Patents Examined by Kagnew H. Gebreyesus
  • Variants of Gal2 transporter and their uses
    Patent number: 10246495
    Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptides which are Gal2 variants comprising at least one amino acid substitution at a position corresponding to T354, and optionally further amino acid substitution(s). The present invention further relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides and to host cells containing said nucleic acid molecules. The present invention further relates to a method for the production of bioethanol and/or other bio-based compounds, comprising the expression of said nucleic acid molecules, preferably in said host cells. The present invention also relates to the use of the polypeptides, nucleic acids molecule or host cells for the production of bioethanol and/or other bio-based compounds, and/or for the recombinant fermentation of biomaterial containing pentose(s), preferably D-xylose and/or L-arabinose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: BUTALCO GMBH
    Inventors: Eckhard Boles, Heiko Dietz, Alexander Farwick, Virginia Schadeweg, Mislav Oreb
  • Recombinant microorganism for the production of useful metabolites
    Patent number: 10240169
    Abstract: Described are recombinant microorganisms characterized by having phosphoketolase activity, having a diminished or inactivated Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway (EMPP) by inactivation of the gene(s) encoding phosphofructokinase or by reducing phosphofructokinase activity as compared to a non-modified microorganism and having a diminished or inactivated oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) by inactivation of the gene(s) encoding glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase or by reducing glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity as compared to a non-modified microorganism. These microorganisms can be used for the production of useful metabolites such as acetone, isobutene or propene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Scientist of Fortune, S.A.
    Inventor: Philippe Marliere
  • Compositions and methods for making selenocysteine containing polypeptides
    Patent number: 10240158
    Abstract: Non-naturally occurring tRNASec and methods of using them for recombinant expression of proteins engineered to include one or more selenocysteine residues are disclosed. The non-naturally occurring tRNASec can be used for recombinant manufacture of selenocysteine containing polypeptides encoded by mRNA without the requirement of an SECIS element. In some embodiments, selenocysteine containing polypeptides are manufactured by co-expressing a non-naturally occurring tRNASec a recombinant expression system, such as E. coli, with SerRS, EF-Tu, SelA, or PSTK and SepSecS, and an mRNA with at least one codon that recognizes the anticodon of the non-naturally occurring tRNASec.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Yale University
    Inventors: Dieter Soll, Caroline Aldag, Michael Hohn, Corwin Miller
  • Materials and methods for producing 6-carbon monomers
    Patent number: 10233474
    Abstract: This document describes materials and methods for, for example, producing 6-hydroxyhexanoic acid using a ?-ketothiolase or synthase and an alcohol O-acetyltransferase to form a 6-acetyloxy-3-oxohexanoyl-CoA intermediate. This document describes biochemical pathways for producing 6-hydroxyhexanoic acid using a ?-ketothiolase or synthase and an alcohol O-acetyltransferase to form a 6-acetyloxy-3-oxohexanoyl-CoA intermediate. 6-hydroxyhexanoic acid can be enzymatically converted to adipic acid, caprolactam, 6-aminohexanoic acid, hexamethylenediamine or 1,6-hexanediol. This document also describes recombinant hosts producing 6-hydroxyhexanoic acid as well as adipic acid, caprolactam, 6-aminohexanoic acid, hexamethylenediamine and 1,6-hexanediol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: INVISTA North America S.á.r.l.
