Patents Examined by Matthew Keogh
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Patent number: 8722359Abstract: Provided herein are exemplary genes, constructs and methods for the formation of triacylglycerols (TAGs). The exemplary genes include a phosphatic acid phosphohydrolase (PA Hydrolase) gene, a diacylglycerol o-acyltransferase (DAGAT2A) gene, and a phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (LROI) gene.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2011Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Aurora Algae, Inc.Inventors: Oliver Kilian, Bertrand Vick
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Patent number: 8716555Abstract: The present specification relates to the production of cotton plants and seeds and oil prepared therefrom having elevated levels of oleic and reduced levels of palmitic and linoleic acids. Furthermore, cottonseeds having low levels of cyclopropane and/or cyclopropene fatty acids and/or reduced levels of gossypol are described herein. The specification also describe FatB and CPA-FAS nucleotide and amino acid sequences derived from cotton facilitating, inter alia the direct modification of plant oil content and/or composition.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2011Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research OrganisationInventors: Qing Liu, Allan Graham Green, Surinder Pal Singh
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Patent number: 8716556Abstract: A method for increasing cuticular wax biosynthesis of plant includes transforming a plant cell with the recombinant vector containing MYB96 (myb domain protein 96) gene from Arabidopsis thaliana. A method for producing a transgenic plant with increased cuticular wax biosynthesis includes transforming a plant cell with the recombinant vector containing the MYB96 gene, and regenerating the transformed plant cell into the transgenic plant. A plant and a seed with increased cuticular wax biosynthesis are produced by the method. A method for producing a biofuel using a cuticular wax includes separating and purifying a cuticular wax from the plant. A composition for increasing cuticular wax biosynthesis of plant includes the MYB96 gene.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2011Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: SNU R&DB FoundationInventors: Chung Mo Park, Pil Joon Seo
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Patent number: 8709811Abstract: The subject invention concerns polynucleotides encoding a plant 2-phenylethanol dehydrogenase enzyme. In one embodiment, the polynucleotide encodes a tomato 2-phenylethanol dehydrogenase. The subject invention also concerns polynucleotides encoding a plant phenylalanine decarboxylase enzyme. In one embodiment, the polynucleotide encodes a tomato phenylalanine decarboxylase. The subject invention also concerns 2-phenylethanol dehydrogenase polypeptides and phenylalanine decarboxylase polypeptides encoded by polynucleotides of the present invention. The subject invention also concerns methods for providing a plant with an increased flavor and aroma volatile. Plants can be transformed with one or more polynucleotide of the present invention. The subject invention also concerns these transformed plant cells, plant tissue, and plants and transgenic progeny thereof.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.Inventors: Harry J. Klee, Denise Tieman
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Patent number: 8709766Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to novel polynucleotide sequences for use in Nannochloropsis gaditana. The novel polynucleotide sequences include control sequences and coding sequences. Also disclosed are novel gene expression constructs wherein N. gaditana promoters/control regions are operatively linked to N. gaditana or non-N. gaditana coding sequences. These novel polynucleotide sequences and expression constructs can be introduced into N. gaditana and can recombine into the N. gaditana genome. Expression from these polynucleotide sequences and expression constructs can enhance N. gaditana biomass and/or lipid biosynthesis. Also disclosed are methods for modifying N. gaditana, for example by stably transforming N. gaditana with nucleic acid sequences, growing the modified N. gaditana, and obtaining biomass and biofuels from the modified N. gaditana.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2012Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Colorado School of MinesInventors: Randor Radakovits, Robert Jinkerson, Matthew Posewitz
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Patent number: 8704041Abstract: A variety of methods and compostions are provided, including methods and compositions for targeted modification of a specific target site in a cell or organism, methods for integrating polynucleotides of interest, methods to assess promoter activity, directly select transformed organisms, minimize or eliminate expression resulting from random integration into the genome of an organism, such as a plant, remove polynucleotides of interest, combine multiple transfer cassettes, invert or excise a polynucleotide, silence a gene, and identify and/or characterize transcriptional regulating regions. The methods involve the introduction of a cell proliferation factor and a double-strand break-inducing enzyme into an organism.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2010Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Pioneer Hi Bred International IncInventors: William J. Gordon-Kamm, Keith S. Lowe, David J. Peterson, Christopher J. Scelonge, Grace M. St. Clair, Bing-Bing Wang
