Patents Examined by Christian L. Fronda
  • Nucleic acids and vectors for regulated target gene expression in methanotrophic bacteria
    Patent number: 11041159
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides nucleic acids and vectors for use with methanotrophic bacteria. Related host cells and methods for using such nucleic acids and vectors for expressing polypeptides or other genetic manipulation of methanotrophic bacteria are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Calysta, Inc.
    Inventors: Renee M. Saville, Joshua Silverman, Jeremy Minshull, Jon Edward Ness, Effendi Leonard, Jana Stumpe, Mark Welch
  • Enzymatic production of D-tagatose
    Patent number: 11034988
    Abstract: The current disclosure provides a process for enzymatically converting a saccharide into tagatose. The invention also relates to a process for preparing tagatose where the process involves converting fructose 6-phosphate (F6P) to tagatose 6-phosphate (T6P), catalyzed by an epimerase, and converting the T6P to tagatose, catalyzed by a phosphatase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: BONUMOSE, INC.
    Inventor: Daniel Joseph Wichelecki
  • Microorganism expressing mutant AlkB enzyme and use to prepare omega-hydroxy carboxylic acid and/or ester
    Patent number: 11034938
    Abstract: There is provided a microbial cell expressing a mutant AlkB enzyme, the mutant AlkB enzyme comprising at least one point mutation in the wild type sequence of AlkB, wherein the point mutation is at amino acid position V129 and/or T136 of the wild type AlkB enzyme. There is also provided a method for producing omega-hydroxy carboxylic acid and/or ester thereof using this cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: EVONIK OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Arne Skerra, Ludwig Kirmair, Steffen Schaffer, Christoph Schorsch, Mirja Wessel, Thomas Haas
  • Microorganisms comprising a mutant metA allele for reducing norleucine misincorporation into proteins
    Patent number: 11015214
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for preventing incorporation of norleucine into proteins during recombinant protein production in bacteria. The present invention also provides microorganism host cells and nucleic acid molecules for use with the methods and compositions provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Laird, Karthik Veeravalli
  • Methods of facilitating removal of a fingerprint
    Patent number: 11015149
    Abstract: Bioactive coatings that include a base and a protein associated with the base for actively promoting the removal of organic stains are provided. In aspects, bioactive coatings that are stabilized against inactivation by weathering are provided including a base associated with a chemically modified enzyme, and, optionally a first polyoxyethylene present in the base and independent of the enzyme. The coatings are optionally overlayered onto a substrate to form an active coating facilitating the removal of organic stains or organic material from food, insects, or the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Corporation, Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Andreas Buthe, Ping Wang, Songtao Wu, Hongfei Jia, Masahiko Ishii, Minjuan Zhang
  • Cytochrome P450 BM3 enzyme variants for preparation of cyclopropanes
    Patent number: 11008596
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for catalyzing the conversion of an olefin to any compound containing one or more cyclopropane functional groups using heme enzymes. In certain aspects, the present invention provides a method for producing a cyclopropanation product comprising providing an olefinic substrate, a diazo reagent, and a heme enzyme; and admixing the components in a reaction for a time sufficient to produce a cyclopropanation product. In other aspects, the present invention provides heme enzymes including variants and fragments thereof that are capable of carrying out in vivo and in vitro olefin cyclopropanation reactions. Expression vectors and host cells expressing the heme enzymes are also provided by the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Pedro S. Coelho, Eric M. Brustad, Frances H. Arnold, Zhan Wang, Jared C. Lewis
  • Cyclical reaction of calcium carbonate
    Patent number: 11008591
    Abstract: The invention is directed to kits, compositions, tools and methods comprising a cyclic industrial process to form biocement. In particular, the invention is directed to materials and methods for decomposing calcium carbonate into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide at an elevated temperature, reacting calcium oxide with ammonium chloride to form calcium chloride, water, and ammonia gas; and reacting ammonia gas and carbon dioxide at high pressure to form urea and water, which are then utilized to form biocement. This cyclic process can be achieved by combining industrial processes with the resulting product as biocement. The process may involve retention of calcium carbonate currently utilized in the manufacture of Portland Cement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Biomason, Inc.
