Patents Examined by William W. Moore
  • Patent number: 8394942
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant organism having any one of nucleic acids (i) to (iv) introduced therein: (i) a nucleic acid having a base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; (ii) a nucleic acid encoding a protein having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2; (iii) a nucleic acid encoding a dragline protein and having a sequence identity of 90% or more with the nucleic acid (i); (iv) a nucleic acid which encodes a dragline protein and hybridizes with a complementary chain of the nucleic acid (i) under stringent conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Okamoto Corporation
    Inventors: Tianfu Zhao, Masao Nakagaki
  • Patent number: 8394373
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a disintegrin and metalloproteinase containing thrombospondin 1-like domains (ADAMTS) and in particular to a novel ADAMTS13 protease and to nucleic acids encoding ADAMTS13 proteases. The present invention encompasses both native and recombinant wild-type forms of ADAMTS13, as well as mutant and variant forms including fragments, some of which posses altered characteristics relative to the wild-type ADAMTS13. The present invention also relates to methods of using ADAMTS13, including for treatment of TTP. The present invention also relates to methods for screening for the presence of TTP. The present invention further relates to methods for developing anticoagulant drugs based upon ADAMTS13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: David Ginsburg, Gallia Levy, Han-Mou Tsai
  • Patent number: 8389262
    Abstract: The present invention relates to subtilase subtilases with an altered immunogenicity, particularly subtilases with a reduced allergenicity. Furthermore, the invention relates to expression of said subtilase variants and subtilases and to their use, such as in detergents and oral care products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Stefan Minning, Henriette Draborg, Erwing Ludo Roggen, Nanna Kristensen Soni, Ninna Willestofte Berg, Stina Thulesen Lyngstrand
  • Patent number: 8383387
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing variants of a parent TY145 subtilase and of a parent BPN? subtilase and to TY145 and BPN? variants having altered properties as compared to the parent TY145/BPN? subtilase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Allan Svendsen, Henriette Draborg
  • Patent number: 8377677
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel 3D structure encoding a Nocardiopsis protease, as well as to variants of parent protease homologous to Nocardiopsis proteases, preferably of improved thermostability and/or with an amended temperature activity profile. The invention also relates to DNA sequences encoding such variants, their production in a recombinant host cell, as well as methods of using the variants, in particular within the field of animal feed and detergents. The invention furthermore relates to methods of generating and preparing protease variants of amended properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Leonardo De Maria, Carsten Andersen, Lars Lehmann Hylling Christensen, Soren Flensted Lassen, Peter Rahbek Ostergaard
  • Patent number: 8377673
    Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding delta-9 elongases along with a method of making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and using these delta-9 elongases in plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Howard G. Damude
  • Patent number: 8367803
    Abstract: A repetitive protein having repetition units comprising the consensus sequence (I) X1?X2?X3?X4?S?X5?X6?Y?G wherein X1 is G, Y, A or N X2 is G, L, Q X3 is R, K, T or P X4 is P, A, T or S X5 is D, T or S X6 is S, Q or T, and the consensus sequence (II) Z1?Z2?(Z3A)nZ4?Z5?Z6 wherein Z1 is S, Q, N, T or G Z2 is not an amino acid or A Z3 is A or G Z4 is not an amino acid, A or S Z5 is G, S, Q, N or T Z6 is G, P, S, Q, N or T n is a natural whole number, wherein 2?n?12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Burghard Liebmann, Marcus Fehr, Daniel Hümmerich
  • Patent number: 8357524
    Abstract: This invention provides novel chemically modified mutant serine hydrolases that catalyze a transamidation and/or a transpeptidation and/or a transesterification reaction. The modified serine hydrolases have one or more amino acid residues in a subsite replaced with a cysteine, wherein the cysteine is modified by replacing the thiol hydrogen in the cysteine with a substituent group providing a thiol side chain comprising a moiety selected from the group consisting of a polar aromatic substituent, an alkyl amino group with a positive charge, and a glycoside. In particularly preferred embodiments, the substitutents include an oxazolidinone, a C1 to C15 alkyl amino group with a positive charge, or a glycoside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Danisco US Inc.
