Patents Examined by Rebecca E. Prouty
  • Aggrecanase-1 and -2 peptide substrates and methods
    Patent number: 7312045
    Abstract: The present invention describes synthetic peptide substrates of the metalloproteases, aggrecanase-1 and/or -2 suitable for assays of enzyme activity. The invention also describes methods using these peptides to discover pharmaceutical agents that modulate these proteases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc.
    Inventors: Anne M. Fourie, Lars Karlsson, Fawn Coles
  • Using mutations to improve phytases
    Patent number: 7309505
    Abstract: The present invention invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a mutant phytase and the isolated mutant phytase itself. The present invention further relates to methods of using the isolated nucleic acid molecule and the isolated mutant phytase of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignees: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc., The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Xingen Lei, Edward J. Mullaney, Abul H. J. Ullah
  • Process for producing ? 1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyl-transferase and N-acetylglucosamine-containing complex carbohydrate
    Patent number: 7309587
    Abstract: The present invention can provide a process for producing a protein having ?1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase activity using a transformant comprising a DNA encoding a protein having ?1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase activity derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Pasteurella and a process for producing an N-acetylglucosamine-containing complex carbohydrate using a transformant capable of producing a protein having ?1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase activity derived from a microorganism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Kyowa Jakko Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Endo, Satoshi Koizumi
  • Advanced cell-transducing transport domain-target protein-transport domain fusion protein and uses thereof
    Patent number: 7306944
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fusion protein which delivers a functional protein or peptide into a cell at enhanced efficiency. The fusion protein of the present invention is a transduction domain-target protein-transduction domain fusion protein, wherein the transduction domain, which comprises 6-12 amino acid residues whose more than ¾ consist of arginine or lysine residues, is covalently bonded to each of the amino- and carboxyl-terminal ends of the target protein. Green fluorescence protein and Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutate (SOD) are used as the target protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Polymer Ventures, Inc.
    Inventors: Su-Young Choi, Jin-Seo Park, Kyu-Hyung Han, Jin-Hee Choi
  • Polypeptides having alpha-amylase activity and polypeptides encoding same
    Patent number: 7306935
    Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptides having alpha-amylase activity and polynucleotides having a nucleotide sequence which encodes for the polypeptides. The invention also relates to a polypeptide having carbohydrate-binding affinity and polynucleotides having a nucleotide sequence which encodes for the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the nucleic acid constructs as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignees: Novozymes North America, Inc, Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Tine Hoff, Carsten Andersen, Tina Spendler, Sven Pedersen, Anders Vikso-Nielsen, Thomas Schafer, Jiyin Liu
  • Expression of granular starch hydrolyzing enzymes in and process for producing glucose from granular starch substrates
    Patent number: 7303899
    Abstract: The present invention relates to filamentous fungal host cells and particularly Trichoderma host cells useful for the production of heterologous granular starch hydrolyzing enzymes having glucoamylase activity (GSHE). Further the invention relates to a method for producing a glucose syrup comprising contacting a granular starch slurry obtained from a granular starch substrate simultaneously with an alpha amylase and a GSHE at a temperature equal to or below the gelatinization temperature of the granular starch to obtain a composition of a glucose syrup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Genencor International, Inc.
