Patents Examined by Yong Pak
  • Patent number: 9663772
    Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant Trichoderma host cells producing Aspergillus fumigatus cellulolytic enzyme compositions and methods of producing and using the compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: NOVOZYMES, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Shasky, Brett McBrayer
  • Patent number: 9657301
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for increasing the efficiency of targeted integration of a polynucleotide to a pre-determined site into the genome of a filamentous fungal cell with a preference for NHR, wherein said polynucleotide has a region of homology with said pre-determined site, comprising steering an integration pathway towards HR. The present invention also relates to a mutant filamentous fungus originating from a parent cell, said mutant having an HR pathway with elevated efficiency and/or an NHR pathway with a lowered efficiency and/or a NHR/HR ratio with decreased efficiency as compared to said HR and/or NHR efficiency and/or NHR/HR ratio of said parent cell under the same conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: DSM IP ASSETS B.V.
    Inventors: Petrus Jacobus Theodorus Dekker, Marco Alexander van den Berg
  • Patent number: 9650624
    Abstract: Dihydroxy-acid dehydratase (DHAD) variants that display increased DHAD activity are disclosed. Such enzymes can result in increased production of compounds from DHAD requiring biosynthetic pathways. Also disclosed are isolated nucleic acids encoding the DHAD variants, recombinant host cells comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecules, and methods of producing butanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC
    Inventors: Lori Ann Maggio-Hall, Brian James Paul, Steven Cary Rothman, Rick W. Ye
  • Patent number: 9644193
    Abstract: A ?-1,3-glucanase that exhibits decomposition activity with respect to paramylon derived from the genus Euglena. The ?-1,3-glucanase is derived from the genus Euglena and exhibits the properties indicated below: (1) effect: hydrolyzing the ?-1,3-bond of ?-1,3-glucan; and (2) substrate specificity: decomposing at least paramylon. The ?-1,3-glucanase additionally exhibits the properties indicated below: (3) decomposition activity: the ratio of paramylon decomposition activity with respect to laminarin decomposition activity is 20% or higher; (4) optimum pH: 3.7-7.0; and (5) optimum temperature: 30-70° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Euglena Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kengo Suzuki, Ryo Arashida, Yuka Marukawa, Eriko Yoshida, Takumi Takeda, Yuki Nakano, Naotake Konno, Machiko Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9631183
    Abstract: The present invention relates to DNA polymerases displaying increased substrate scope such as improved reverse transcriptase and DNA polymerase activities, as well as improved activities for incorporating and extending modified nucleotides. In particular, the present invention relates to DNA polymerases derived from wild-type Thermus aquaticus (Taq) polymerase, comprising the mutations S515R, I638F, and M747K with regard to the wild-type amino acid sequence. The present invention further relates to nucleic acids coding for the DNA polymerases of the present invention, vectors containing said nucleic acids, host cells containing said vectors or nucleic acids, methods for the generation of DNA molecules using said DNA polymerases, kits containing said DNA polymerases, and uses thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Universität Konstanz
    Inventors: Andreas Marx, Nina Blatter
  • Patent number: 9631170
    Abstract: DNA constructs as well as methods for the production of unicellular organisms capable of producing hydrogen peroxide resistance proteins are disclosed. DNA constructs as well as methods for integration of the DNA constructs into the genomes of unicellular organisms for the expression of hydrogen peroxide production proteins are also disclosed. In addition, DNA constructs as well as methods for integration of the DNA constructs into the genomes of unicellular organisms for the expression of hydrogen peroxide resistance and hydrogen peroxide production proteins are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: University of Wyoming
    Inventors: Stephen K. Herbert, Levi G. Lowder
  • Patent number: 9617563
    Abstract: To provide a series of techniques for obtaining ?-phellandrene with high purity and in a large quantity. Provided is a recombinant cell capable of producing ?-phellandrene, prepared by introducing at least one nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of a nucleic acid encoding geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) synthase and a nucleic acid encoding neryl pyrophosphate (NPP) synthase, and a nucleic acid encoding ?-phellandrene synthase into a host cell in such a manner that these nucleic acids are expressed in the host cell. Also provided is a method for producing ?-phellandrene by culturing the recombinant cell to produce ?-phellandrene in the recombinant cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: TOHOKU UNIVERSITY, SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Furutani, Akihiro Uenishi, Koichiro Iwasa, Yasuyuki Kori, Seiji Takahashi, Takefumi Shimoyama
  • Patent number: 9611464
    Abstract: A thermostable ?-xylosidase including a ?-xylosidase catalytic domain, the ?-xylosidase catalytic domain including: (A) a polypeptide including an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1; (B) a polypeptide including an amino acid sequence in which at least one amino acid is deleted, substituted, or added in the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, and having hydrolytic activity using p-nitrophenyl-?-D-xylopyranoside as a substrate at least under conditions of a temperature of 85° C. and a pH of 6.0; or (C) a polypeptide including an amino acid sequence having at least 80% sequence identity with the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, and having hydrolytic activity using p-nitrophenyl-?-D-xylopyranoside as a substrate at least under conditions of a temperature of 85° C. and a pH of 6.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kondo, Yoshitsugu Hirose, Asuka Yamaguchi, Migiwa Suda, Jiro Okuma, Tomohiko Kato, Daisuke Shibata
  • Patent number: 9598709
