Patents Examined by Elizabeth Slobodyansky
  • Patent number: 7560245
    Abstract: The present invention relates to luciferase having resistance to a surfactant and a method for measuring intracellular ATP which is characterized in that the luciferase having resistance to a surfactant is used in this method comprising the steps of: a first step wherein ATP is extracted from cells in a sample; a second step wherein light emission is produced by adding a luminescence reagent containing luciferase to the extracted ATP solution; and a third step wherein the light emission is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Kikkoman Corporation
    Inventors: Noriaki Hattori, Seiji Murakami
  • Patent number: 7468267
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are fungal nucleic acid sequences that encode novel polypeptides. Also disclosed are polypeptides encoded by these nucleic acid sequences, as well as derivatives, variants, mutants, or fragments of the aforementioned polypeptide, polynucleotide, or antibody. The novel leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and other amino- and carboxypeptidases polypeptides, referred to herein as EXOX nucleic acids and proteins of the invention are useful in a variety of medical, research, and commercial applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Funzyme Biotechnologies SA
    Inventors: Michel Monod, Reto Stocklin, Eric Grouzmann
  • Patent number: 7455990
    Abstract: A method is described for releasing a soluble or membrane associated intracellular protein of interest (POI) comprising the steps of: providing a cell comprising a soluble or membrane associated intracellular POI; contacting the cell with a membrane extracting composition; and causing the POI to be released from the cell under conditions sufficient for the specific release of the POI and in a soluble form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Danisco A/S
    Inventors: Claus Lindvald Johansen, Søren Kjaerulff, Susan Mampusta Madrid, Henrik Pedersen, Charlotte Horsmans Poulsen, Masoud Rajabi Zargahi
  • Patent number: 7442534
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated full-length Chp polypeptide, a biologically-active polypeptide fragment thereof, and nucleic acids which code for it. This polypeptide has various activities in regulating cell signaling and signal transduction pathways, including, e.g., a PAK regulatory domain binding activity, a PAK kinase stimulatory activity, a JNK kinase stimulatory activity, a cytoskeletal-reorganizing activity, or a Chp-specific immunogenic activity. The invention relates to all aspects of Chp, or homologs thereof, including assays for modulators, activators, ligands, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Arie Abo, Ami Aronheim
  • Patent number: 7432099
    Abstract: The present invention relates to variants (mutants) of polypeptides, in particular Termamyl-like alpha-amylases, which variant has alpha-amylase activity and exhibits an alteration in at least one of the following properties relative to said parent alpha-amylase: substrate specificity, substrate binding, substrate cleavage pattern, thermal stability, pH/activity profile, pH/stability profile, stability towards oxidation, Ca2+ dependency, specific activity, and solubility, in particular under production conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Carsten Andersen, Torben Vedel Borchert, Bjarne Rønfeldt Nielsen
  • Patent number: 7432086
    Abstract: A recombinant microorganism is produced by introducing a DNA encoding an enzyme which hydrolyzes an amido bond of L-amino acid amide, especially L-2-alkylcysteine amide, and L-amino acid is produced by using cells or cell processed product of the obtained microorganism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Asano, Atsushi Inoue
  • Patent number: 7422847
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel polypeptide encoding a protein which is the full length human ortholog of E3? ubiquitin ligase. The invention also relates to vector, host cells, antibodies and recombinant methods for producing the polypeptide. In addition, the invention discloses therapeutic, diagnostic and research utilities for these and related products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Amgen Inc.
    Inventors: Hui-Quan Han, Keith Kwak
  • Patent number: 7414120
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for modulating the activation of nuclear factor ?B (NF-?B) are provided. The compositions comprise one or more agents that modulate ubiquitination of phosphorylated I?B? and/or I?B?. Such compositions may be used for treating diseases associated with NF-?B activation. Modulating agents include human E3 ubiquitin ligases, antibodies thereto and variants thereof, as well as related proteins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Signal Pharmaceuticals
    Inventors: Anthony M. Manning, Frank Mercurio, Sharo Amit, Yinon Ben-Neriah, Matti Davis, Ada Hatzubai, Avraham Yaron, Irit Alkalay, Aaron Ciechanover
  • Patent number: 7399626
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a novel purified mouse C5-epimerase, fragments thereof, nucleic acids encoding the same and the recombinant production thereof. The invention is also directed to fragments of such epimerase, especially N-terminal fragments that are useful in fusion protein constructs to enhance the activity of recombinantly-produced heterologous epimerase enzymes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignees: BioTie Therapies Corp., Inalco S.p.A.
