Patents Examined by Ponnathapu Achutamurthy
  • TNF-&agr; converting enzyme
    Patent number: 6555354
    Abstract: A metalloprotease that converts TNF-&agr; from the 26 kD cell form to the 17 kD form has been isolated and purified and the cDNA sequence known. In particular, the protease has a molecular weight of approximately 80 kD. The isolated and purified protease is useful for designing an inhibitor thereof, and may find use as a therapeutic agent. Assays for detecting the protease-inhibiting activity of a molecule are also an aspect of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Immunex Corporation
    Inventors: Roy A. Black, Charles Rauch, Carl J. March, Douglas P. Cerretti
  • Protease variants and compositions
    Patent number: 6555355
    Abstract: Enzymes produced by mutating the genes for a number of subtilases and expressing the mutated genes in suitable hosts are presented. The enzymes exhibit improved wash performance in any detergent in comparison to their wild type parent enzymes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Novozymes, A/S
    Inventors: Peter Kamp Hansen, Peter Bauditz, Frank Mikkelsen, Kim Vilbour Andersen
  • Carotenoid-associated proteins useful for high carotenoid accumulation and production in plants and other organisms
    Patent number: 6551793
    Abstract: A method for production of high amounts of carotenoids in plants, bacteria or cells. Carotenoid-associated proteins CHRC and CHRD isolated from corollas of Cucumis sativus, chrc gene, CHRC deduced sequence, the molecular cloning, cDNA and RNA. A new CHRC promoter able to direct expression for foreign genes. The cloned promoter comprising approximately 3.5 Kb of the CHRC upstream region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
    Inventors: Alexander Vainstein, Michael Vishnevetsky, Marianna Ovadis, Hanan Itzhaki
  • Nucleotide sequence which encodes a flavin monooxygenase, the corresponding protein and their uses in the spheres of diagnosis and therapy
    Patent number: 6551792
    Abstract: The present invention concerns, in particular, human flavin-containing monooxygenase 2 (hFMO2), and another human enzyme of the FMO, hFMOx family, their nucleotide and polypeptide sequences. The present invention also concerns vectors for cloning and/or expression containing said nucleotide sequences and cells transformed by these vectors and method for preparing said polypeptides. The invention further concerns methods for selecting compounds and of diagnosing predisposition to pathologies and/or deficiencies related to FMO's and pharmaceutical compositions containing said compounds for treating and/or preventing these pathologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignees: Genset, S.A., Institute National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale
    Inventors: Marta Blumenfeld, Ilia Tchoumakov, Henri-Jean Garchon, Jean-Francois Bach
  • Motor proteins and methods for their use
    Patent number: 6551787
    Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of HsKif7, antibodies to HsKif7, methods of screening for HsKif7 modulators using biologically active HsKif7, and kits for screening for HsKif7 modulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Cytokinetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Christophe Beraud, Richard Freedman
  • Membrane-bound metalloprotease and soluble secreted form thereof
    Patent number: 6548284
    Abstract: Disclosed are metalloprotease proteins or their salts usable for treatment or prophylaxis of conformational diseases and for providing a screening kit for selection of carcinostatics and anti-metastatic agents. The metalloprotease proteins have an amino acid sequence set forth under SEQ ID NO:1 or NO:2 in the Sequence Listing. The proteins have a neutral optimal pH, hydrolyze endothelin 1, atrial natriuretic peptide and angiotensin I and are inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline, phosphoramidon and thiorphan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignees: JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masafumi Matsuo, Koji Ikeda, Noriaki Emoto, Sunu Budhi Raharjo, Yudha Nurhantari, Kayoko Saiki, Mitsuhiro Yokoyama
  • Isolated human dehydrogenase proteins, nucleic acid molecules encoding these human dehydrogenase proteins, and uses thereof
    Patent number: 6544764
    Abstract: The present invention provides amino acid sequences of polypeptides that are encoded by genes within the human genome, the dehydrogenase polypeptides of the present invention. The present invention specifically provides isolated polypeptide and nucleic acid molecules, methods of identifying orthologs and paralogs of the dehydrogenase polypeptides, and methods of identifying modulators of the dehydrogenase polypeptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Applera Corporation
    Inventors: Chunhua Yan, Zhenya Li, Gennady V Merkulov, Valentina Di Francesco, Ellen Beasley
  • Recombinant cellulose synthase
    Patent number: 6541238
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the compositions and methods associated with the cloning of the catalytic subunit of cellulose synthase responsible for catalyzing cellulose biosynthesis. The invention relates further to compositions and methods for obtaining host cells containing recombinant cellulose synthase as well as compositions and methods for obtaining cellulose synthase from natural sources. In certain aspects, the present invention provides methods for the cloning of an 83 kd subunit of the cellulose synthase enzyme from Acetobacter xylinum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas Systems
    Inventors: Inder Mohan Saxena, Fong Chyr Lin, R. Malcom Brown, Jr.
