Patents Examined by Robin L. Teskin
  • Patent number: 5055294
    Abstract: A novel hybrid B.t. toxin gene toxic to lepidopteran insects has been cloned. The DNA encoding the B.t. toxin can be used to transform various prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes to express the B.t. toxin. These recombinant microbes can be used to control lepidopteran insects in various environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Mycogen Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas E. Gilroy
  • Patent number: 5055401
    Abstract: The objects of this invention are new Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strains into which .alpha.-galactosidase gene (MEL.sup.+) has been transferred by using recombinant DNA methods. Baker's and distiller's yeasts producing .alpha.-galactosidase, are utilizable in the corresponding industry, because they are able to utilize the raffinose present in molasses, which results in greater yield of yeast (or ethanol) and reduction or elimination of the costs associated with biological oxygen demand (B.O.D.) in the effluent from factories. The improved ability of brewer's yeasts to produce .alpha.-galactosidase provides a sensitive method for monitoring pasteurization of beer.The new yeast strains prepared by using recombinant DNA methods produce more .alpha.-galactosidase than naturally occurring .alpha.-galactosidase producing yeast strains.Also methods for marking yeast strains and for producing stable transformants of yeasts are presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Alko Ltd.
    Inventors: Pirkko L. Liljestrom, Roy S. Tubb, Matti P. Korhola
  • Patent number: 5047340
    Abstract: The invention relates to novel, transformed strains of Lac.sup.+ Saccharomyces cerevisiae, capable of utilizing lactose as a sole carbon source, produced by inserting into the Saccharomyces cerevisiae a plasmid containing a lactose permease and a beta-galactosidase gene derived from Kluyveromyces lactis yeast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: The University of Kentucky Research Foundation
    Inventors: Robert C. Dickson, Kotikanyadanam K. Sreekrishna
  • Patent number: 5045469
    Abstract: A novel B.t. toxin gene toxic to lepidopteran insects has been cloned from a novel lepidopteran-active B. thuringiensis microbe. The DNA encoding the B.t. toxin can be used to transform various prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes to express the B.t. toxin. These recombinant microbes can be used to control lepidopteran insects in various environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Mycogen Corporation
    Inventors: Jewel Payne, August J. Sick
  • Patent number: 5043276
    Abstract: DNA strand having an ability in biotechnological production of .alpha.-acetolactate decarboxylase is disclosed. The DNA strand is characterized in that it has a nucleotide sequence coding for a polypeptide whose amino acid sequence is substantially from A to B of FIG. 1 and which has .alpha.-acetolactate decarboxcylase activity. Also disclosed is a yeast which belongs a Saccharomyces cerevisiae and which has been transformed by the DNA strand. The yeast is characterized by the fact that its .alpha.-acetolactate producing ability is reduced, and will thus produce an alcoholic liquor such as beer which contains no or little diacetyls which have come from their precursor, namely .alpha.-acetolactate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Kirin Beer Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Yamano, Junichi Tanaka, Takashi Inoue
  • Patent number: 5043271
    Abstract: A novel cloned DNA encoding a rabbit Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) or a principal portion thereof, a vector having said DNA inserted thereinto, a host transformed with said vector, a novel polypeptide having or containing the rabbit TNF or a principal portion thereof, and a process for producing said polypeptide comprising cultivating said transformed host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Dainippon Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Yamada, Yasuji Furutani, Nitsue Notake
  • Patent number: 5041378
    Abstract: Xylose isomerase (XI) muteins useful in the conversion of glucose to fructose or xylose to xylulose are obtained in usable amounts by protein structural and recombinant DNA methods, including x-ray crystallography, cloning, computer graphic modeling and site-directed mutagenesis and expression of the bacterial DNA sequences encoding native procaryotic xylose isomerase. These native sequences are altered to encode the xylose isomerase muteins having improved catalytic function and/or thermostability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignees: Cetus Corporation, Univerity of Oregon
    Inventors: Robert J. Drummond, Will Bloch, Brian W. Matthews, Pamela L. Toy
  • Patent number: 5041376
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for identifying or shielding functional sites or epitopes of proteins that enter the exocytotic pathway of eukaryotic cells (transportable proteins) by the addition of supernumerary N-linked oligosaccharide side chains at chosen sites on the surface thereof using oligonucleotide mutagenesis. The present invention also relates to mutant transportable proteins having supernumerary N-linked oligosaccharide side chains which shield functional sites or epitopes; and genes which encode the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignees: The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
    Inventors: Mary J. Gething, Joseph F. Sambrook, Patricia Gallagher
  • Patent number: 5039523
    Abstract: A novel B.t. toxin gene encoding a protein toxic to lepidopteran insects has been cloned from a novel lepidopteran-active B. thuringiensis microbe. The DNA encoding the B.t. toxin can be used to transform various prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes to express the B.t. toxin. These recombinant microbes can be used to control lepidopteran insects in various environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: Mycogen Corporation
    Inventors: Jewel Payne, August J. Sick
  • Patent number: 5037742
    Abstract: Recombinant pseudoviruses and their use in the production of proteins having medical, agricultural and industrial utilities are discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Lynn W. Enquist, Alan K. Robbins, Mary E. Whealy
