Patents by Inventor Carol M. McCutchen

Carol M. McCutchen 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).

  • Zymomonas with improved xylose utilization
    Patent number: 7998722
    Abstract: Strains of Zymomonas were engineered by introducing a chimeric xylose isomerase gene that contains a mutant promoter of the Z. mobilis glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene. The promoter directs increased expression of xylose isomerase, and when the strain is in addition engineered for expression of xylulokinase, transaldolase and transketolase, improved utilization of xylose is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignees: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Alliance for Sustainable Energy LLC
    Inventors: Paul V. Viitanen, Luan Tao, Yuying Zhang, Perry G. Caimi, Carol M. McCutchen, Laura McCole, Min Zhang, Yat-Chen Chou, Mary Ann Franden
  • High expression promoters
    Patent number: 7989206
    Abstract: Identified are mutants of the promoter of the Z. mobilis glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene, which direct improved expression levels of operably linked heterologous nucleic acids. These are high expression promoters useful for expression of chimeric genes in Zymomonas, Zymobacter, and other related bacteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company Alliance for Sustainable Energy LLC
    Inventors: Paul V. Viitanen, Luan Tao, Yuying Zhang, Perry G. Caimi, Laura McCole, Min Zhang, Yat-Chen Chou, Carol M. McCutchen, Mary Ann Franden
  • Ethanol production using xylitol synthesis mutant of xylose-utilizing zymomonas
    Patent number: 7741084
    Abstract: Production of ethanol using a strain of xylose-utilizing Zymomonas with a genetic modification of the glucose-fructose oxidoreductase gene was found to be improved due to greatly reduced production of xylitol, a detrimental by-product of xylose metabolism synthesized during fermentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignees: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Alliance for Sustainable Energy LLC
    Inventors: Paul V. Viitanen, Carol M. McCutchen, Mark Emptage, Perry G. Caimi, Min Zhang, Yat-Chen Chou
  • Xylitol synthesis mutant of xylose-utilizing zymomonas for ethanol production
    Patent number: 7741119
    Abstract: A strain of xylose-utilizing Zymomonas was engineered with a genetic modification to the glucose-fructose oxidoreductase gene resulting in reduced expression of GFOR enzyme activity. The engineered strain exhibits reduced production of xylitol, a detrimental by-product of xylose metabolism. It also consumes more xylose and produces more ethanol during mixed sugar fermentation under process-relevant conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignees: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Alliance for Sustainable Energy LLC
    Inventors: Paul V. Viitanen, Yat-Chen Chou, Carol M. McCutchen, Min Zhang
  • HIGH EXPRESSION ZYMOMONAS PROMOTERS
    Publication number: 20090246876
    Abstract: Identified are mutants of the promoter of the Z. mobilis glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene, which direct improved expression levels of operably linked heterologous nucleic acids. These are high expression promoters useful for expression of chimeric genes in Zymomonas, Zymobacter, and other related bacteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: PAUL V. VIITANEN, LUAN TAO, YUYING ZHANG, PERRY G. CAIMI, LAURA MCCOLE, MIN ZHANG, YAT-CHEN CHOU, CAROL M. MCCUTCHEN, MARY ANN FRANDEN
  • ZYMOMONAS WITH IMPROVED XYLOSE UTILIZATION
    Publication number: 20090246846
    Abstract: Strains of Zymomonas were engineered by introducing a chimeric xylose isomerase gene that contains a mutant promoter of the Z. mobilis glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene. The promoter directs increased expression of xylose isomerase, and when the strain is in addition engineered for expression of xylulokinase, transaldolase and transketolase, improved utilization of xylose is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: PAUL V. VIITANEN, LUAN TAO, YUYING ZHANG, PERRY G. CAIMI, CAROL M. MCCUTCHEN, LAURA MCCOLE, MIN ZHANG, YAT-CHEN CHOU, MARY ANN FRANDEN
  • XYLITOL SYNTHESIS MUTANT OF XYLOSE-UTILIZING ZYMOMONAS FOR ETHANOL PRODUCTION
    Publication number: 20080286870
    Abstract: A strain of xylose-utilizing Zymomonas was engineered with a genetic modification to the glucose-fructose oxidoreductase gene resulting in reduced expression of GFOR enzyme activity. The engineered strain exhibits reduced production of xylitol, a detrimental by-product of xylose metabolism. It also consumes more xylose and produces more ethanol during mixed sugar fermentation under process-relevant conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Paul V. Viitanen, Yat-Chen Chou, Carol M. McCutchen, Min Zhang
  • ETHANOL PRODUCTION USING XYLITOL SYNTHESIS MUTANT OF XYLOSE-UTILIZING ZYMOMONAS
    Publication number: 20080187973
    Abstract: Production of ethanol using a strain of xylose-utilizing Zymomonas with a genetic modification of the glucose-fructose oxidoreductase gene was found to be improved due to greatly reduced production of xylitol, a detrimental by-product of xylose metabolism synthesized during fermentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: PAUL V. VIITANEN, Carol M. McCutchen, Mark Emptage, Perry G. Caimi, Min Zhang, Yat-Chen Chou
  • Terephthalic acid producing proteobacteria
    Publication number: 20030170836
    Abstract: This invention relates to a biocatalytic process to produce terephthalic acid and isophthalic acid from p-xylene and m-xylene, respectively. Terephthalic acid has been prepared by oxidizing p-xylene with bacteria belonging to the genus Burkholderia. Conversion of p-xylene into terephthalic acid is accomplished by a single bacterial strain that produces all of the requisite enzymes. In addition, this invention relates to the preparation of isophthalic acid from a mixture of m- and p-xylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Michael G. Bramucci, Carol M. McCutchen, Vasantha Nagarajan, Stuart M. Thomas
  • Terephthalic acid producing proteobacteria
    Patent number: 6461840
    Abstract: This invention relates to a biocatalytic process to produce terephthalic acid and isophthalic acid from p-xylene and m-xylene, respectively. Terephthalic acid has been prepared by oxidizing p-xylene with bacteria belonging to the genus Burkholderia. Conversion of p-xylene into terephthalic acid is accomplished by a single bacterial strain that produces all of the requisite enzymes. In addition, this invention relates to the preparation of isophthalic acid from a mixture of m- and p-xylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Michael G. Bramucci, Carol M. McCutchen, Vasantha Nagarajan, Stuart M. Thomas
  • Microbial production of terephthalic acid and isophthalic acid
    Patent number: 6187569
    Abstract: This invention relates to a biocatalytic process to produce terephthalic acid and isophthalic acid from p-xylene and m-xylene, respectively. Terephthalic acid has been prepared by oxidizing p-xylene with bacteria belonging to the genus Burkholderia. Conversion of p-xylene into terephthalic acid is accomplished by a single bacterial strain that produces all of the requisite enzymes. In addition, this invention relates to the preparation of isophthalic acid from a mixture of m- and p-xylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Michael G. Bramucci, Carol M. McCutchen, Vasantha Nagarajan, Stuart M. Thomas