Patents Examined by David J. Steadman
  • Polypeptides having isoamylase activity and methods of use
    Patent number: 8586333
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having isoamylase activity derived from Dyella japonica and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides. The invention also relates to the use of said polypeptide having isoamylase activity for producing glucose syrup, fructose syrup, maltose syrup or maltitol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Tine Hoff, Carsten Sjoeholm, Barrie Edmund Norman
  • Nucleic acid molecule encoding xylose isomerase and xylose isomerase encoded by the nucleic acid molecule
    Patent number: 8586336
    Abstract: A novel xylose isomerase nucleotide sequence obtained from a bovine rumen fluid metagenomic library and also provides the amino acid sequence encoded by the nucleotide sequence, and a vector and a transformant containing the nucleotide sequence. When the xylose isomerase is expressed, a host cell is endowed with the capability of converting xylose into xylulose, and the xylulose is further metabolized by the host cell. Therefore, the host cell can take the xylose as a carbon source for growth. The xylose isomerase from a new source is expressed with high activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and is a mesophilic enzyme with optimal temperature of 60° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Shandong University
    Inventors: Xiaoming Bao, Yu Shen, Ruilei Ge
  • Peptide linkers for polypeptide compositions and methods for using same
    Patent number: 8580922
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel peptide linkers and polypeptide compositions comprising the linkers (e.g., chimeric polypeptides) and methods of using the polypeptide compositions. The compositions and methods are particularly useful for targeting/delivering a polypeptide or protein of interest (e.g., a therapeutic polypeptide) to a cell, tissue or organ of interest in order to treat various diseases or disorders (e.g., lysosomal storage disorders).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Shire Human Genetic Therapies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paolo Martini, Michael Concino
  • Cloning, yeast expression, purification and biological activity of the extension region of the soybean 7S globulin alfa' subunit involved in HEP G2 cell cholesterol homeostasis
    Patent number: 8569455
    Abstract: A truncated form of ?? chain (e??), the soybean 7S globulin, active in controlling the cholesterol and triglyceride homeostasis in in vitro and in vivo models, was cloned and expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris. The recombinant polypeptide spanned 142 amino acid residues from the N-terminal side and included the N-terminal extension region of the soybean alpha? subunit. The e?? polypeptide was purified by conventional biochemical techniques and its potential to modulate the activity of the LDL-receptor was evaluated in a human hepatoma cell line (Hep G2) by monitoring the uptake and degradation of labeled LDL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Indena S.p.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Morazzoni, Antonella Riva, Cesare Ponzone, Davide Berlanda, Marcello Duranti, Alessandro Consonni
  • Strains of modified by metabolic engineering to produce chemical compounds from hydrolyzed lignocellulose, pentoses, hexoses and other carbon sources
    Patent number: 8563283
    Abstract: The present invention refers to the new Escherichia coli strains denominated JU15, JU15A, LL26 and MS04 and their derivatives that produce metabolites, particularly D-lactate, L-lactate or ethanol, with high yield and selectivity from a wide variety of carbon sources, such as culture media with a high xylose content (as the main carbon source) and, in particular, media formulated with hydrolyzed vegetables, such as sugarcane bagasse, agave bagasse and fast-growing grasses, and a wide variety of agricultural and industrial wastes, such as whey or forestry wastes, celluloses, grasses, agave bagasse, paper wastes, shavings and sawdust, shrubs and generally any material derived from lignocellulose. These strains use the production of the metabolite of interest (especially D-lactate, L-lactate or ethanol) as the only way of regenerating the reducing power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico
    Inventors: Alfredo Martinez Jimenez, Guillermo Gosset Lagarda, Georgina Teresa Hernandez Chavez, Gerardo Huerta Beristain, Berenice Trujillo Martinez, Jose Utrilla Carreri
  • Method for production of polyester copolymer using recombinant microorganism
    Patent number: 8563281
