neurotoxin in a pharmaceutically safe form to the selected patient's head or upper neck; administration preferably being on the sites of the trigeminal cervical system, enabling axonal transport of the neurotoxin from distal to central sites; and the administration preferably comprising extramuscular injection of the neurotoxin of suitable dilution (a) over the aponeurotic fascia to enable the neurotoxin to diffuse into distal sensory nerves, in order to concentrate the neurotoxin over the occipital-parietal-frontal head region, or (b) intra-orally, in a foramina of the sphenopalatine ganglion for enabling diffusion of the neurotox
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Inventor: William J. Binder
  • Patent number: 8877474
    Abstract: The present invention provides various GH61 protein variants comprising various amino acid substitutions. The GH61 protein variants have an improved ability to synergize with cellulase enzymes, thereby increasing the yield of fermentable sugars obtained by saccharification of biomass. In some embodiments, sugars obtained from saccharification are fermented to produce numerous end-products, including but not limited to alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Codexis, Inc.
    Inventors: Jie Yang, Xiyun Zhang, Jungjoo Yoon, Kripa Rao, John H. Grate, David Elgart, Dipnath Baidyaroy
  • Patent number: 8877892
    Abstract: We describe methods that allow either carbodiimides or other carboxyl-reactive substances to be mixed with solutions of carboxylic acids or phosphates or amines or combinations thereof, so as to form a homogeneous mixture which is then dried, preferably in a freeze drying process. The mixture is then contacted with an entity, which preferably involves the dissolution of the mixture with a buffered solution of the entity, so as to initiate a conjugation reaction between the entity and a component in the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Innova Biosciences Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas Gee, Annamaria Draghi
  • Patent number: 8871457
    Abstract: Provided are a method for increasing an amount of glucose oxidase to be immobilized on the self-assembled monolayer and a sensor which comprises glucose oxidase immobilized with the method. The method of the disclosed technology is characterized by that one molecule of an amino acid is interposed between the self-assembled monolayer and the molecule of the glucose oxidase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Healthcare Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Yukari Hataoka
  • Patent number: 8871468
    Abstract: A new approach in the field of plant gums is described which presents a new solution to the production of hydroxyproline(Hyp)-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs), repetitive proline-rich proteins (RPRPs) and arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs). The expression of synthetic genes designed from repetitive peptide sequences of such glycoproteins, including the peptide sequences of gum arabic glycoprotein (GAGP), is taught in host cells, including plant host cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Ohio University
    Inventor: Marcia J. Kieliszewski
  • Patent number: 8865658
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are non-natural amino acids and polypeptides that include at least one non-natural amino acid, and methods for making such non-natural amino acids and polypeptides. The non-natural amino acids, by themselves or as a part of a polypeptide, can include a wide range of possible functionalities, but typical have at least one aromatic amine group. Also disclosed herein are non-natural amino acid polypeptides that are further modified post-translationally, methods for effecting such modifications, and methods for purifying such polypeptides. Typically, the modified non-natural amino acid polypeptides include at least one alkylated amine group. Further disclosed are methods for using such non-natural amino acid polypeptides and modified non-natural amino acid polypeptides, including therapeutic, diagnostic, and other biotechnology uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: AMBRX, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhenwei Miao, Junjie Liu, Thea Norman