    Inventors: Alexander Brett Foster, Mariusz Kamionka, Nadia Fatma Kadi, Adriana Leonora Botes, Alex Van Eck Conradie
  • Mutated DNA polymerases with high selectivity and activity
    Patent number: 10227643
    Abstract: The present invention provides DNA polymerases and their use in various applications. The present invention also relates to uses and methods utilizing the DNA polymerase of the present invention for discriminating between matched and mismatched primers or detecting SNP or methylated cytosine. The present invention also relates to kits comprising such DNA polymerases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: UNIVERSITAET KONSTANZ
    Inventors: Andreas Marx, Matthias Drum, Ramon Kranaster
  • Nitrile hydratase
    Patent number: 10221410
    Abstract: Provided is an improved nitrile hydratase with improved catalytic activity. Also provided are DNA for coding the improved nitrile hydratase, a recombinant vector that contains the DNA, a transformant that contains the recombinant vector, nitrile hydratase acquired from a culture of the transformant, and a method for producing the nitrile hydratase. Also provided is a method for producing an amide compound that uses the culture or a processed product of the culture. The improved nitrile hydratase contains an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 50 (GX1X2X3X4DX5X6R) in a beta subunit, and is characterized in that X4 is an amino acid selected from a group comprising cysteine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, histidine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, asparagine, proline, glutamine, serine and threonine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Fumiaki Watanabe, Ai Hara, Takanori Ambo, Aya Kitahara
  • Innovative discovery of therapeutic, diagnostic, and antibody compositions related to protein fragments of phenylalanyl-beta-tRNA synthetases
    Patent number: 10220080
    Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising newly identified protein fragments of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, polynucleotides that encode them and complements thereof, related agents, and methods of use thereof in diagnostic, drug discovery, research, and therapeutic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignees: aTyr Pharam, Inc., Pangu Biopharma Limited
    Inventors: Leslie Ann Greene, Kyle P. Chiang, Fei Hong, Alain P. Vasserot, Wing-Sze Lo, Jeffry D. Watkins, Cheryl L. Quinn, Zhiwen Xu, John D. Mendlein
  • Method for preparing mercapto functional polyester polyols
    Patent number: 10214755
    Abstract: A method to prepare functional polyester polyols by using micro-reaction device, wherein mixing ?-caprolactone/?-valerolactone monomer with mercapto alcohol evenly with appropriate organic solution under moistureless conditions, and continuously transferring the prepared mixing solution into a micro-reaction device supported with an immobilized enzyme for polymerization to synthetize a poly (?-caprolactone/?-valerolactone). Compared with the prior art, the present invention achieves a continuous production by using immobilized lipase Novozyme435 as a catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: NANJING TECH UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Kai Guo, Weijun Huang, Ning Zhu, Xin Hu, Zheng Fang, Yihuan Liu
  • Method of assessing chemicals in produced fluids
    Patent number: 10215701
    Abstract: A method of monitoring water-soluble treatment chemicals in a fluid that is immiscible with water and which may or may not contain some aqueous fluid, the method using at least one reagent that produces an optically detectable product, the detection step can take place without separation of the aqueous phase containing the treatment chemicals from the fluid immiscible with water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Lux Assure Limited
    Inventors: Fiona MacKay, Emma Perfect, Catherine Rowley-Williams, Anne-Marie Fuller
  • Method for producing an enzymatic cocktail from fungal must
    Patent number: 10214734
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of an enzymatic cocktail from a cellulolytic microorganism producing cellulases and/or hemi-cellulases, comprising: a step for the production of enzymes with a medium being obtained containing enzymes and a microorganism must, said must is separated, or not separated, from the liquid containing said enzymes, a step of cooling said must to a temperature below the temperature of the enzyme production step and for a time such that the beta-glucosidase concentration of the liquid originating from the cooling step is greater than that of the liquid originating from the enzyme production step, and/or the solid volume/total volume ratio is less than said ratio for the enzyme production step, and an enzymatic cocktail is obtained at the end of the cooling step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: IFP Energies nouvelles
    Inventors: Fadhel Ben Chaabane, Etienne Jourdier, Celine Cohen, Bernard Chaussepied
  • Coryneform bacterium transformant and process for producing organic compound using the same
    Patent number: 10208313
    Abstract: A coryneform bacterium transformant engineered by the following (A) to (D): (A) enhancement of 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate (DAHP) synthase activity; (B) prevention, inhibition, or reduction of intracellular sugar uptake mediated by phosphotransferase system (PTS); (C) enhancement of intracellular sugar uptake activity mediated by a sugar transporter different from phosphotransferase system and enhancement of glucokinase activity; and (D) enhancement of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) activity is capable of efficiently producing shikimic acid or the like from a sugar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE EARTH
    Inventors: Masayuki Inui, Masako Suda, Kazumi Hiraga, Takahisa Kogure
  • Aspartic proteases
    Patent number: 10196624