  • Calcium free subtilisin mutants
    Patent number: 6541235
    Abstract: Novel calcium free subtilisin mutants are taught, in particular subtilisins which have been mutated to eliminate amino acids 75-83 and part or all of amino acids 1-22 (the N-terminal region) and which retain enzymatic activity and stability. Recombinant methods for producing the same and recombinant DNA encoding for such subtilisin mutants are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute
    Inventor: Philip N. Bryan
  • Protein having glutaminase activity and gene encoding the same
    Patent number: 6541236
    Abstract: There are disclosed a protein having an amino acid sequence represented by amino acid numbers 1 to 684 or 49 to 684 shown in SEQ ID NO:2, or a protein having a glutaminase activity in which one or more amino acids is/are deleted from, substituted by, inserted to or added to the amino acid sequence of the above protein; a gene containing DNA encoding the above protein or a gene encoding a protein which hybridizes with the DNA of the above gene under a stringent condition and has a glutaminase activity; a recombinant DNA containing the above gene; a transformant or a transductant containing the above recombinant DNA; and a process for producing glutaminase which comprises culturing the above transformant or the above transductant and collecting glutaminase from a culture medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Kikkoman Corporation
    Inventors: Kotaro Ito, Genryou Umitsuki, Yasuji Koyama
  • Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) genes from Candida albicans
    Patent number: 6541202
    Abstract: The present invention pertains, in general, to the identification, isolation and use of Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT) genes and the proteins encoded by such genes. In particular, the present invention pertains to the identification, isolation and use of TERT genes and TERT proteins from several genetically diverse and economically important organisms, including two human pathogens, Candida albicans and Plasmodium falciparum and an agronomic crop species, Oryza sativa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Research & Development Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Long, Anneke M. Metz, Ruschelle A. Love
  • Calcium free subtilisin mutants
    Patent number: 6541234
    Abstract: Novel calcium free subtilisin mutants are taught, in particular subtilisins which have been mutated to eliminate amino acids 75-83 and which retain enzymatic activity and stability. Recombinant methods for producing same and recombinant DNA encoding for such subtilisin mutants are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute
    Inventor: Philip N. Bryan
  • Isolated human kinase proteins, nucleic acid molecules encoding human kinase proteins, and uses thereof
    Patent number: 6537788
    Abstract: The present invention provides amino acid sequences of peptides that are encoded by genes within the human genome, the kinase peptides of the present invention. The present invention specifically provides isolated peptide and nucleic acid molecules, methods of identifying orthologs and paralogs of the kinase peptides, and methods of identifying modulators of the kinase peptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Applera Corporation
    Inventors: Jane Ye, Chunhua Yan, Valentina Di Francesco, Ellen M. Beasley
  • Esterase genes and uses of the same
    Patent number: 6537790
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel gene encoding a protein having an excellent catalyst ability for producing (S)-N-substituted cyclic imino acid represented by formula (2): and provides a novel method for producing (S)-N-substituted cyclic imino acid represented by formula (2) by an asymmetric hydrolization of the N-substituted cyclic imino acid ester represented by formula (1): in a manner of gene engineering technology utilizing the novel gene provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kae Kishimoto, Yuko Kobayashi, Yoshiki Takashima, Ayumu Inoue
  • 22438, 23553, 25278, and 26212 novel human sulfatases
    Patent number: 6534302
    Abstract: The present invention relates to newly identified human sulfatases. In particular, the invention relates to sulfatase polypeptides and polynucleotides, methods of detecting the sulfatase polypeptides and polynucleotides, and methods of diagnosing and treating sulfatase-related disorders. Also provided are vectors, host cells, and recombinant methods for making and using the novel molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Maria Alexandra Glucksmann, Mark Williamson, Fong Ying Tsai, Laura A. Rudolph-Owen
  • Polynucleotides encoding activators of caspases
    Patent number: 6534267
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions relating to human polypeptide activators of caspases such as polypeptide and polynucleotide sequences diagnostic of caspase activators. These sequences and polypeptides and polynucleotides embodying these sequences find a wide vanety of diagnostic and therapeutic applications involving detecting and/or modulating expression and/or function of activators or caspases or genes or transcripts encoding such activators and generating genetic and immuno probes specific to activators of caspases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Inventors: Xiaodong Wang, Chunying Du
  • Mammalian TNF- &agr; convertase
    Patent number: 6531290
    Abstract: The present invention provides isolated human and bovine TNF-&agr; convertases, nucleic acids and recombinant vectors encoding the same, host cells comprising the nucleic acids and vectors, and methods for making the convertases using the host cells. This invention further provides antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof which specifically bind to the convertases and are useful for treating medical conditions caused or mediated by TNF-&agr;. Also provided are screening methods for identifying specific inhibitors of mammalian TNF-&agr; convertases, and for identifying nucleic acids encoding such convertases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Schering Corporation
    Inventors: Barbara Dalie, Xuedong Fan, Daniel Lundell, Charles A. Lunn, Jimmy C. Tan, Paul J. Zavodny
  • Cell-free synthesis of polyketides
    Patent number: 6531299
    Abstract: Cell-free systems which effect the production of polyketides employing modular polyketide synthases are described. Libraries of new and/or known polyketides may also be produced in cell-free systems employing aromatic PKS, modular PKS or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignees: Stanford University, Brown University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Chaitan Khosla, Rembert Pieper, Guanglin Luo, David E. Cane
  • Non RCR leuconostoc plasmid capable of being transferred into lactic acid bacteria, use as cloning and expressing tool
    Patent number: 6528285
    Abstract: The invention concerns a plasmid having a replication mode which is not of the RCR type, and capable of being transferred in stable form into host lactic acid bacteria belonging at least to three different kinds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Texel
    Inventors: Franck Biet, Yves Cenatiempo, Christophe Fremaux
  • Zace1: a human metalloenzyme
    Patent number: 6524836
    Abstract: Angiotensin-converting enzyme is a zinc metallopeptidase that plays roles in blood pressure regulation and fertility. The catalytic activities of angiotensin converting enzymes include the production of the potent vasopressor angiotensin II from angiotensin I, and the inactivation of the vasodilatory peptide bradykinin. Zace1 is a new form of human zinc metallopeptidase, which includes one zinc-dependent catalytic domain containing the motif “HEXXH” and one downstream “EX(I/V)X(D/S)” motif.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Inventor: Paul O. Sheppard