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Patent number: 8697947Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for increasing various plant yield-related traits by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a yield increasing polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: an AT-hook motif nuclear localized 19/20 (AHL19/20), a GRP (Growth Regulating Protein) (wherein said GRP polypeptide is a metallothionein 2a (MT2a) polypeptide), an alanine aminotransferase (AAT)-like polypeptide, and an alanine aminotransferase (AAT) polypeptide.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2008Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: BASF Plant Science GmbHInventors: Yves Hatzfeld, Valerie Frankard
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Patent number: 8692070Abstract: The present invention relates to transgenic plants that have increased nitrogen use efficiency, stress tolerance, and/or alleviating a limitation such that yield is increased, or a combination of these and that have been transformed using a novel vector construct including a synthetic N-acetyl glutamate kinase (NAGK) gene that modulates nitrogen use in plants. The invention also includes the overexpression and enzymatic characterization of an arginine-insensitive NAGK isolated from a bacterial strain that improves stress tolerance and nitrogen uptake, metabolism or both. In various embodiments, the vector construct includes one or more nucleic acid sequences including SEQ ID NO: 1. The invention also relates to isolated vectors for transforming plants and to antibodies used for detecting transformed plants.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2010Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Iowa Corn Promotion BoardInventors: James McLaren, Nicholas Duck, Brian Vande Berg, Philip Hammer, Laura Schouten
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Patent number: 8692076Abstract: The present invention provides transgenic soybean event MON87769, and cells, seeds, and plants comprising DNA diagnostic for the soybean event. The invention also provides compositions comprising nucleotide sequences that are diagnostic for said soybean event in a sample, methods for detecting the presence of said soybean event nucleotide sequences in a sample, probes and primers for use in detecting nucleotide sequences that are diagnostic for the presence of said soybean event in a sample, growing the seeds of such soybean event into soybean plants, and breeding to produce soybean plants comprising DNA diagnostic for the soybean event.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2009Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLCInventors: Byron Froman, Can Duong, Jennifer Listello
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Patent number: 8658855Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the isolation, purification, and characterization of a diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2), and genes encoding DGAT2, from algae. DGAT2 can incorporate very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in to triacylglycerol more efficiently than DGAT1. The disclosure concerns methods of regulating seed oil content, fatty acid synthesis and fatty acid composition using the DGAT2 gene and to tissues and plants transformed with the gene. The disclosure also relates to transgenic plants, plant tissues and plant seeds having a genome containing an introduced DNA sequence of the disclosure, and a method of producing such plants and plant seeds.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2008Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignees: National Research Council of Canada, Dow AgroSciences LLCInventors: Jitao Zou, Jingyu Xu, Zhifu Zheng
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Patent number: 8653328Abstract: Cytochrome b5 (Cb5) is a haem-binding protein located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the outer mitochondrial membranes of higher eukaryotes. In higher plants, animals, and fungi, the ER resident Cb5 has been shown to play a role in desaturation of acyl CoA fatty acids. Higher plants Cb5 isoforms from plants such as soybean or Arabidopsis are capable of modulating omega-3 desaturation. Co-expression of certain Cb5 isoforms with FAD3 in a host plant results in increased production of seed oil content as well as altered ratio between different fatty acids. It is also disclosed here that overexpression of Yarrowia ACL enzymes in the plastids of a host plant helps boost the synthesis of acetyl CoA, which in turn, may lead to increased synthesis of fatty acids and enhanced oil accumulation in the seeds.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2010Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: The Curators of the University of MissouriInventors: Rajesh Kumar, Henry T. Nguyen
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Patent number: 8637733Abstract: This invention is in the field of biotechnology, in particular, this pertains to polynucleotide sequences encoding membrane bound O-acyltransferase genes and the use of these acyltransferases for altering fatty acid profiles in oilseed plants. Methods for increasing elongation and desaturation conversion efficiencies are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2010Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and CompanyInventors: Howard Glenn Damude, Knut Meyer