    Inventors: Toby M. Baldwin, Benjamin S. Bower, Gopal K. Chotani, Nigel Dunn-Coleman, Oreste J. Lantero, Jr., Suzanne E. Lantz, Michael J. Pepsin, Jayarama K. Shetty, Bruce A. Strohm
  • L-amino acid-producing bacterium and a method for producing L-amino acid
    Patent number: 7300776
    Abstract: An L-amino acid-producing strain of Escherichia coli is bred by modifying an Escherichia coli K12 strain or a derivative thereof so as to become resistant to L-valine and have an ability to produce one or more L-amino acids selected from the group consisting of L-tryptophan, L-phenylalanine, L-lysine, L-tyrosine, L-glutamic acid, L-histidine, L-cysteine, and L-proline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Hisao Ito, Yuji Joe
  • Composition employing a novel human kinase
    Patent number: 7297525
    Abstract: This invention provides compositions, organisms and methodologies employing a novel human protein kinase, MCRK1. The novel human kinase has sequence homology to rat myotonic dystrophy kinase-related Cdc42 binding kinase (MRCK) alpha. The gene encoding the novel kinase is localized in locus 11q13 of human chromosome 11. The novel protein kinase comprises multiple functional/structural domains that include a kinase domain, a pkinase_C domain, a DAG-PE binding domain, and a CNH domain. The sequence and structure similarity between the novel human protein and rat MRCK alpha indicates that the novel human protein may function as a downstream effector of Cdc42 in cytoskeleton reorganization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Wyeth
    Inventors: Wei Liu, Leeying Wu, Huimin Chen
  • Polynucleotides for production of farnesyl dibenzodiazepinones
    Patent number: 7297524
    Abstract: This invention provides genes and their encoded proteins, involved in the biosynthesis of farnesyl dibenzodiazepinones, including ECO-04601. The invention relates to expression vectors comprising the genes and to host cell transformed with these vectors. The invention further relates to methods of producing farnesyl dibenzodiazepinone compounds using the genes and proteins of the invention, for example, involving expression of biosynthetic pathway genes in transformed host cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Thallion Pharmceuticals Inc.
    Inventors: Chris M. Farnet, Emmanuel Zazopoulos
  • Compositions of erythropoietin isoforms comprising Lewis-X structures and high sialic acid content
    Patent number: 7297680
    Abstract: Disclosed are immortalized human embryonic retina cells, having a nucleic acid sequence encoding an adenoviral E1A protein integrated into the genome of the cells, and further comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding an enzyme involved in post-translational modification of proteins, such as a sialyltransferase, wherein said nucleic acid sequence encoding the enzyme involved in post-translational modification of proteins is under control of a heterologous promoter. Methods for producing recombinant proteins from such cells and obtaining such recombinant proteins having increased sialylation are provided as are novel compositions of isoforms of erythropoietin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Crucell Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Dirk J. E. Opstelten, Alphonsus G. C. M. UytdeHaag
  • Method for producing L-glutamic acid
    Patent number: 7294491
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing L-glutamic acid by fermentation, by culturing in a liquid medium a microorganism that can metabolize a carbon source at a specific pH, and wherein said medium contains a carbon source and L-glutamic acid at a saturation concentration, and wherein said microorganism is able to cause accumulation of an amount of L-glutamic acid in a liquid medium having said pH, wherein said amount exceeds the amount of L-glutamic acid at said saturation concentration when the pH of the medium is controlled so that L-glutamic acid is precipitated, making L-lysine exist in the medium when L-glutaminc acid concentration is lower than the concentration at which natural crystallization of L-glutamic acid occurs, and precipitating the ?-form crystals of L-glutamic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ueda, Kunihiko Toumori
  • Autoimmune conditions and NADPH oxidase defects
    Patent number: 7294652
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and materials involved in diagnosing and treating autoimmune conditions. In particular, the invention relates to methods and materials involved in diagnosing arthritis conditions that are accompanied by an NADPH oxidase deficiency, methods and materials involved in treating, preventing, or delaying the onset of arthritis conditions that are accompanied by an NADPH oxidase deficiency, and methods and materials involved in identifying agonists and antagonists of NADPH oxidase activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Arexis AB
    Inventors: Rikard Holmdahl, Peter Olofsson
  • Methods and reagents for diagnosis and treatment of diabetes
    Patent number: 7294698
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and reagents for diagnosing and treating diabetes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Metabolex, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D Johnson, John E. Blume, John F. Palma, Yun-Ping Zhou
