Patents by Inventor Albert L. Lu

Albert L. Lu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20110113511
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for a promoter. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequence disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises stably incorporating into the genome of a plant cell a nucleotide sequence operably linked to the promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant that expresses the nucleotide sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicants: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC., E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott Diehn, Albert L. Lu, Carl R. Simmons
  • Patent number: 7919686
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating development and defense responses are provided. Nucleotide sequences encoding defensin proteins are provided. The sequences can be used in expression cassettes for modulating development, developmental pathways, and defense responses. Transformed plants, plant cells, tissues, and seed are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignees: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Carl R. Simmons, Pedro A. Navarro Acevedo, Leslie Harvell, Rebecca Cahoon, Billy Fred McCutchen, Albert L. Lu, Rafael Herrmann, James F. H. Wong
  • Patent number: 7910807
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for protecting a plant from an insect pest are provided. In particular, nucleic acid sequences encoding insect protoxins modified to comprise at least one proteolytic activation site that is sensitive to a plant protease or an insect gut protease are provided. Cleavage of the modified protoxin at the proteolytic activation site by a protease produces an active insect toxin. Methods of using the modified insect protoxin nucleic acid sequences and the polypeptides they encode to protect a plant from an insect pest are provided. Particular embodiments of the invention further provide modified insect protoxin compositions and formulations, expression cassettes, and transformed plants, plant cells, and seeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignees: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Andre R. Abad, Ronald D. Flannagan, Rafael Herrmann, Albert L. Lu, Billy F. McCutchen, James K. Presnail, Janet A. Rice, James F. Wong, Cao-Guo Yu
  • Patent number: 7910806
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating development and defense responses are provided. Nucleotide sequences encoding defensin proteins are provided. The sequences can be used in expression cassettes for modulating development, developmental pathways, and defense responses. Transformed plants, plant cells, tissues, and seed are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignees: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Carl R. Simmons, Pedro A. Navarro Acevedo, Leslie Harvell, Rebecca Cahoon, Billy Fred McCutchen, Albert L. Lu, Rafael Herrmann, James F. H. Wong
  • Patent number: 7897847
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating development and defense responses are provided. Nucleotide sequences encoding defensin proteins are provided. The sequences can be used in expression cassettes for modulating development, developmental pathways, and defense responses. Transformed plants, plant cells, tissues, and seed are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignees: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Carl R. Simmons, Pedro A. Navarro Acevedo, Leslie Harvell, Rebecca Cahoon, Billy Fred McCutchen, Albert L. Lu, Rafael Herrmann, James F. H. Wong
  • Patent number: 7855328
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating development and defense responses are provided. Nucleotide sequences encoding defensin proteins are provided. The sequences can be used in expression cassettes for modulating development, developmental pathways, and defense responses. Transformed plants, plant cells, tissues, and seed are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignees: Pioneer Hi-Bred Int'l., Inc., E. I. duPont de Nemours and Co.
    Inventors: Carl R. Simmons, Pedro A. Navarro Acevedo, Leslie Harvell, Rebecca Cahoon, Billy Fred McCutchen, Albert L. Lu, Rafael Herrmann, James F. H. Wong
  • Patent number: 7855327
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating development and defense responses are provided. Nucleotide sequences encoding defensin proteins are provided. The sequences can be used in expression cassettes for modulating development, developmental pathways, and defense responses. Transformed plants, plant cells, tissues, and seed are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignees: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Carl R. Simmons, Pedro A. Navarro Acevedo, Leslie Harvell, Rebecca Cahoon, Billy Fred McCutchen, Albert L. Lu, Rafael Herrmann, James F. H. Wong
  • Publication number: 20100313305
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for a promoter. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequence disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises stably incorporating into the genome of a plant cell a nucleotide sequence operably linked to the promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant that expresses the nucleotide sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicants: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC., E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott Diehn, Albert L. Lu, Carl R. Simmons
  • Publication number: 20100313302
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for a promoter. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequence disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises stably incorporating into the genome of a plant cell a nucleotide sequence operably linked to the promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant that expresses the nucleotide sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicants: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC., E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott Diehn, Albert L. Lu, Carl R. Simmons
  • Publication number: 20100313306
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for a promoter. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequence disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises stably incorporating into the genome of a plant cell a nucleotide sequence operably linked to the promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant that expresses the nucleotide sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicants: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC., E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott Diehn, Albert L. Lu, Carl R. Simmons
  • Patent number: 7803992
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided related to improved plants that are tolerant to more than one herbicide. Particularly, the invention provides plants that are tolerant of glyphosate and are tolerant to at least one ALS inhibitor, and methods of use thereof. The glyphosate/ALS inhibitor-tolerant plants comprise a polynucleotide that encodes a polypeptide that confers tolerance to glyphosate and a polynucleotide that encodes an ALS inhibitor-tolerant polypeptide. In specific embodiments, a plant of the invention expresses a GAT polypeptide and an HRA polypeptide. Methods to control weeds, improve plant yield, and increase transformation efficiencies are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignees: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., E.I. duPont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Billy Fred McCutchen, Christine B. Hazel, Donglong Liu, Albert L. Lu, Wayne J. Mehre, Paul D. Olson, James F. H. Wong