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Patent number: 8633012Abstract: Methods and compositions for the production of oil, fuels, oleochemicals, and other compounds in recombinant microorganisms are provided, including oil-bearing microorganisms and methods of low cost cultivation of such microorganisms. Microalgal cells containing exogenous genes encoding, for example, a lipase, a sucrose transporter, a sucrose invertase, a fructokinase, a polysaccharide-degrading enzyme, a keto acyl-ACP synthase enzyme, a fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase, a fatty acyl-CoA/aldehyde reductase, a fatty acyl-CoA reductase, a fatty aldehyde reductase, a fatty acid hydroxylase, a desaturase enzyme, a fatty aldehyde decarbonylase, and/or an acyl carrier protein are useful in manufacturing transportation fuels such as renewable diesel, biodiesel, and renewable jet fuel, as well as oleochemicals such as functional fluids, surfactants, soaps and lubricants.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2012Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: Solazyme, Inc.Inventors: Scott Franklin, Aravind Somanchi, Janice Wee, George Rudenko, Jeffrey L. Moseley, Walt Rakitsky, Xinhua Zhao, Riyaz Bhat
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Patent number: 8592645Abstract: The present disclosure relates to engineered zinc finger proteins that target genes in plants involved in fatty acid biosynthesis. Methods of using such zinc finger proteins in modulating gene expression, gene inactivation, and targeted gene modification are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2010Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignees: Dow AgroSciences LLC, Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.Inventors: Russell DeKelver, Manju Gupta, Jeffrey C. Miller, Stephen Novak, Joseph F. Petolino
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Patent number: 8592649Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions relating to altering NT activity, nitrogen utilization efficiency and/or uptake in plants. The invention relates to a method for the production of plants with maintained or increased yield under low nitrogen fertility. The invention provides isolated nitrate transporter variant (NT variant) nucleic acids and their encoded proteins. The invention further provides recombinant expression cassettes, host cells, and transgenic plants. Plants transformed with nucleotide sequences encoding the NT variant enzyme show improved properties, for example, increased yield.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2010Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Pioneer Hi Bred International IncInventors: Lu Liu, Hoa Giang, Dale F. Loussaert, Haiyin Wang
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Patent number: 8569021Abstract: The subject invention provides novel microorganisms comprising polynucleotides and polypeptides encoding a methyltransferase. The subject invention provides novel methods for the production of biodiesel.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2010Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: University of Tennessee Research FoundationInventors: Feng Chen, Nan Zhao
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Patent number: 8541650Abstract: Isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides and recombinant DNA constructs particularly useful for altering agronomic characteristics of plants under nitrogen limiting conditions, compositions (such as plants or seeds) comprising these recombinant DNA constructs, and methods utilizing these recombinant DNA constructs. The recombinant DNA construct comprises a polynucleotide operably linked to a promoter functional in a plant, wherein said polynucleotide encodes an LNT1 polypeptide.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2009Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignees: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.Inventors: Milo Aukerman, Stephen M. Allen, Dale Loussaert, Stanley Luck, Hajime Sakai, Scott V. Tingey
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Patent number: 8461417Abstract: Reducing /yso-phosphatidylcholine acyltransferase (LPCAT) activity in a plant increases seed oil content and/or fatty acid levels in the plant. Increases in the level of unusual fatty acids 16:3, 18:3 and 20:1 c11 are particularly pronounced.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2009Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: National Research Council of CanadaInventors: Jitao Zou, Qilin Chen, Wenyun Shen, Liping Wang
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Patent number: 8445749Abstract: The invention provides nucleic acids, and variants and fragments thereof, obtained from strains of Bacillus thuringiensis encoding polypeptides having pesticidal activity against insect pests, including Lepidoptera. Particular embodiments of the invention provide isolated nucleic acids encoding pesticidal proteins, pesticidal compositions, DNA constructs, and transformed microorganisms and plants comprising a nucleic acid of the embodiments. These compositions find use in methods for controlling pests, especially plant pests.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2009Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Pioneer Hi Bred International IncInventors: Andre R. Abad, Hua Dong, Sue B. Lo, Xiaomei Shi