  • Process for producing recombinant polypeptides via a glycerol phosphate or sugar phosphate feed
    Patent number: 7294483
    Abstract: A process is described for producing a polypeptide heterologous to E. coli wherein E. coli cells comprising nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide are cultured in a culture medium while feeding to the culture medium a transportable organophosphate, such that the nucleic acid is expressed. The polypeptide is then recovered from the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Woon-Lam Susan Leung, James R. Swartz
  • Microbially expressed xylanases and their use as feed additives and other uses
    Patent number: 7291493
    Abstract: The present invention relates to codon-optimized xylanase coding sequences and the expression of xylanases in microbes and yeast. The invention further relates to using multiple copies of the xylanase expression construct for high levels of protein expression. The invention also relates to the use of xylanases as feed or food additives. The invention also relates to methods of expression of enzymes to increase thermotolerance by expressing them in organisms that glycosylate proteins compared to expression that the same enzyme without the glycosylation. Further, the invention relates to methods of preparing feed, enzyme feed additives, and methods of reducing the feed conversion ration or increasing weight gain of animals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Syngenta Participations AG
    Inventors: Michael Bauer, Michael Richard Bedford, Derrick Allen Pulliam
  • Use of Alpha-1 antitrypsin for the preparation of medicaments for the treatment of fibromyalgia
    Patent number: 7291595
    Abstract: The invention is based on the use of alpha-1 antitrypsin for the preparation of medicaments for the treatment of fibromyalgia, comprising the preparation of therapeutic concentrates of alpha-1 antitrypsin, in any form of administration tolerated by humans, the alpha-1 antitrypsin being obtained by purification of human plasma or being produced by recombinant or transgenic technology, with doses equal to or greater than 6 mg of alpha-1 antitrypsin per kg of body weight for a variable period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Grifols, S.A.
    Inventor: Ignacio Blanco Blanco
  • Rhodococcus nitrile hydratase
    Patent number: 7288402
    Abstract: The invention relates to a Rhodococcus polynucleotide cluster which contains nucleotide sequences which encode polypeptides having the activity of a nitrile hydratase, of an auxiliary protein P15K which activates this enzyme and of a cobalt transporter, to transformed microorganisms in which the nucleotide sequences encoding these proteins are present in increased quantity, and to the use of the transformed microorganisms for preparing amides from nitriles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Degussa AG
    Inventors: Steffen Osswald, Stefan Verseck, Uta Deiting, Christoph Weckbecker, Klaus Huthmacher, Michael Binder, Maria-Regina Kula, Konrad Odendahl
  • Nicotianamine aminotransferase and gene therefor
    Patent number: 7288397
    Abstract: A protein having an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4 or an amino acid sequence having said amino acid sequence with a single or plural amino acids deleted, replaced or added, and having the nicotianamine aminotransferase activity, a gene encoding said protein as well as utilization thereof for enhancement of ability of absorbing insoluble iron in soil and for improvement of resistance to iron deficiency are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi Mori, Hiromi Nakanishi, Michiko Takahashi
  • Peptide-forming enzyme gene, peptide-forming enzyme, and peptide producing method
    Patent number: 7288388
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing dipeptide using inexpensively acquirable starting materials by an industrially advantageous and simple pathway. Dipeptide is produced from L-amino acid ester and L-amino acid using a culture of microbes having the ability to produce a dipeptide from an L-amino acid ester and an L-amino acid, using microbial cells isolated from the culture, or a treated microbial cell product of the microbe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Naoto Tonouchi, Sonoko Suzuki, Kenzo Yokozeki, Hiroyuki Nozaki, Masakazu Sugiyama
  • ACC gene
    Patent number: 7288395
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gene useful in a process to increase the microbial production of carotenoids. The carotenoids astaxanthin is distributed in a wide variety of organisms such as animals, algae and microorganisms. It has a strong antioxidation property against reactive oxygen species. Astaxanthin is used as a coloring reagent, especially in the industry of farmed fish, such as salmon, because astaxanthin imparts distinctive orange-red coloration to the animals and contributes to consumer appeal in the marketplace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: DSM IP Assets B.V.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Hoshino, Kazuyuki Ojima, Yutaka Setoguchi