  • Patent number: 7790952
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for an inducible promoter for the gene encoding ZmPOX24. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises stabling incorporating into the genome of a plant cell a nucleotide sequence operably linked to the root-preferred promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant that expresses the nucleotide sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignees: Pioneers Hi-Bred International, Inc., E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Scott Diehn, Albert L. Lu, Billy F. McCutchen, Lynne E. Sims, Kim R. Ward
  • Publication number: 20100186113
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for a root tip-preferred promoter from maize. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises stabling incorporating into the genome of a plant cell a nucleotide sequence operably linked to the root-preferred promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant that expresses the nucleotide sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Scott Diehn, Albert L. Lu, Lynne E. Sims
  • Publication number: 20090317891
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for protecting a plant from an insect pest are provided. In particular, nucleic acid sequences encoding insect protoxins modified to comprise at least one proteolytic activation site that is sensitive to a plant protease or an insect gut protease are provided. Cleavage of the modified protoxin at the proteolytic activation site by a protease produces an active insect toxin. Methods of using the modified insect protoxin nucleic acid sequences and the polypeptides they encode to protect a plant from an insect pest are provided. Particular embodiments of the invention further provide modified insect protoxin compositions and formulations, expression cassettes, and transformed plants, plant cells, and seeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicants: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., E.I. du PONT de NEMOURS and COMPANY
    Inventors: Andre Abad, Ronald D. Flannagan, Rafael Hermann, Albert L. Lu, Billy F. McCutchen, James K. Presnail, Janet A. Rice, James F. Wong, Cao-Guo Yu
  • Patent number: 7629449
    Abstract: In particular aspects of the invention, nucleic acid molecules encoding novel proteases identified in the midgut of Diabrotica virgfera virgfera (i.e., western corn rootworm) are provided. The nucleotide sequences encode novel cysteine proteases that belong to the cathepsin L-like subfamily of proteases. Variants and fragments of the nucleotide sequences that encode polypeptide sequences that possess proteolytic activity are further disclosed. Methods of using the nucleic acid sequences that encode novel proteases to protect a plant from an insect pest are provided. Particular embodiments also provide vectors, expression cassettes and transformed host cells comprising a protease nucleic acid of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignees: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Andre R. Abad, Ronald D. Flannagan, Rafael Herrmann, Albert L. Lu, Billy F. McCutchen, James K. Presnail, Janet A. Rice, James F. Wong, Cao-Guo Yu
  • Patent number: 7622641
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided related to improved plants that are tolerant to more than one herbicide. Particularly, the invention provides plants that are tolerant of glyphosate and are tolerant to at least one ALS inhibitor, and methods of use thereof. The glyphosate/ALS inhibitor-tolerant plants comprise a polynucleotide that encodes a polypeptide that confers tolerance to glyphosate and a polynucleotide that encodes an ALS inhibitor-tolerant polypeptide. In specific embodiments, a plant of the invention expresses a GAT polypeptide and an HRA polypeptide. Methods to control weeds, improve plant yield, and increase transformation efficiencies are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignees: Pioneer Hi-Bred Int'l., Inc., E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co.
    Inventors: Billy Fred McCutchen, Timothy K. Chicoine, Jerry M. Green, Christine B. Hazel, Jeffrey M. Hegstad, James M. Hutchison, Donglong Liu, Albert L. Lu, Kenneth A. Peeples, David W. Saunders, Mark D. Vogt, James F. H. Wong
  • Publication number: 20090265818
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided which employ a silencing element that, when ingested by a pest, such as a pest from the Lepidoptera order, they are capable of decreasing the expression of a target sequence in the pest. In specific embodiments, the decrease in expression of the target sequence controls the pest and thereby the methods and compositions are capable of limiting damage to a plant. The present invention provides target polynucleotides encoding polypeptides from specific protein families and various target polynucleotides set forth in SEQ ID NOS: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, or 50 or active variants and fragments thereof, wherein a decrease in expression of one or more the sequences in the target pest controls the pest (i.e., has insecticidal activity).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicants: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Rafael Herrmann, Michael Lassner, Albert L. Lu, Mark Nelson, James K. Presnail, Janet A. Rice
  • Publication number: 20090264290
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided related to improved plants that are tolerant to more than one herbicide. Particularly, the invention provides plants that are tolerant of glyphosate and are tolerant to at least one ALS inhibitor, and methods of use thereof. The glyphosate/ALS inhibitor-tolerant plants comprise a polynucleotide that encodes a polypeptide that confers tolerance to glyphosate and a polynucleotide that encodes an ALS inhibitor-tolerant polypeptide. In specific embodiments, a plant of the invention expresses a GAT polypeptide and an HRA polypeptide. Methods to control weeds, improve plant yield, and increase transformation efficiencies are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicants: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Billy Fred McCutchen, Timothy K. Chicoine, Jerry M. Green, Christine B. Hazel, Jeffrey M. Hegstad, James M. Hutchison, Donglong Liu, Albert L. Lu, Kenneth A. Peeples, David W. Saunders, Mark D. Vogt, James F.H. Wong
  • Patent number: 7601810
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acids encoding plant cyclotides. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the plant cyclotides, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in the production of altered levels of plant cyclotides in a transformed host cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Rafael Herrmann, Albert L. Lu, Billy F. McCutchen, James K. Presnail, Janet A. Rice, Clement W. K. Waine
  • Patent number: 7589177
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acids encoding plant cyclotides. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the plant cyclotides, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in the production of altered levels of plant cyclotides in a transformed host cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company
    Inventors: Rafael Herrmann, Albert L. Lu, Billy F. McCutchen, James K. Presnail, Clement W. K. Waine