    Inventors: Markku Jalkanen, Kamel El Darwish, Ulf Lindahl, Jin-Ping Li
  • Patent number: 7399621
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for conferring herbicide resistance to plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions comprising a coding sequence for a polypeptide that confers resistance or tolerance to glyphosate herbicides are provided. The coding sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in plants. Compositions also comprise transformed plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding glyphosate resistance proteins are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the polynucleotides are encompassed. In particular, the present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2 or the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Athenix Corporation
    Inventors: Philip E. Hammer, Nicholas B. Duck
  • Patent number: 7381544
    Abstract: This invention provides fusion polypeptides that include a glycosyltransferase catalytic domain and a catalytic domain from an accessory enzyme that is involved in making a substrate for a glycosyltransferase reaction. Nucleic acids that encode the fusion polypeptides are also provided, as are host cells for expressing the fusion polypeptides of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventors: Michel Gilbert, N. Martin Young, Warren W. Wakarchuk
  • Patent number: 7378264
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of constructing a variant of a parent Termamyl-like ?-amylase, which variant has ?-amylase activity and at least one altered property as compared to the parent ?-amylase, comprises i) analysing the structure of the parent Termamyl-like ?-amylase to identify at least one amino acid residue or at least one structural part of the Termamyl-like ?-amylase structure, which amino acid residue or structural part is believed to be of relevance for altering the property of the parent Termamyl-like ?-amylase (as evaluated on the basis of structural or functional considerations), ii) constructing a Termamyl-like ?-amylase variant, which as compared to the parent Termamyl-like ?-amylase, has been modified in the amino acid residue or structural part identified in i) so as to alter the property, and, optionally, iii) testing the resulting Termamyl-like ?-amylase variant with respect to the property in question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Allan Svendsen, Henrik Bisgard-Frantzen, Torben Vedel Borchert
  • Patent number: 7374919
    Abstract: A novel gene defining a novel enzyme in the UDP-D-galactose: b-N-acetyl-glucosamine ?-1,4-galactosyltransferase family, termed ?4Gal-T2, with unique enzymatic properties is disclosed. The enzymatic activity of ?4Gal-T2 is shown to be distinct from that of previously identified enzymes of this gene family. The invention discloses isolated DNA molecules and DNA constructs encoding ?4Gal-T2 and derivatives thereof by way of amino acid deletion, substitution or insertion exhibiting ?4Gal-T2 activity, as well as cloning and expression vectors including such DNA, cells transfected with the vectors, and recombinant methods for providing ?4Gal-T2. The enzyme ?4Gal-T2 and ?4Gal-T2-active derivatives thereof are disclosed, in particular soluble derivatives comprising the catalytically active domain of ?4Gal-T2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: GlycoZym ApS
    Inventors: Henrik Clausen, Eric Paul Bennett
  • Patent number: 7371553
    Abstract: This invention provides modified enzymes comprising one or more amino acid residues replaced by cysteine residues, where the cysteine residues are modified by replacing the thiol hydrogen in the cysteine residues with a substituent group providing a thiol side chain comprising a multiply charged moiety. The enzymes show improved interaction and/or specificity and/or activity with charged substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignees: Genencor International, Inc., The Governing Council of the University of Toronto
    Inventors: Benjamin G. Davis, John Bryan Jones, Richard R. Bott
  • Patent number: 7364871
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel protein of the MEKK signal transduction pathway, and the gene encoding it. The invention further relates to diagnostic and therapeutic uses of the protein or the gene, and to methods of screening for agonists or antagonists of the protein, particularly with respect to MEKK activity. In particular, the invention provides a gene encoding MIF1, the MIF1 protein, and antibodies that specifically bind MIF1. MIF1 and the MIF1 gene can be used in screening assays, particularly to identify agonists and antagonists of MIF1 interaction with MEKK, and thus modulators of the MEKK signal pathway. MIF1 gene (or cDNA) can also be delivered to cells, e.g., for in vitro screening or testing, or in vivo or ex vivo for gene therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Aventis Pharma S.A.
    Inventors: Christophe Marcireau, Marie-Christine Multon, Valerie Polard-Housset
  • Patent number: 7361490
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing optically active amino acids from 5-substituted hydantoin by isolating a hydantoinase gene and an N-carbamyl-L-amino acid hydrolase gene involved in an ability to convert 5-substituted hydantoin or N-carbamylamino acid into optically active amino acids from a microorganism of the genus Microbacterium having the above ability and by improving gene amplification and transcriptional and translational activities thereby preparing a recombinant wherein the amount of the desired enzymes produced is increased. The hydantoinase gene is, for example, a DNA encoding for a protein having a hydantoinase activity, which has the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 in the Sequence. The N-carbamyl-L-amino acid hydrolase gene is, for example, a DNA encoding for a protein having an N-carbamyl-L-amino acid hydrolase activity, which has the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3 in the Sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: AJinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Takenaka, Shunichi Suzuki, Norimasa Onishi, Kenzo Yokozeki
  • Patent number: 7354734
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are fungal nucleic acid sequences that encode novel polypeptides. Also disclosed are polypeptides encoded by these nucleic acid sequences, as well as derivatives, variants, mutants, or fragments of the aforementioned polypeptide, polynucleotide, or antibody. The novel leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and other amino- and carboxypeptidases polypeptides, referred to herein as EXOX nucleic acids and proteins of the invention are useful in a variety of medical, research, and commercial applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Funzyme Biotechnologies SA
    Inventors: Michel Monod, Reto Stocklin, Eric Grouzmann
  • Patent number: 7354753
    Abstract: The invention relates to a variant of a parent fungal glucoamylase, which exhibits altered properties, in particular improved thermal stability and/or increased specific activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Bjarne Ronfeldt Nielsen, Allan Svendsen, Henrik Pedersen, Jesper Vind, Hanne Vang Hendriksen, Torben Peter Frandsen
  • Patent number: 7351560
    Abstract: Provided are a polypeptide having glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and a 80% or more homology to an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 and a polypeptide having glycerol-3-phosphate phosphatase activity and a 80% or more homology to an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2. Provided is also a method for producing glycerol, which includes: culturing a host cell transformed with a vector containing a polynucleotide including a first polynucleotide encoding an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 and a second polynucleotide encoding an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 which are operably linked to a suitable regulatory sequence; and recovering glycerol from the culture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: CJ Corp.
    Inventors: Young Hoon Park, Kwang Myung Cho, Hye Won Um
  • Patent number: 7351569
    Abstract: 4-(Indol-3-ylmethyl)-4-hydroxy-2-oxoglutarate, which is useful as an intermediate in the synthesis of monatin, may be synthesized from indole pyruvic acid and pyruvic acid (and/or oxaloacetic acid) by using a novel aldolase derived from the genus Pseudomonas, Erwinia, Flavobacterium, or Xanthomonas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Masakazu Sugiyama, Kunihiko Watanabe