Patents by Inventor Ann Owens Merlo

Ann Owens Merlo 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).

  • Patent number: 9617555
    Abstract: Compositions and methods include genetically encoding and expressing a novel delta-9 desaturase in plant cells. In some embodiments, methods of expressing nucleic acids in a plant cell to take advantage of the delta-9 desaturase enzyme's activity, such that the percent composition of saturated fatty acids in plant seeds is decreased and there is a concomitant increase in ?9 fatty acids. In other embodiments, amino acid sequences have delta-9 desaturase activity. Methods can involve expression of delta-9 desaturase in plant cells, plant materials, and whole plants for the purpose of increasing the amount of mono unsaturated fatty acids in whole plants, plant seeds, and plant materials, for example, seeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Dow AgroSciences LLC
    Inventors: Daniel J. Gachotte, Ann Owens Merlo, Mark A. Thompson, Terence A. Walsh, Beth Rubin Wilson, Mary Welter
  • Publication number: 20150320003
    Abstract: The invention provides recombinant host organisms genetically modified with a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) synthase system and one or more accessory proteins that allow for and/or improve the production of PUFAs in the host organism. The present invention also relates to methods of making and using such organisms as well as products obtained from such organisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Terence A. Walsh, Daniel Gachotte, Ann Owens Merlo, Dayakar Reddy Pareddy, James Metz, Scott Bevan, Jerry Kuner
  • Publication number: 20150299676
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns recombinant host organisms genetically modified with a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) synthase system and one or more accessory proteins that allow for and/or improve the production of PUFAs in the host organism. The disclosure also concerns methods of making and using such organisms as well as products obtained from such organisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Terence A. Walsh, Daniel J. Gachotte, Cory M. Larsen, Scott Bevan, P. Ann Owens-Merlo, James G. Metz, Ross Zirkle
  • Publication number: 20150247155
    Abstract: Provided are constructs and methods for expressing a transgene in plant cells and/or plant tissues using chimeric gene regulatory elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Patricia Ann OWENS MERLO, Ronnie HAMPTON, JR., Cory LARSEN, Aaron WOOSLEY
  • Publication number: 20150191738
    Abstract: Compositions and methods include genetically encoding and expressing a novel delta-9 desaturase in plant cells. In some embodiments, methods of expressing nucleic acids in a plant cell to take advantage of the delta-9 desaturase enzyme's activity, such that the percent composition of saturated fatty acids in plant seeds is decreased and there is a concomitant increase in ?9 fatty acids. In other embodiments, amino acid sequences have delta-9 desaturase activity. Methods can involve expression of delta-9 desaturase in plant cells, plant materials, and whole plants for the purpose of increasing the amount of mono unsaturated fatty acids in whole plants, plant seeds, and plant materials, for example, seeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel J. GACHOTTE, Ann Owens MERLO, Mark A. THOMPSON, Terence A. WALSH, Beth Rubin WILSON, Mary WELTER
  • Publication number: 20150059021
    Abstract: Identification of new enhancer sequence has significant utility in the plant functional genomics. The sugarcane bacilliform badnavirus (SCBV) transcriptional enhancer has been identified. This enhancer can be used to increase the rate of transcription from gene promoters and in activation tagging experiments. A ten-fold increase in transcription was observed when a 4× array of the SCBV enhancer was placed upstream of a truncated form of the maize alcohol dehydrogenase minimal promoter. Methods of using the SCBV transcriptional enhancer are described, as are chimeric transcription regulatory regions, constructs, cells, tissues, and organisms that comprise one or more copies of the enhancer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Patricia Ann Owens Merlo, Cory Larsen, Scott A. Bevan, John P. Davies, Vaka S. Reddy, William Michael Ainley, Mark Allen Thompson
  • Publication number: 20140359900
    Abstract: The invention provides recombinant host organisms genetically modified with a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) synthase system and one or more accessory proteins that allow for and/or improve the production of PUFAs in the host organism. The present invention also relates to methods of making and using such organisms as well as products obtained from such organisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicants: DSM IP ASSETS B.V., DOW AGROSCIENCES LLC
    Inventors: Terence A. Walsh, Daniel Gachotte, Ann Owens Merlo, Dayakar Reddy Pareddy, James Metz, Scott Bevan, Jerry Kuner
  • Publication number: 20130150599