    Inventors: Ginger K. Dosier, J. Michael Dosier, Kent J. Smith
  • Methods of facilitating removal of a fingerprint from a substrate or a coating
    Patent number: 10988714
    Abstract: Bioactive coatings that include a base and a protein associated with the base for actively promoting the removal of organic stains are provided. In aspects, bioactive coatings that are stabilized against inactivation by weathering are provided including a base associated with a chemically modified enzyme, and, optionally a first polyoxyethylene present in the base and independent of the enzyme. The coatings are optionally overlayered onto a substrate to form an active coating facilitating the removal of organic stains or organic material from food, insects, or the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignees: Regents of the University of Minnesota, Toyota Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Andreas Buthe, Ping Wang, Songtao Wu, Hongfei Jia, Masahiko Ishii, Minjuan Zhang
  • Mutant 4-hydroxyphenylacetate 3-hydroxylases and uses thereof
    Patent number: 10988786
    Abstract: The present invention relates to genetically modified enzymes obtained by rational design of the active site binding pocket of the prototypic enzyme 4-hydroxyphenylacetate 3-hydroxylase (4HPA3H) for hydroxylating a 4-hydroxyphenyl compound to yield a 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl compound and to biotechnological methods including in vivo and in vitro methods using said enzymes or catalytically active fragments thereof. Further provided is a method either using a suitable oxidase or hydroxylase further enabling the subsequent site specific methylation of the 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl compound in a coupled enzymatic reaction by providing a suitable O-methyltransferase. Finally, compositions obtainable by the aforementioned methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignees: SYMRISE AG, LEIBNIZ-INSTITUT FÜR PFLANZENBIOCHEMIE
    Inventors: Ludger A. Wessjohann, Susann Herrmann, Martin Dippe, Torsten Geissler, Katrin Geissler, Jakob Peter Ley
  • Method for preparing resistant dextrin by using a starch branching enzyme and a cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase
    Patent number: 10988550
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing a resistant dextrin product by using compound enzyme treatment. Starch is first subjected to high-temperature acidolysis to obtain pyrodextrin which is used as the substrate for the enzyme treatment. A compound enzyme reaction system including a starch branching enzyme and a CGTase is used for preparing the resistant dextrin product. The starch branching enzyme and the CGTase are added simultaneously or sequentially to treat the pyrodextrin to further increase the content of the resistant component in the product. The content of the resistant component of the enzyme treated product reaches up to 65.3%, a 21.3% increase from that of the pyrodextrin before the enzyme treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Jiangnan University
    Inventors: Jing Wu, Sheng Chen, Jun Liu
  • Method for producing meso-galactaric acid by contacting a fungal cell with a biomaterial having galacturonic acid
    Patent number: 10982239
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a field of genetically modified fungal cells and converting galacturonic acid to meso-galactaric acid, more precisely to a method of producing meso-galactaric acid. The invention further relates to recombinant fungal cells having a specific combination of modifications including but not limited to expression of uronate dehydrogenase enzyme, reduced D-galacturonic acid reductase activity, and furthermore reduced meso-galactaric acid catabolism, as well as uses and methods related thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY
    Inventors: Joosu Kuivanen, Peter Richard, Ying-Mong Jasmin Wang
  • transformant for producing itaconate and uses thereof
    Patent number: 10982238
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an Escherichia coli transformant and a method for producing itaconate using the Escherichia coli transformant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignees: NATIONAL TSING HUA UNIVERSITY, CHANG CHUN PLASTICS CO., LTD., CHANG CHUN PETROCHEMICAL CO., LTD., DAIREN CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Roa-Pu Shen, Wei Lu, Tung-Yu Wang
  • Methods for producing cannabinoids and cannabinoid derivatives
    Patent number: 10975379
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides genetically modified host cells that produce a cannabinoid, a cannabinoid derivative, a cannabinoid precursor, or a cannabinoid precursor derivative. The present disclosure provides methods of synthesizing a cannabinoid, a cannabinoid derivative, a cannabinoid precursor, or a cannabinoid precursor derivative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Jay D. Keasling, Leo D'Espaux, Jeff Wong, Xiaozhou Luo, Michael Reiter, Charles Denby, Anna Lechner
  • Recombinant Vibrio natriegens organisms having a modified outer membrane
    Patent number: 10968496