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method for efficiently producing a polyester copolymer consisting of 3-hydroxybutyrate and lactate via microbial fermentation with the use of a sugar as a starting material. The method may comprise culturing a recombinant microorganism expressing: a protein capable of catalyzing the transfer of CoA to propionic acid and/or lactate; a protein capable of catalyzing the formation of acetoacetyl-CoA from two acetyl-CoA molecules; a protein capable of catalyzing acetoacetyl-CoA reduction; and a protein capable of catalyzing polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis. According to the production method, a polyester copolymer consisting of 3-hydroxybutyrate and lactate can be efficiently produced using an inexpensive carbon source as a starting material, and thus the production cost of a biodegradable plastic can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiichi Taguchi, Kenji Tajima, Yasuharu Satoh, Ken'ichiro Matsumoto, Miwa Yamada, Shusei Obata, Hiromi Kambe, Katsunori Kohda, Katsuhiro Ohno, Takashi Shimamura
  • Methods for removal of microcystins and isolation of phycocoyanin from cyanobacteria
    Patent number: 8563701
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods of removing contaminating microcystins toxins from preparations of blue-green algae. It also relates to methods of purifying phycocyanin from blue-green algae extracts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Desert Lake Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Axel Ehmann, Jesse Guthrie
  • Polypeptide having tyrosinase activity
    Patent number: 8563268
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having tyrosinase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Kirk Matthew Schnorr, Jeppe Wegener Tams
  • Compositions and methods of producing enterokinase in yeast
    Patent number: 8557558
    Abstract: The present specification disclose polynucleotide molecules encoding an enterokinase, yeast expression constructs including a yeast expression vector and a polynucleotide molecules encoding an enterokinase, yeast cells comprising such a yeast expression construct, methods of producing enterokinase using such yeast cells, and method of cleaving or preparing a recombinant polypeptide using an enterokinase produced by such methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Fotheringham, Peter Sheffield
  • Methods and systems for removing undissolved solids prior to extractive fermentation in the production of butanol
    Patent number: 8557540
    Abstract: A method and system for efficiently producing a fermentative product alcohol such as butanol utilizing in situ product extraction are provided. The efficiency is obtained through separating undissolved solids after liquefying a given feedstock to create a feedstock and prior to fermentation, for example, through centrifugation. Removal of the undissolved solids avoids problems associated with having the undissolved solids present during in situ production extraction, and thereby increases the efficiency of the alcohol production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Butamax (TM) Advanced Biofuels LLC
    Inventors: Keith H. Burlew, Michael Charles Grady, John W. Hallam, David J. Lowe, Brian Michael Roesch, Joseph J. Zaher
  • Ubiquitin ligase and use thereof
    Patent number: 8546094
    Abstract: Provided is a novel ubiquitin ligase which has linear polyubiquitination activity and can be efficiently expressed and purified. It was found out that a complex of (a) a protein having a part of HOIP and at least having a UBA region and a RING-IBR-RING region thereof, and (b) One or more kinds of proteins which individually form a complex with the above (a) is a novel ubiquitin ligase which has linear polyubiquitination activity and can be efficiently expressed and purified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Osaka University
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Iwai
  • Maltotriosyl transferase and use thereof
    Patent number: 8546111
    Abstract: The object is to provide a novel glycosyltransferase and the use thereof, the glycosyltransferase catalyzes transglucosylation of maltotriose units under conditions which can be employed for the processing of foods or the like. Provided is a maltotriosyl transferase which acts on polysaccharides and oligosaccharides having ?-1,4 glucoside bonds, and has activity for transferring maltotriose units to saccharides, the maltotriosyl transferase acting on maltotetraose as substrate to give a ratio between the maltoheptaose production rate and maltotriose production rate of 9:1 to 10:0 at any substrate concentration ranging from 0.67 to 70% (w/v).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Amano Enzyme Inc.
