Patents Examined by Douglas W. Robinson
  • Grass and method of introducing endophytic fungi into a grass
    Patent number: 5880343
    Abstract: To provide a grass having improved characteristics, an endophyte having endophytic fungi which produce an insect-resistant alkaloid is artificially introduced into a grass by inoculation so that the endophyte lives in and infects the grass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Mayekawa Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoya Hiruma, Satoshi Shinozaki
  • Inbred corn line LH264
    Patent number: 5880347
    Abstract: An inbred corn line, designated LH264, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line LH264, to the plants of inbred corn line LH264 and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line LH264 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line LH264 with another corn line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Holden's Foundation Seeds, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary D. Arthur, Lance Veldboom
  • Inbred corn line LH237
    Patent number: 5880350
    Abstract: An inbred corn line, designated LH237, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line LH237, to the plants of inbred corn line LH237 and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line LH237 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line LH237 with another corn line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Holden's Foundation Seeds Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas Allan Eichhorn
  • DNA constructs related to capsanthin capsorubin synthase, cells and plants derived therefrom
    Patent number: 5880332
    Abstract: A DNA construct comprising a DNA sequence homologous to some or all of a sequence encoding a xanthophyll biosynthetic enzyme or a xanthophyll degradative enzyme. In an embodiment the DNA sequence encodes capsanthin-capsorubin synthase (CCS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Bilal Camara, Marcel Kuntz
  • Process and apparatus for the genetic transformation of cells
    Patent number: 5877023
    Abstract: In a tubular pressure chamber a drop of a DNA solution with gold particles suspended therein is atomized at the opening of a cannula by a pressure impact. The fog droplets containing the gold particles and the DNA entrained by them, are pressured by the pressure impact through a restriction at the end of the pressure chamber and thereby accelerated and focused. They subsequently traverse in free flight an evacuated specimen chamber and impact in a narrowly limited target area with a predetermined pulse, cells fixed on a holder, thereby penetrating them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignees: Novartis Finance Corp., Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule (ETH)
    Inventors: Christof Sautter, Heinz Waldner, Ingo Potrykus
  • RNA component of mouse, rat, Chinese hamster and bovine telomerase
    Patent number: 5876979
    Abstract: Nucleic acids comprising the RNA component of a mouse, rat, Chinese hamster and bovine telomerase are disclosed, as are recombinant expression plasmids comprising said nucleic acids and host cells transformed with said recombinant expression plasmids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
    Inventors: William H. Andrews, Ariel Athena Avilion, Junli Feng, Walter Funk, Carol Greider, Maria Antonia Blasco Marhuenda, Bryant Villeponteau
  • Targeting and enhancing RNA-RNA recombination
    Patent number: 5877401
    Abstract: A construct formed from a first RNA molecule carrying an antisense insert complementary to a nucleotide sequence in a second target RNA molecule is used to direct crossovers between the first and second RNAs at or near the site of hybridization. The incidence of recombination and the location of recombinant junctions depends on the structure of the recombining RNA molecules and on the stability of the heteroduplex region. The RNA-RNA construct may be provided in double stranded DNA form. The DNA form may be inserted into a vector and used to transform or transfect a host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Board of Regents for Northern Illinois University
    Inventors: Jozef J. Bujarski, Peter D. Nagy
  • DNA constructs and methods for stably transforming plastids of multicellular plants and expressing recombinant proteins therein
    Patent number: 5877402
    Abstract: DNA constructs are provided for stable transformation of plastids of multicellular plants and expression of foreign proteins in plastids. The DNA constructs comprise a transforming DNA which is targeted to a pre-determined location on the plastid genome and inserted into the plastid genome by homologous recombination with targeting segments comprising DNA sequences homologous to the pre-determined region of the plastid genome. The transforming DNA contains a non-lethal selectable marker gene which confers a selectable phenotype on cells having plastids in which substantially all of the genomes therein contain the transforming DNA (i.e., homoplasmic cells or tissues). The transforming DNA further comprises at least one insertion site 4 for an additional DNA segment, such as a gene encoding a protein for improving a characteristic of the transformed plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    Inventors: Pal Maliga, Zora Svab Maliga, Jeffrey M. Staub, Oleg Zoubenko, Lori A. Allison, Helaine Carrer, Ivan Kanevski
  • Transgenic methods and compositions for producing parthenocarpic fruits and vegetables
    Patent number: 5877400
    Abstract: The invention discloses a transgenic method for producing parthenocarpic fruits or fruits with reduced seed number. It involves the temporal expression of a plant hormone or precursor or other such gene so that gibberellin or other similar hormonal activity involved in initiating fruit set activity is potentiated. The gene is operably linked to a regulatory promoter so that expression is timed prior to pollen development or fertilization. Expression of the hormone causes fruit development in the absence of fertilization. The method also results in a fruit that has diminished or very little seed. The invention also includes transgenic constructs, vectors, and methods for production of the parthenocarpic plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventors: Dwight T. Tomes, Paul D. Miller, Robert J. Bensen
  • Osmotin gene promoter and use thereof
    Patent number: 5874626
    Abstract: Described are an isolated DNA fragment incorporating an osmotin gene promoter sequence, recombinant DNA incorporating a foreign structural gene under control of an osmotin gene promoter sequence, as well as methods and transformants involving the isolated DNA fragment and recombinant DNA. Also described are methods for the inhibition of fungal, insect, nematode, and viral pathogens in a plant using such recombinant DNA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Ray Bressan, Paul M. Hasegawa