    Abstract: The invention provides engineered Vibrio sp. organisms that comprise a genetic modification to either or both of the lpxL and/or lpxM genes. The organisms score substantially lower in an in vitro endotoxin assay versus the unmodified or wild type organism. The organisms preserve substantially the growth rate of the corresponding unmodified organisms. The organisms can also have an exogenous nucleic acid cloned in the organism, or an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a protein, polypeptide, or peptide expressed by the organism, and optionally secreted from the organism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Codex DNA, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew T Weinstock, Daniel G. Gibson, Daniel Strimling
  • Recombinant microorganism for producing polyhydroxyalkanoate
    Patent number: 10961521
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant microorganism to which a gene coding for 2-hydroxyisocaproate-CoA transferase and a gene coding for polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase are introduced and which has a potential of producing polyhydroxyalkanoate bearing an aromatic monomer or a long-chain 2-HA monomer and a method for producing polyhydroxyalkanoate bearing an aromatic monomer or a long-chain 2-HA monomer, using the recombinant microorganism. According to the present invention, a biodegradable polymer bearing an aromatic monomer or a long-chain 2-HA monomer can be produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Sang Yup Lee, Jung Eun Yang, Si Jae Park
  • Modified having an increased expression of a CysP transporter, an ATP sulfurylase, an APS kinase and a PAP phosphatase
    Patent number: 10954536
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the field of biotechnology as it applies to the production of aryl sulfates using recombinant host cells. More particularly, the present invention pertains to recombinant host cells comprising (e.g., expressing) a polypeptide having aryl sulfotransferase activity, wherein said recombinant host cells have been modified to have an increased uptake of sulfate compared to identical host cells that does not carry said modification. Further provided are processes for the production of aryl sulfates, such as zosteric acid, employing such recombinant host cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: CysBio ApS
    Inventors: Christian Bille Jendresen, Alex Toftgaard Nielsen
  • Processes for producing ethanol
    Patent number: 10947567
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for producing fermentation products from starch-containing material, wherein a thermostable alpha-amylase and optionally a thermostable protease are present and/or added during liquefaction. The invention also relates to a composition suitable for use in a process of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: NOVOZYMES A/S
    Inventors: Randy Deinhammer, Suzanne Clark, Mauricio Quiros, John Matthews, Anne Glud Hjulmand, Chee Leong Soong, Tomoko Matsui, Shinobu Takagi
  • Method for producing lactic acid in recombinant yeast cell culture
    Patent number: 10947571
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing lactic acid in a recombinant yeast cell culture using glucose as carbon source comprising a first, seed fermentation stage to produce biomass wherein the yeast is cultivated in a culture medium at a pH of 5 to 7, followed by a second, a production fermentation stage with biomass from the seed fermentation to produce lactic acid, wherein the yeast is cultivated in a culture medium at low p H using a yeast strain that is engineered to have lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and optionally has decreased or knocked-out pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: SYCONIUM LACTIC ACID GMBH
    Inventors: Magnus Ask, Rakesh Koppram, Diethard Mattanovich, Michael Sauer
  • Hexuronate C4-epimerase variant having improved D-tagatose conversion activity, and D-tagatose production method using same
    Patent number: 10947524
    Abstract: Provided are a hexuronate C4-epimerase variant with improved activity in converting D-fructose by D-tagatose of hexuronate C4-epimerase and a method for production of D-tagatose using them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: CJ CHEILJEDANG CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sung Jae Yang, Young Mi Lee, Il Hyang Park, Chan-Hyoung Lee, Hyun Kug Cho, Seong Bo Kim, Yang Hee Kim, Seung Won Park
  • Using proteases to control restriction enzyme activity
    Patent number: 10947518
    Abstract: Proteases are enzymes which hydrolyze protein enzymes, eliminating their activity. The present invention exploits the hydrolyzing activity of proteases including proteinase K, endoproteinase LysC and/or trypsin to control the activity of restriction enzymes and/or eliminate or reduce production of unwanted DNA or RNA fragments (known as star activity).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: ABclonal Science, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhenyu Zhu, Dapeng Sun, Aine Quimby, Michaela Shottes