Patents Examined by Md. Meah
  • Highly active xylose reductase from
    Patent number: 7381553
    Abstract: A new xylose reductase encoding gene from Neurspora crassa was heterologously expressed in E. coli as a His-tag fusion protein and subsequently purified in high yield. This xylose reductase was shown to have a high turnover rate and catalytic efficiency, high stability at room temperature, broad pH profile, and a preference of NADPH over NADH. This enzyme is utilized in production of xylitol and other sugar alcohols such as sorbitol and also in the metabolic enhancement of organisms used for fermentation of plant biomass into ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Universtiy of Illinois
    Inventors: Huimin Zhao, Ryan Woodyer, Michael Simurdiak, Wilfred A. van der Donk
  • Regulation of human caspase-1-like protease
    Patent number: 7192732
    Abstract: Screening methods to identify candidate therapeutic agents using a newly identified human caspases-1-like protease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Bayer Healthcare AG
    Inventor: Shyam Ramakrishnan
  • Production and use of pyruvate decarboxylase
    Patent number: 7189545
    Abstract: A polypeptide with pyruvate decarboxylase activity, derived from the pyruvate decarboxylase from Zymomonas mobilis by substitution of an amino acid in position 553.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Breuer, Bernhard Hauer, Thomas Friedrich