    Abstract: The invention provides recombinant host organisms (e.g., plants) genetically modified with a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) synthase system and one or more accessory proteins (e.g., PPTase and/or ACoAS) that allow for and/or improve the production of PUFAs in the host organism. The present invention also relates to methods of making and using such organisms (e.g., to obtain PUFAs) as well as products obtained from such organisms (e.g., oil and/or seed).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventors: Terence A. Walsh, Ann Owens Merlo, Daniel Gachotte, Paul Gordon Roessler, Scott Bevan, Jerry M. Kuner, James G. Metz
  • Publication number: 20110302672
    Abstract: Compositions and methods include genetically encoding and expressing a novel delta-9 desaturase in plant cells. In some embodiments, methods of expressing nucleic acids in a plant cell to take advantage of the delta-9 desaturase enzyme's activity, such that the percent composition of saturated fatty acids in plant seeds is decreased and there is a concomitant increase in ?-7 fatty acids. In other embodiments, amino acid sequences have delta-9 desaturase activity. Methods can involve expression of delta-9 desaturase in plant cells, plant materials, and whole plants for the purpose of increasing the amount of unusual fatty acids in whole plants, plant seeds, and plant materials, for example, seeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: DOW AGROSCIENCES LLC
    Inventors: Ann Owens Merlo, Daniel J. Gachotte, Terence A. Walsh, Mark A. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6717035
    Abstract: Novel polynucleotide sequences that encode insect toxins TcdA and TcbA have base compositions that differ substantially from the native genes, making them more similar to plant genes. The new sequences are suitable for use for high expression in both monocots and dicots. Transgenic plants with a genome comprising the nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO:4 are insect resistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Dow AgroSciences LLC
    Inventors: James K. Petell, Donald J. Merlo, Rod A. Herman, Jean L. Roberts, Lining Guo, Barry W. Schafer, Kitisri Sukhapinda, Ann Owens Merlo
  • Publication number: 20030182685
    Abstract: Novel polynucleotide sequences that encode insect toxins TcdA and TcbA have base compositions that differ substantially from the native genes, making them more similar to plant genes. The new sequences are suitable for use for high expression in both monocots and dicots. Transgenic plants with a genome comprising a nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO:4 are insect resistant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: James K. Petell, Donald J. Merlo, Rod A. Herman, Jean L. Roberts, Lining Guo, Barry W. Schafer, Kitisri Sukhapinda, Ann Owens Merlo
  • Patent number: 6590142
    Abstract: Novel polynucleotide sequences that encode insect toxins TcdA and TcbA have base compositions that differ substantially from the native genes, making them more similar to plant genes. The new sequences are suitable for use for high expression in both monocots and dicots. Transgenic plants with a genome comprising a nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO:4 are insect resistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Dow AgroSciences LLC
    Inventors: James K. Petell, Donald J. Merlo, Rod A. Herman, Jean L. Roberts, Lining Guo, Barry W. Schafer, Kitisri Sukhapinda, Ann Owens Merlo
  • Publication number: 20030014775
    Abstract: An enzymatic nucleic acid molecule with RNA cleaving activity, wherein said nucleic acid molecule modulates the expression of an gene in a plant. A transgenic plant comprising nucleic acids encoding for an enzymatic nucleic acid molecule with RNA cleaving activity, wherein said nucleic acid molecule modulates the expression of a gene in said plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Applicant: Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Zwick, Brent V. Edington, James A. McSwiggen, Patricia Ann Owens Merlo, Lining Guo, Thomas A. Skokut, Scott A. Young, Otto Folkerts, Donald J. Merlo
  • Patent number: 6350934
    Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding delta 9 desaturase gene, and expression vectors, plant cells, and transgenic plants expressing delta 9 desaturase nucleic acid. The nucleic acid molecules of the present invention can be used, for example, to decrease delta 9 desaturase activity in plant cells, resulting in decreased unsaturated fatty acid production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignees: Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals, Inc., DowElanco
    Inventors: Michael G. Zwick, Brent E. Edington, James A. McSwiggen, Patricia Ann Owens Merlo, Lining Guo, Thomas A. Skokut, Scott A. Young, Otto Folkerts, Donald J. Merlo
  • Patent number: 6169232
    Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides genes and methods of creating and using said genes for expression in the seed of a plant like corn. When the genes are expressed endogenously, the result in the production of proteins that increase the nutritional value of the feed made from said seed. Also disclosed is a method of designing genes for use in production of proteins that can be expressed in a manner whereby the nutritional value of feed can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Dow AgroSciences LLC
    Inventors: Timothy D. Hey, Ann Owens Merlo, Terence A. Walsh