    Abstract: The invention relates to aspartic proteases, and particularly to aspartic proteases for plants. Disclosed are modified plant aspartic proteases, and methods for their manufacture, and uses thereof. Particularly contemplated are the uses of aspartic proteases in clotting milk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Biocant—Associacao De Transferencia De Tecnologia
    Inventors: Carla Sofia Gomes Malaquias de Almeida, Isaura Isabel Gonçalves Simões, Carlos José Fialho Costa Faro
  • Innovative discovery of therapeutic, diagnostic, and antibody compositions related to protein fragments of glycyl-tRNA synthetases
    Patent number: 10196629
    Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising newly identified protein fragments of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, polynucleotides that encode them and complements thereof, related agents, and methods of use thereof in diagnostic, drug discovery, research, and therapeutic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignees: aTyr Pharma, Inc., Pangu BioPharma Limited
    Inventors: Leslie Ann Greene, Kyle P. Chiang, Fei Hong, Alain P. Vasserot, Wing-Sze Lo, Jeffry D. Watkins, Cheryl L. Quinn, John D. Mendlein
  • Innovative discovery of therapeutic, diagnostic, and antibody compositions related to protein fragments of histidyl-tRNA synthetases
    Patent number: 10196628
    Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising newly identified protein fragments of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, polynucleotides that encode them and complements thereof, related agents, and methods of use thereof in diagnostic, drug discovery, research, and therapeutic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignees: aTyr Pharma, Inc., Pangu Biopharma Limited
    Inventors: Leslie Ann Greene, Kyle P. Chiang, Fei Hong, Alain P. Vasserot, Wing-Sze Lo, Jeffry D. Watkins, Cheryl L. Quinn, John D. Mendlein
  • Innovative discovery of therapeutic, diagnostic, and antibody compositions related to protein fragments of Valyl-tRNA synthetases
    Patent number: 10189911
    Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising newly identified protein fragments of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, polynucleotides that encode them and complements thereof, related agents, and methods of use thereof in diagnostic, drug discovery, research, and therapeutic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignees: aTyr Pharma, Inc., Pangu Biopharma Limited
    Inventors: Leslie Ann Greene, Kyle P. Chiang, Fei Hong, Alain P. Vasserot, Wing-Sze Lo, Jeffry D. Watkins, Cheryl L. Quinn, John D. Mendlein
  • Innovative discovery of therapeutic, diagnostic, and antibody compositions related to protein fragments of leucyl-tRNA synthetases
    Patent number: 10179908
    Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising newly identified protein fragments of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, polynucleotides that encode them and complements thereof, related agents, and methods of use thereof in diagnostic, drug discovery, research, and therapeutic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignees: aTyr Pharma, Inc., Pangu Biopharma Limited
    Inventors: Leslie Ann Greene, Kyle P. Chiang, Fei Hong, Alain P. Vasserot, Wing-Sze Lo, Jeffry D. Watkins, Cheryl L. Quinn, John D. Mendlein
  • Innovative discovery of therapeutic, diagnostic, and antibody compositions related to protein fragments of phenylalanyl-alpha-tRNA synthetases
    Patent number: 10179906
    Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising newly identified protein fragments of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, polynucleotides that encode them and complements thereof, related agents, and methods of use thereof in diagnostic, drug discovery, research, and therapeutic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignees: aTyr Pharma, Inc., Pangu Biopharma Limited
    Inventors: Leslie Ann Greene, Kyle P. Chiang, Fei Hong, Alian P. Vasserot, Wing-Sze Lo, Jeffry D. Watkins, Cheryl L. Quinn, John D. Mendlein
  • Non-natural amino acid tRNA synthetases for pyridyl tetrazine
    Patent number: 10179909
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for a mutein aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase that preferentially charges a tRNA with a non-natural amino acid. Also provided are methods for incorporating the non-natural amino acids, pyridinyl-amino tetrazine amino acids, into a protein, and further conjugating a biologically active adduct to the pyridinyl-amino tetrazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: SUTRO BIOPHARMA, INC.
    Inventors: Erik S. Zimmerman, Christopher Thanos
  • Methods and compounds for diagnosing threonyl-tRNA synthetase-associated diseases and conditions
    Patent number: 10175237
    Abstract: The invention includes, in part, methods and compounds for diagnosing diseases and conditions characterized by altered threonyl-tRNA synthetase (TARS) activity, which include, but are not limited to diseases and conditions in which angiogenesis is altered. In some embodiments of the invention, a level of a TARS molecule is determined and compared to a control level of TARS to assess onset, progression, and/or regression of a disease or condition associated with altered TARS activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: University of Vermont and State Agricultural College
    Inventors: Christopher Francklyn, Karen M. Lounsbury, Tamara Williams
  • Polypeptides with ketol-acid reductoisomerase activity
    Patent number: 10174345
    Abstract: Polypeptides having ketol-acid reductoisomerase activity are provided. Also disclosed are recombinant host cells comprising isobutanol biosynthetic pathways employing such polypeptides. Methods for producing isobutanol employing host cells comprising the polypeptides having ketol-acid reductoisomerase activity are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC
    Inventors: Yougen Li, Jessica McElvain, Steven Cary Rothman