    Inventors: Masamichi Okada, Shotaro Yamaguchi, Miho Nagaya
  • Mutant apolipoprotein A-1 polypeptide with increased resistance to oxidation and reactive carbonyls
    Patent number: 8541236
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides isolated oxidation resistant mutant apoA-I polypeptides comprising an amino acid sequence substantially homologous to SEQ ID NO:4, the mutant apoA-I polypeptide comprising a combination of: (1) a conservative amino acid substitution at residue Tyr192; and (2) at least one conservative amino acid substitution at residue Met86, Met112, or Met148, wherein the mutant apoA-I polypeptide is resistant to modification by an oxidizing agent. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of promoting cholesterol efflux activity in a mammalian subject in need thereof, the method comprising the step of administering an effective amount of an oxidation resistant apoA-I agonist to the subject to promote cholesterol efflux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignees: University of Washington, The Children's Hospital & Research Center At Oakland
    Inventors: Jay W. Heinecke, John F. Oram, Michael N. Oda
  • Human Aadenosine receptor crystals and uses thereof
    Patent number: 8536306
    Abstract: The invention provides the structure of human A2A adenosine receptor protein bound to an antagonist. Methods of using one or more binding sites and other features of this G-protein coupled receptor to develop new therapeutics are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: The Scripps Research Institute
    Inventors: Raymond C. Stevens, Michael A. Hanson, Vadim Cherezov, Mark Griffith, Veli-Pekka Jaakola
  • Fructanase
    Patent number: 8530215
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel protein and a method for the manufacture thereof. The novel protein according to the invention is a recombinant protein with fructanase activity. The recombinant protein according to the invention is an engineered protein derived from recombinant DNA encoding for the protein. The recombinant protein may be or may comprise a fragment of a naturally occurring protein, i.e. of a naturally occurring fructanase protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: UWS Ventures Ltd.
    Inventor: Steven Lewis Kelly
  • Method of converting a biomass substrate to a fermentable sugar using a beta-glucosidase variant enzyme
    Patent number: 8530201
    Abstract: The invention provides variants of the Azospirillum irakense CelA ?-glucosidase that have improve ?-glucosidase activity, particularly improved thermoactivity, compared to the wild type enzyme. The invention further provides related polynucleotides, vectors, host cell, and methods for making and using the variants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Codexis, Inc.
    Inventors: Sally Rhiannon Postlethwaite, Louis Clark, Catherine M. Cho
  • Photosynthetic microorganisms comprising exogenous prokaryotic acyl-ACP thioesterases and methods for producing fatty acids
    Patent number: 8530207
    Abstract: The described invention provides genetically engineered photosynthetic microorganisms expressing prokaryotic acyl-ACP thioesterases and methods of using the genetically engineered photosynthetic microorganisms for producing free fatty acids and/or fatty acid derivatives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Kevin Watts, Rekha Seshadri, Toby Richardson
  • Cellulose hydrolase and gene thereof
    Patent number: 8518687
    Abstract: A cellulose hydrolase and a gene thereof are obtained by screening a cDNA genomic library constructed with Orpinomyces sp. Y102. The gene is 1071 base pairs long and comprises an open reading frame (ORF) for producing the cellulose hydrolase comprising 357 amino acids by translation. A transformed cell and a carrier carrying the gene are introduced. The gene is transferred to E. coli by transformation, such that E. coli can acquire activity of decomposing CMC, beta-glucan, and xylan. The cellulose hydrolase is multifunctional and is capable of decomposing cellubiose and directly decomposing fiber into glucose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignees: National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Institute of Nuclear Energy Research, Atomic Energy Council, Executive Yuan
    Inventors: Yo-Chia Chen, Jeng-Chen Liu, Hau-Yu Wang, Teng-Chieh Hsu, Gia-Luen Guo, Wen-Song Hwang, Jia-Baau Wang
  • Crystal of hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha prolyl hydroxylase
    Patent number: 8512972
    Abstract: The crystal structure of ligand-bound EGLN1 catalytic domain of prolyl hydroxylase is disclosed. These coordinates are useful in computer aided drug design for identifying compounds that regulate EGLN1 prolyl hydroxylase and thereby regulate HIF-regulated disorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Artem Gennady Evdokimov, Richard Masaru Kawamoto, Angelique Sun Boyer, Marlene Jan Mekel, Matthew Eugene Pokross, Richard Lee Walter, Jr.
  • Method of producing L-threonine using strain with phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase promoter replaced with cysteine synthase promoter
    Patent number: 8486670
    Abstract: An L-threonine-producing Escherichia coli in which a promoter of a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (ppc) gene on the chromosome is substituted with a promoter of a cysteine synthase (cysK) gene and a method of producing L-threonine by using the same are disclosed. The recombinant Escherichia coli may produce L-threonine in a high yield, and thus may be widely used in medical, pharmaceutical, and feed industries, particularly for an animal feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Cheiljedang Corp.
    Inventors: Kwang Ho Lee, Jae Yeong Ju, Ji Sun Lee, Young Bin Hwang, Sung Hoo Jhon, Eun Sung Koh, Chul Ha Kim, Soo An Shin