  • Patent number: 5037746
    Abstract: A catalytic RNA (ribozyme) derived from an intervening sequence (IVS) RNA of Tetrahymena thermophila will catalyze an RNA polymerization reaction in which pentacytidylic acid (C.sub.5) is extended by the successive addition of mononucleotides derived from a guanylyl-(3',5')-nucleotide (GpN). Cytidines or uridines are added to C.sub.5 to generate chain lengths of 10 to 11 nucleotides; longer products are also generated but at reduced efficiency. The reaction is analogous to that catalyzed by a replicase with C.sub.5 acting as the primer, GpNs as the nucleoside triphosphates, and a sequence in the ribozyme providing a template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: University Patents, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Cech, Arthur J. Zaug, Michael D. Been
  • Patent number: 5037756
    Abstract: This invention concerns an isolated DNA sequence encoding human terminal xynucleotidyl transferase as well as vectors and transformed hosts carrying said DNA sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Frederick J. Bollum, Lucy M. S. Chang, Ronald C. Peterson
  • Patent number: 5032516
    Abstract: A novel DNA sequence derived from Pichia pastoris containing a regulatory region from a second alcohol oxidase gene, and novel DNA constructs comprising said regulatory region operably linked to a heterologous DNA structural gene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: James M. Cregg
  • Patent number: 5030563
    Abstract: An improved bacterial host cell useful for the inducible production and secretion in high yields of a heterologous protein is provided which contains a gene encoding the heterologous protein operatively linked to a secretory leader-encoding sequence and to an expression control sequence which contains a promoter region; and a second DNA sequence encoding a repressor capable of binding to said promoter region. The cell contains at least a mutation in the repressor binding region of the promoter or a mutation in the promoter binding region of the repressor-encoding sequence; or mutations in both regions. These mutation(s) lower the frequency of transcriptional induction by the promoter from the observed with the wild-type promoter and/or repressor-encoding sequence, resulting in higher yields of secreted heterologous protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Genetics Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Schendel, Marc Nasoff, Patricia Raney
  • Patent number: 5030722
    Abstract: DNA molecules are taught which code for an odorant-binding protein which is synthesized solely in the lateral nasal gland. This protein, because of the broad range of odorants which it binds, can be used in many techniques for trapping odorants in either a liquid or solid medium. This protein bears some structural homology with other carriers of small lipophilic molecules from many other species; the carriers are known to transport specific lipophilic molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Solomon H. Snyder, Jonathan Pevsner, Randall Reed
  • Patent number: 5028530
    Abstract: A polynucleotide molecule expressible in a given host comprising the sequence of the araB promoter operably linked to a gene which is heterologous to said host. The heterologous gene codes for a peptide that is biologically active. The invention also relates to a genetic construct which comprises a first genetic sequence coding for cecropin operably linked to a second genetic sequence coding for a polypeptide which is capable of suppressing the bactericidal effect of the resulting fusion protein towards an otherwise cecropin sensitive bacterium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Xoma Corporation
    Inventors: Jiunu Lai, Jar-How Lee, Yun-Long Lin, Dan Ray, Gary Wilcox
  • Patent number: 5028539
    Abstract: The subject invention concerns novel means and materials for producing ethanol as a fermentation product. Mutant E. coli are transformed with a gene coding for pyruvate decarboxylase activity. The resulting system is capable of producing relatively large amounts of ethanol from a variety of biomass sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: The University of Florida
    Inventors: Lonnie O. Ingram, David P. Clark
  • Patent number: 5024941
    Abstract: A vector including a DNA sequence encoding a secretory signal sequence substantially identical to the secretory signal-encoding sequence of a glucoamylase gene from Saccharomyces diastaticus or S. cerevisiae; and upstream from the signal-encoding sequence, a DNA sequence capable of promoting transcription in yeast (e.g., a high yield promoter, such as the promoter of the triose phosphate isomerase gene), transcription of the signal-encoding sequence being under the control of the transcription-promoting sequence, a site for the insertion into the vector of a heterologous DNA sequence, in reading frame with the signal-encoding sequence. The vector is useful as an expression vector in yeast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Assignee: BioTechnica International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory T. Maine, Robert S. Daves, Robert R. Yocum
  • Patent number: 5024837
    Abstract: This invention relates to Bacillus thuringiensis strains that have insecticidal activity against lepidopteran and coleopteran insects, the coleopteran-active endotoxin being produced by an acquired plasmid. This invention also relates to the crystalline protein toxin useful as a biological insecticide against Coleoptera which toxin is produced by the strain of Bacillus thuringiensis. This invention also relates to the expression in various microorganisms of the gene, known as cryC, which codes for this toxin, and for related novel insecticide compositions and methods for their use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Inventors: William P. Donovan, Jose M. Gonzalez, Jr., Barry L. Levinson, Anthony Macaluso
  • Patent number: 5021344
    Abstract: A method of transforming eukaryotic or prokaryotic hosts sensitive to an antibiotic of the phleomycin family to confer resistance to the antibiotic is disclosed in which a phleomycin resistance gene is used as a selectable marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
    Inventors: Elise Armau, Daniel Drocourt, Gilles Etienne, Gerard Tiraby