Patents by Inventor Basil J. Nikolau

Basil J. Nikolau 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: 10392606
    Abstract: A method of increasing production of fatty acids comprising introducing into a host and expressing therein an acyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) thioesterase (TE) from Bryantella formatexigens or a mutant thereof; a method of making a mutant B. formatexigens acyl-ACP TE; a method of making a chimeric Cuphea viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a mutant acyl-ACP TE or a chimeric Cuphea viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a host comprising the nucleic acid molecule; a mutant acyl-ACP TE or chimeric Cuphea viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a method of altering the specificity of a plant acyl-ACP TE for at least one of its substrates comprising introducing into the plant acyl-ACP TE a substrate specificity-altering mutation; and a method of altering the level of activity of a plant acyl-ACP TE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Basil J. Nikolau, Marna Yandeau-Nelson, Fuyuan Jing
  • Patent number: 10233432
    Abstract: A mutant Bacillus subtilis, which does not express a functional KASIIIA and/or KASIIIB, and method of making; a mutant Rhodospirillum rubrum, which does not express a functional PhaC1, PhaC2, and/or PhaC3, and method of making; method of characterizing substrate specificity of KASIII; method of making mutant KASIII with altered substrate specificity and/or altered level of activity and nucleic acid, vector, host cell/organism, and mutant KASIII; an in vitro, high-throughput spectrophotometric method of assaying KASIII activity; and materials and methods for using KASIII for production of bi-functional fatty acids and the materials so produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Shivani Garg, Huanan Jin, Marna Yandeau-Nelson, Basil J. Nikolau
  • Publication number: 20180094251
    Abstract: A method of increasing production of fatty acids comprising introducing into a host and expressing therein an acyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) thioesterase (TE) from Bryantella formatexigens or a mutant thereof; a method of making a mutant B. formatexigens acyl-ACP TE; a method of making a chimeric Cuphea viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a mutant acyl-ACP TE or a chimeric Cuphea viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a host comprising the nucleic acid molecule; a mutant acyl-ACP TE or chimeric Cuphea viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a method of altering the specificity of a plant acyl-ACP TE for at least one of its substrates comprising introducing into the plant acyl-ACP TE a substrate specificity-altering mutation; and a method of altering the level of activity of a plant acyl-ACP TE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Basil J. Nikolau, Marna Yandeau-Nelson, Fuyuan Jing
  • Publication number: 20180051263
    Abstract: A mutant Bacillus subtilis, which does not express a functional KASIIIA and/or KASIIIB, and method of making; a mutant Rhodospirillum rubrum, which does not express a functional PhaC1, PhaC2, and/or PhaC3, and method of making; method of characterizing substrate specificity of KASIII; method of making mutant KASIII with altered substrate specificity and/or altered level of activity and nucleic acid, vector, host cell/organism, and mutant KASIII; an in vitro, high-throughput spectrophotometric method of assaying KASIII activity; and materials and methods for using KASIII for production of bi-functional fatty acids and the materials so produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Shivani GARG, Huanan JIN, Marna YANDEAU-NELSON, Basil J. NIKOLAU
  • Patent number: 9868942
    Abstract: A method of increasing production of fatty acids comprising introducing into a host and expressing therein an acyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) thioesterase (TE) from Bryantella formatexigens or a mutant thereof; a method of making a mutant B. formatexigens acyl-ACP TE; a method of making a chimeric Cuphea viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a mutant acyl-ACP TE or a chimeric Cuphea viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a host comprising the nucleic acid molecule; a mutant acyl-ACP TE or chimeric Cuphea viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a method of altering the specificity of a plant acyl-ACP TE for at least one of its substrates comprising introducing into the plant acyl-ACP TE a substrate specificity-altering mutation; and a method of altering the level of activity of a plant acyl-ACP TE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Basil J. Nikolau, Marna Yandeau-Nelson, Fuyuan Jing
  • Patent number: 9809804
    Abstract: A mutant Bacillus subtilis, which does not express a functional KASIIIA and/or KASIIIB, and method of making; a mutant Rhodospirillum rubrum, which does not express a functional PhaC1, PhaC2, and/or PhaC3, and method of making; method of characterizing substrate specificity of KASIII; method of making mutant KASIII with altered substrate specificity and/or altered level of activity and nucleic acid, vector, host cell/organism, and mutant KASIII; an in vitro, high-throughput spectrophotometric method of assaying KASIII activity; and materials and methods for using KASIII for production of bi-functional fatty acids and the materials so produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Shivani Garg, Huanan Jin, Marna Yandeau-Nelson, Basil J. Nikolau
  • Publication number: 20160355793
    Abstract: A method of increasing production of fatty acids comprising introducing into a host and expressing therein an acyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) thioesterase (TE) from Bryantella formatexigens or a mutant thereof; a method of making a mutant B. formatexigens acyl-ACP TE; a method of making a chimeric Cuphea viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a mutant acyl-ACP TE or a chimeric Cuphea viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a host comprising the nucleic acid molecule; a mutant acyl-ACP TE or chimeric Cuphea viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a method of altering the specificity of a plant acyl-ACP TE for at least one of its substrates comprising introducing into the plant acyl-ACP TE a substrate specificity-altering mutation; and a method of altering the level of activity of a plant acyl-ACP TE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Basil J. Nikolau, Marna Yandeau-Nelson, Fuyuan Jing