    Abstract: Provided is a yeast cell having a stress tolerance, wherein the yeast cell has enhanced MSN2 activity, a method of producing the yeast cell, and a method of producing lactate by using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sungsoo Kim, Sunghaeng Lee, Dongsik Yang, Huisub Lim, Kwangmyung Cho
  • Patent number: 9598696
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for increasing the production of free fatty acids at high yield (close to maximum theoretical yield), with various fatty acid compositions and various percentage of fatty acids accumulated intracellularly. This invention will enable the efficient production of other products derived from free fatty acids and/or products that can be branched out from the fatty acid synthesis pathways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, Mai Li
  • Patent number: 9587231
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel mutant thioesterase enzymes and naturally-occurring equivalents thereof, compositions made from such enzymes and uses of thioesterase enzymes. In particular, the present invention provides mutant thioesterase enzymes that have altered properties, for example, altered substrate specificity, altered activity, altered selectivity, and/or altered proportional yields in the product mixtures. The present invention also provides polynucleotides encoding such mutant thioesterase enzymes, and vectors and host cells comprising such polynucleotides. The invention further provides for novel uses of thioesterases in the production of various fatty acid derivatives, which are useful as, or as components of, industrial chemicals and fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: REG LIFE SCIENCES, LLC
    Inventors: Louis Hom, Na Trinh, Murtaza Alibhai, Zhihao Hu, Eli Groban, Vikranth Arlagadda, Elizabeth Clarke
  • Patent number: 9585946
    Abstract: Isolated glycyl-tRNA synthetase polypeptides and polynucleotides having non-canonical biological activities are provided, as well as compositions and methods related thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: aTyr Pharma, Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie Ann Greene, Ryan Andrew Adams, Fei Hong, Ji Zhao, Eva Rebecka Stephanie Armour, Kristi Helen Piehl
  • Patent number: 9567618
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with methods for producing vanillin, feroyl-CoA, ferulic acid, coniferyl aldehyde and/or coniferyl alcohol. Also, the invention relates to microorganisms useful in such production method, and to the construction of such microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: SYMRISE AG
    Inventors: Stefan Lambrecht, Jens-Michael Hilmer, Manuel Pesaro, Jens Kroll, Gunda Hansen, Alexander Steinbüchel, Christian Fleige
  • Patent number: 9562224
    Abstract: Production of products by engineered bacteria is increased by regulating cellular respiration. Cellular respiration is controlled by reducing electron transfer enzyme activity. Some examples of electron transfer enzymes include NADH dehydrogenases, Succinate dehydrogenases, ubiquinone synthesis, cytochrome O, and cytochrome D. In one example, deletion of UbiCA prevents respiration. Respiration can the be controlled by addition of ubiquinone or expression of ubiCA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George Bennett
  • Patent number: 9551018
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of optically pure secondary amines, which can be used as intermediate products in a synthesis of for instance pharmaceutical products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: LONZA AG
    Inventors: Karen Robins, Uwe Scheuer, Matthias Hohne
  • Patent number: 9550823
    Abstract: An isolated nucleic acid encoding an FX protein having a serine at position 79, a lysine at position 90, a leucine at position 136, an arginine at position 211, a serine at position 289, and a combination thereof is provided. Cells having a gene encoding a modified FX protein are provided, wherein the cells exhibit a reduced ability to fucosylate a glycoprotein at a first temperature, but exhibit the ability to fucosylate the glycoprotein at a second temperature. Methods and compositions for making glycoproteins with reduced fucosylation are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Gang Chen, Darya Burakov, James P. Fandl
  • Patent number: 9546356
    Abstract: Substance productivity is improved by introducing a metabolic pathway for synthesis of acetyl-CoA or acetic acid from glucose-6-phosphate into yeast. Acetic acid productivity, acetyl-CoA productivity, and productivity of a substance made from acetyl-CoA-derived are improved by attenuating genes involved in the glycolytic system of yeast and introducing a phosphoketolase gene into the yeast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayoshi Muramatsu, Masakazu Ito
  • Patent number: 9528098
    Abstract: The present invention provides improved fungal strains. In some embodiments, the improved fungal strains find use in hydrolyzing cellulosic material to glucose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Codexis, Inc.
    Inventors: Dipnath Baidyaroy, Ish K. Dhawan
  • Patent number: 9528127
    Abstract: The present disclosure identifies methods and compositions for modifying photoautotrophic organisms as hosts, such that the organisms efficiently produce alkanes, and in particular the use of such organisms for the commercial production of alkanes and related molecules. Other materials, methods, and compositions are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: JOULE UNILIMITED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Frank Anthony Skraly, Ning Li
  • Patent number: 9523108
    Abstract: A thermostable ?-xylosidase, having a ?-xylosidase catalytic domain including: (A) a polypeptide including the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2, (B) a polypeptide including an amino acid sequence in which at least one amino acid has been deleted, substituted, or added in the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2, and having hydrolysis activity against a substrate of p-nitrophenyl-?-D-xylopyranoside at least under conditions of 105° C. and pH 5.0, or (C) a polypeptide including an amino acid sequence having 75% or greater sequence identity with the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2, and having hydrolysis activity against a substrate of p-nitrophenyl-?-D-xylopyranoside at least under conditions of 105° C. and pH 5.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiro Okuma, Migiwa Suda, Asuka Yamaguchi, Yoshitsugu Hirose, Yasuhiro Kondo, Masaru Sato, Daisuke Shibata