  • Continuous process for the synthesis of sucrose fatty acid esters
    Patent number: 5872245
    Abstract: This present invention pertains to a process for the synthesis of sucrose fatty acid esters by reacting sucrose and a purified specific fatty acid ester under substantially solvent free conditions in the presence of a transesterification stationary catalyst and mechanical emulsification. The process is continuous, yielding selected individual products of separated simple sucrose fatty acid esters of mono-, di-, tri- and polyesters while recycling the unwanted ester fractions, the unreacted sucrose and fatty acid ester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Optima Technologies Group
    Inventor: Donald C. Wilson
  • Compositions comprising glycosylamide surfactants
    Patent number: 5872111
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel detergent and/or personal wash compositions comprising glycosylamide surfactants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Van Au, Bijan Harichian, Anthony Hung, Robert Vermeer
  • Amino acids peptides or derivatives thereof coupled to fats
    Patent number: 5869606
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel compounds in which peptides, amino acids or derivatives thereof are bound to other molecules, in particular fatty acids, which facilitate the use of such peptides, amino acids or derivatives thereof. The basic structure of the compounds of the present invention are an amino acid, peptide or derivative thereof linked to 1 to 3 fatty acid molecules via a tromethamine derivative. Alternatively, the amino acid, peptide or derivative thereof may be linked to a fatty acid by an ethanolamine derivative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
    Inventor: Robert George Whittaker
  • Method for obtaining plants with reduced susceptibility to plant-parasitic nematodes
    Patent number: 5866777
    Abstract: A method for obtaining plants with reduced susceptibility to invasion by a plant parasitic nematode, and plants having reduced susceptibility to invasion by a plant parasitic nematode obtained, for example, with such method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Mogen International, N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Christiaan Sijmons, Oscar Johannes Maria Goddijn, Petrus Josephus Maria Van Den Elzen, Frederique Marianne Van Der Lee
  • System and method for measuring seedlot vigor
    Patent number: 5864984
    Abstract: A machine vision system for determining seedlot vigor comprising an imaging device oriented to acquire an image of a germinating seed and an image analyzer for analyzing successive images of a seed and determining growth rate for a root of the seed, to determine the vigor of a seedlot to which the seed belongs. This system determines seedlot vigor independent of environmental germination conditions, measures a parameter which correlates highly with the characteristic of interest, and employs an appropriate experimental design, including sample size and test replication in order to insure that test results match actual final stands obtained from normal commercial production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Paradigm Research Corporation
    Inventor: David C. McNertney
  • Plant-derived enzyme and DNA sequences and uses thereof
    Patent number: 5866792
    Abstract: The chemically-inducible 27 kD subunit of the enzyme glutathione-S-transferase, isoform II (GST-II-27) and sequences encoding it are provided. In particular, a genomic DNA sequence encoding the gene promoter for the GST-II-27 subunit is provided. Then linked to an exogenous gene and introduced into a plant by transformation, and GST-II-27 promoter provides a means for the external regulation of expression of that exogenous gene. Transformation with DNA encoding glutathione-S-transferase polypeptides produces herbicide resistance transgenic plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Zeneca Limited
    Inventors: Ian George Bridges, Simon William Jonathan Bright, Andrew James Greenland, David Charles Holt, Ian Jepson, Wolfgang Walter Schuch
  • Glyphosate-tolerant 5-enolpyruvyl-3-phosphoshikimate synthases
    Patent number: 5866775
    Abstract: Glyphosate-tolerant 5-enolpyruvyl-3-phosphoshikimate (EPSP) synthases, DNA encoding glyphsate-tolerant EPSP synthases, plant genes encoding the glyphosate-tolerant enzymes, plant transformation vectors containing the genes, transformed plant cells and differentiated transformed plants containing the plant genes are disclosed. The glyphosate-tolerant EPSP synthases are prepared by substituting an alanine residue for a glycine residue in a first conserved sequence found between positions 80 and 120, and a threonine residue for an alanine residue in a second conserved sequence found between positions 170 and 210 in the mature wild type EPSP synthase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: David Alan Eichholtz, Charles Scott Gasser, Ganesh Murthy Kishore
  • Enhanced expression in a plant plastid
    Patent number: 5866421
    Abstract: Novel compositions and methods useful for genetic engineering of plant cells to provide increased expression in the plastids of a plant or plant cell of a protein which produces a phenotype which is present when the plant or plant cell is grown in the absence of means for selecting transformed cells. Expression of the Bacillus thuringiensis bacterial protoxin in a plant chloroplast is exemplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Calgene LLC
    Inventors: Kevin E. McBride, David M. Stalker
  • Recombinant plant expressing non-competitively binding insecticidal crystal proteins
    Patent number: 5866784
    Abstract: Plants made resistant to insects by transforming their nuclear genome with two or more DNA sequences, each encoding a different non-competitively binding B. thuringiensis protoxin or insecticidal part thereof, preferably the toxin thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Plant Genetic Systems N.V.
    Inventors: Herman Van Mellaert, Johan Botterman, Jeroen Van Rie, Henk Joos
  • Newly characterized oxalate and uses therefor
    Patent number: 5866778
    Abstract: This invention pertains to methods for using oxalate oxidase in plant pathology. A substantially pure gene encoding the oxalate oxidase enzyme is elucidated. The expression product of the gene which can be stably incorporated into a foreign plant host has a unique profile including a pH optimum of 3.5, a positive heat stability, a single sub-unit of approximately 25 kilodaltons and protease stability. The methodology of this invention exploiting oxalate oxidase for protection against oxalic acid encompasses providing to a plant in need of oxalic acid protection an oxalic acid degrading enzyme in an amount sufficient to protect the plant from the oxalic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Zeneca Limited
    Inventors: Christina L. Hartman, Sarjit S. Johal, Mark R. Schmitt