  • Patent number: 9399768
    Abstract: A method of increasing production of fatty acids comprising introducing into a host and expressing therein an acyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) thioesterase (TE) from Bryantella formatexigens or a mutant thereof; a method of making a mutant B. formatexigens acyl-ACP TE; a method of making a chimeric Cuphea viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a mutant acyl-ACP TE or a chimeric Cuphea viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a host comprising the nucleic acid molecule; a mutant acyl-ACP TE or chimeric Cuphea viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a method of altering the specificity of a plant acyl-ACP TE for at least one of its substrates comprising introducing into the plant acyl-ACP TE a substrate specificity-altering mutation; and a method of altering the level of activity of a plant acyl-ACP TE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Basil J. Nikolau, Marna Yandeau-Nelson, Fuyuan Jing
  • Publication number: 20160090576
    Abstract: A mutant Bacillus subtilis, which does not express a functional KASIIIA and/or KASIIIB and method of making; a mutant Rhodospirillum rubrum, which does not express a functional PhaC1, PhaC2, and/or PhaC3 and method of making; method of characterizing substrate specificity of KASIII; method of making mutant KASIII with altered substrate specificity and/or altered level of activity and nucleic acid, vector, host cell/organism, and mutant KASIII; an in vitro, high-throughput spectrophotometric method of assaying KASIII activity, and materials and methods for using KASIII for production of bi-functional fatty acids and the materials so produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Shivani GARG, Huanan JIN, Marna YANDEAU-NELSON, Basil J. NIKOLAU
  • Publication number: 20150322466
    Abstract: A method of increasing production of fatty acids comprising introducing into a host cell or organism and expressing therein an acyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) thioesterase (TE) from Bryantella formatexigens or a mutant thereof; a method of making a mutant B. formatexigens acyl-ACP TE; a method of making a chimeric Cuphea viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a nucleic acid encoding a mutant acyl-ACP TE or a chimeric C. viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a host cell or organism comprising the nucleic acid; a mutant acyl-ACP TE or chimeric C. viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a method of altering the specificity of a plant acyl-ACP TE; and a method of altering the level of activity of a plant acyl-ACP TE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Basil J. Nikolau, Marna Yandeau-Nelson, Fuyuan Jing
  • Patent number: 8951762
    Abstract: A method of increasing production of fatty acids comprising introducing into a host cell or organism and expressing therein an acyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) thioesterase (TE) from Bryantella formatexigens or a mutant thereof; a method of making a mutant B. formatexigens acyl-ACP TE; a method of making a chimeric Cuphea viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a nucleic acid encoding a mutant acyl-ACP TE or a chimeric C. viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a host cell or organism comprising the nucleic acid; a mutant acyl-ACP TE or chimeric C. viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a method of altering the specificity of a plant acyl-ACP TE; and a method of altering the level of activity of a plant acyl-ACP TE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Basil J. Nikolau, Marna Yandeau-Nelson, Fuyuan Jing
  • Publication number: 20140186920
    Abstract: A method of increasing production of fatty acids comprising introducing into a host and expressing therein an acyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) thioesterase (TE) from Bryantella formatexigens or a mutant thereof; a method of making a mutant B. formatexigens acyl-ACP TE; a method of making a chimeric Cuphea viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a mutant acyl-ACP TE or a chimeric Cuphea viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a host comprising the nucleic acid molecule; a mutant acyl-ACP TE or chimeric Cuphea viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a method of altering the specificity of a plant acyl-ACP TE for at least one of its substrates comprising introducing into the plant acyl-ACP TE a substrate specificity-altering mutation; and a method of altering the level of activity of a plant acyl-ACP TE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Basil J. Nikolau, Marna Yandeau-Nelson, Fuyuan Jing
  • Publication number: 20130029387
    Abstract: A method of increasing production of fatty acids comprising introducing into a host cell or organism and expressing therein an acyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) thioesterase (TE) from Bryantella formatexigens or a mutant thereof; a method of making a mutant B. formatexigens acyl-ACP TE; a method of making a chimeric Cuphea viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a nucleic acid encoding a mutant acyl-ACP TE or a chimeric C. viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a host cell or organism comprising the nucleic acid; a mutant acyl-ACP TE or chimeric C. viscosissima acyl-ACP TE; a method of altering the specificity of a plant acyl-ACP TE; and a method of altering the level of activity of a plant acyl-ACP TE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Basil J. Nikolau, Marna Yandeau-Nelson, Fuyuan Jing
  • Patent number: 7524678
    Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of acetyl CoA synthetase (ACS), plastidic pyruvate dehydrogenase (pPDH), ATP citrate lyase (ACL), Arabidopsis pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC), and Arabidopsis aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), specifically ALDH-2 and ALDH-4. The present invention also provides a recombinant vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding one of the aforementioned enzymes, an antisense sequence thereto or a ribozyme therefor, a cell transformed with such a vector, antibodies to the enzymes, a plant cell, a plant tissue, a plant organ or a plant in which the level of an enzyme has been altered, and a method of producing such a plant cell, plant tissue, plant organ or plant. Desirably, alteration of the level of enzyme results in an alteration of the level of acetyl CoA in the plant cell, plant tissue, plant organ or plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Basil J. Nikolau, Eve S. Wurtele, David J. Oliver, Patrick S. Schnable, Tsui-Jung Wen
  • Patent number: 6942994
    Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of acetyl CoA synthetase (ACS), plastidic pyruvate dehydrogenase (pPDH), ATP citrate lyase (ACL), Arabidopsis pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC), and Arabidopsis aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), specifically ALDH-2 and ALDH-4. The present invention also provides a recombinant vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding one of the aforementioned enzymes, an antisense sequence thereto or a ribozyme therefor, a cell transformed with such a vector, antibodies to the enzymes, a plant cell, a plant tissue, a plant organ or a plant in which the level of an enzyme has been altered, and a method of producing such a plant cell, plant tissue, plant organ or plant. Desirably, alteration of the level of enzyme results in an alteration of the level of acetyl CoA in the plant cell, plant tissue, plant organ or plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Basil J. Nikolau, Eve S. Wurtele, David J. Oliver, Robert Behal, Patrick S. Schnable, Jinshan Ke, Jerry L. Johnson, Carolyn C. Allred, Beth Fatland, Isabelle Lutziger, Tsui-Jung Wen
  • Patent number: 6764851
    Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of acetyl CoA synthetase (ACS), plastidic pyruvate dehydrogenase (pPDH), ATP citrate lyase (ACL), Arabidopsis pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC), and Arabidopsis aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), specifically ALDH-2 and ALDH-4. The present invention also provides a recombinant vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding one of the aforementioned enzymes, an antisense sequence thereto or a ribozyme therefor, a cell transformed with such a vector, antibodies to the enzymes, a plant cell, a plant tissue, a plant organ or a plant in which the level of an enzyme has been altered, and a method of producing such a plant cell, plant tissue, plant organ or plant. Desirably, alteration of the level of enzyme results in an alteration of the level of acetyl CoA in the plant cell, plant tissue, plant organ or plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Basil J. Nikolau, Eve S. Wurtele, David J. Oliver, Robert Behal, Patrick S. Schnable, Jinshan Ke, Jerry L. Johnson, Carolyn C. Allred, Beth Fatland, Isabelle Lutziger, Tsui-Jung Wen
  • Publication number: 20030106090
    Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of acetyl CoA synthetase (ACS), plastidic pyruvate dehydrogenase (pPDH), ATP citrate lyase (ACL), Arabidopsis pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC), and Arabidopsis aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), specifically ALDH-2 and ALDH-4. The present invention also provides a recombinant vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding one of the aforementioned enzymes, an antisense sequence thereto or a ribozyme therefor, a cell transformed with such a vector, antibodies to the enzymes, a plant cell, a plant tissue, a plant organ or a plant in which the level of an enzyme has been altered, and a method of producing such a plant cell, plant tissue, plant organ or plant. Desirably, alteration of the level of enzyme results in an alteration of the level of acetyl CoA in the plant cell, plant tissue, plant organ or plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Applicant: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Basil J. Nikolau, Eve S. Wurtele, David J. Oliver, Robert Behal, Patrick S. Schnable, Jinshan Ke, Jerry L. Johnson, Carolyn C. Allred, Beth Fatland, Isabelle Lutziger, Tsui-Jung Wen
  • Publication number: 20020162137
    Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of acetyl CoA synthetase (ACS), plastidic pyruvate dehydrogenase (pPDH), ATP citrate lyase (ACL), Arabidopsis pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC), and Arabidopsis aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), specifically ALDH-2 and ALDH-4. The present invention also provides a recombinant vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding one of the aforementioned enzymes, an antisense sequence thereto or a ribozyme therefor, a cell transformed with such a vector, antibodies to the enzymes, a plant cell, a plant tissue, a plant organ or a plant in which the level of an enzyme has been altered, and a method of producing such a plant cell, plant tissue, plant organ or plant. Desirably, alteration of the level of enzyme results in an alteration of the level of acetyl CoA in the plant cell, plant tissue, plant organ or plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: BASIL J. NIKOLAU, EVE S. WURTELE, DAVID J. OLIVER, ROBERT BEHAL, PATRICK S. SCHNABLE, JINSHAN KE, JERRY L. JOHNSON, CAROLYN C. ALLRED, BETH FATLAND, ISABELLE LUTZIGER, TSUI-JUNG WEN
  • Patent number: 6060644
    Abstract: The present invention relates to cuticular lipid genes, their gene products, and methods of use thereof, for the generation of new plant varieties having novel environmental, disease and pest resistance. In particular, certain isolated or enriched nucleic acids specifying cuticular lipid genes, or portions thereof, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick S. Schnable, Donald S. Robertson, Joel D. Hansen, Basil J. Nikolau, Xiaojie Xu, Yiji Xia