    Inventors: John Bryan Jones, Michael Dickman, Richard C. Lloyd
  • Patent number: 8338153
    Abstract: A method of producing hexose oxidase by recombinant DNA technology, recombinant hexose oxidase and the use of such enzyme, in particular in the manufacturing of food products such as doughs and dairy products, animal feed, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, dental care products and in the manufacturing of lactones. Suitable sources of DNA coding for the enzyme are marine algal species including Chondrus crispus, Iridophycus flaccidum and Euthora cristata. In useful embodiments, the recombinant hexose oxidase is produced by Pichia pastoris, Saccharomyces cerevisiae or E. coli.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: DuPont Nutrition Biosciences APS
    Inventors: Peter Stougaard, Ole Cai Hansen
  • Patent number: 8329448
    Abstract: The efficiency of production of a heterologous protein by a transformant of a yeast host is improved. A method of constructing a host for expression of a foreign gene which comprises deleting or inactivating at least one gene selected from the protease-associated genes (especially, metalloprotease genes and serine protease genes) of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, a host in which the above-mentioned gene is deleted or inactivated, a transformant obtained by introducing a foreign gene into the host and a method of producing a heterologous protein using the transformant. The protease-associated gene is at least one gene selected from the group consisting of psp3 (SPAC1006.01), is sxa2 (SPAC1296.03c), ppp51 (SPAC22G7.01c) and ppp52 (SPBC18A7.01) or at least two genes selected from the group consisting of metalloprotease genes and serine protease genes, especially, three genes psp3 (SPAC1006.01), isp6 (SPAC4A8.04) and ppp53 (SPAP14E8.04).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Alimjan Idiris, Hideki Tohda, Yuko Hama
  • Patent number: 8318470
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel JP170 like subtilases from wild-type bacteria, hybrids thereof and to methods of construction and production of these proteases. Further, the present invention relates to use of the claimed subtilases in detergents, such as a laundry or an automatic dishwashing detergent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Preben Nielsen, Poul Erik Pedersen, Helle Outtrup
  • Patent number: 8314067
    Abstract: Described herein is the discovery that human interleukin-1? convertase (ICE) is structurally similar to the protein encoded by the C. elegans cell death gene, ced-3. Comparative and mutational analyses of the two proteins, together with previous observations, suggest that the Ced-3 protein may be a cysteine protease like ICE and that ICE may be a human equivalent of the nematode cell death gene. Another mammalian protein, the murine NEDD-2 protein, was also found to be similar to Ced-3. The NEDD-2 gene is implicated in the development of the murine central nervous system. On the basis of these findings, novel drugs for enhancing or inhibiting the activity of ICE, ced-3, or related genes are provided. Such drugs may be useful for treating inflammatory diseases and/or diseases characterized by cell deaths, as well as cancers, autoimmune disorders, infections, and hair growth and hair loss. Furthermore, such drugs may be useful for controlling pests, parasites and genetically engineered organisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: H. Robert Horvitz, Junying Yuan, Shai Shaham
  • Patent number: 8288144
    Abstract: The present invention relates to pectate lyase variants exhibiting alterations relative to a parent enzyme exhibiting pectate lyase activity as its major enzymatic activity; to a method of producing such enzymes; and to methods for using such enzymes in the textile, detergent and cellulose fiber processing industries. Compared to the parent enzyme, the pectate lyase variants of the present invention exhibit improved stability in detergents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Sanne Schroder Glad, Carsten Andersen, Torben Vedel Borchert, Katja Salomon Johansen, Henrik Frisner, Mads Eskelund Bjornvad, Thomas Thisted
  • Patent number: 8288517
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel acid proteases and more specifically to NSP24 family proteases and NSP25 family proteases including biologically active fragments thereof and to nucleic acid molecules encoding said proteases. Also provided are vectors and host cells including nucleic acid sequences coding for the proteases, methods for producing the proteases, enzyme compositions and methods employing said proteases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Danisco US Inc.
    Inventors: Kathleen A. Clarkson, Nigel Dunn-Coleman, Suzanne E. Lantz, Craig E. Pilgrim, Piet van Solingen, Michael Ward
  • Patent number: 8273714
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a disintegrin and metalloproteinase containing thrombospondin 1-like domains (ADAMTS) and in particular to a novel ADAMTS13 protease and to nucleic acids encoding ADAMTS13 proteases. The present invention encompasses both native and recombinant wild-type forms of ADAMTS13, as well as mutant and variant forms including fragments, some of which posses altered characteristics relative to the wild-type ADAMTS13. The present invention also relates to methods of using ADAMTS13, including for treatment of TTP. The present invention also relates to methods for screening for the presence of TTP. The present invention further relates to methods for developing anticoagulant drugs based upon ADAMTS13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: The Regents of The University of Michigan
    Inventors: David Ginsburg, Gallia Levy, Han-Mou Tsai
  • Patent number: 8273545
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the ubiquitination and/or degradation-related activity of a SIVA polypeptide and to agents capable of modulating said activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignees: Yeda Research and Development Co. Ltd, Weizmann Institute of Science
    Inventors: David Wallach, Parameswaran Ramakrishnan, Wang Wangxia, Andrei Kovalenko
  • Patent number: 8263412
    Abstract: Engineered fluorescent proteins, nucleic acids encoding them and methods of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: The State of Oregon, Acting by and through the State Board of Higher Education on Behalf of the University of Oregon
    Inventors: Rebekka M. Wachter, James S. Remington
  • Patent number: 8241885
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the identification of a protease prodomain that is capable of binding a corresponding protease with high affinity. The protease prodomain of the present invention is fused to a second protein to form a protease prodomain fusion protein. The presence of a protease prodomain protein in a fusion protein allows for easy and selective purification of the second protein by incubation with the corresponding protease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: University of Maryland, College Park
    Inventor: Philip N. Bryan
  • Patent number: 8232087
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel JP170 like subtilases from wild-type bacteria, hybrids thereof and to methods of construction and production of these proteases. Further, the present invention relates to use of the claimed subtilases in detergents, such as a laundry or an automatic dishwashing detergent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Preben Nielsen, Poul Erik Pedersen, Helle Outtrup
  • Patent number: 8222479
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant organism having any one of nucleic acids (i) to (iv) introduced therein: (i) a nucleic acid having a base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; (ii) a nucleic acid encoding a protein having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2; (iii) a nucleic acid encoding a dragline protein and having a sequence identity of 90% or more with the nucleic acid (i); (iv) a nucleic acid which encodes a dragline protein and hybridizes with a complementary chain of the nucleic acid (i) under stringent conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Okamoto Corporation
    Inventors: Tianfu Zhao, Masao Nakagaki