Patents by Inventor Christoph Benning

Christoph Benning 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).

  • Compositions and methods for the synthesis and subsequent modification of uridine-5?-diphosphosulfoquinovose (UDP-SQ)
    Patent number: 7479387
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to compositions and methods related to the synthesis and modification of uridine-5?-diphospho-sulfoquinovose (UDP-SQ). In particular, the methods of the present invention comprise the utilization of recombinant enzymes from Arabidopsis thaliana, UDP-glucose, and a sulfur donor to synthesize UDP-SQ, and the subsequent modification of UDP-SQ to form compounds including, but not limited to, 6-sulfo-?-D-quinovosyl diaclyglycerol (SQDG) and alkyl sulfoquinovoside. The compositions and methods of the invention provide a more simple, rapid means of synthesizing UDP-SQ, and the subsequent modification of UDP-SQ to compounds including, but not limited to, SQDG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Michigan State University
    Inventors: Christoph Benning, Sherrie Lea Sanda, Bin Yu
  • Plant seed specific promoters
    Patent number: 7405345
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel seed specific promoter regions. The present invention further provide methods of producing proteins and other products of interest and methods of controlling expression of nucleic acid sequences of interest using the seed specific promoter regions. The present invention also provides methods of identifying and isolating novel seed specific promoters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Michigan State University
    Inventors: John B. Ohlrogge, Christoph Benning, Hongbo Gao, Thomas Arno Alfred Girke, Joseph A. White
  • Compositions and methods for the production of betaine lipids
    Patent number: 7241935
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the production of Betaine lipids. The methods of the present invention comprise the expression of recombinant enzymes (e.g. from Rhodobacter sphaeroides) in host cells (e.g. bacteria, yeast, and plants) to produce Betaine lipid compounds including, but not limited to, Diacylglyceryl-O-4?-(N,N,N,-trimethyl) homoserine (DGTS). The methods and compositions of the present invention may be utilized such that the amount of phosphate containing fertilizer required for the growth of a particular plant is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees Operating Michigan State University
    Inventors: Christoph Benning, Wayne Riekhof
  • Compositions and methods for the synthesis and subsequent modification of uridine-5'-diphosphosulfoquinovose (UDP-SQ)
    Publication number: 20070134778
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to compositions and methods related to the synthesis and modification of uridine-5?-diphospho-sulfoquinovose (UDP-SQ). In particular, the methods of the present invention comprise the utilization of recombinant enzymes from Arabidopsis thaliana, UDP-glucose, and a sulfur donor to synthesize UDP-SQ, and the subsequent modification of UDP-SQ to form compounds including, but not limited to, 6-sulfo-?-D-quinovosyl diaclyglycerol (SQDG) and alkyl sulfoquinovoside. The compositions and methods of the invention provide a more simple, rapid means of synthesizing UDP-SQ, and the subsequent modification of UDP-SQ to compounds including, but not limited to, SQDG.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Inventors: Christoph Benning, Sherrie Sanda, Bin Yu
  • Lipid metabolism regulators in plants
    Patent number: 7230160
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel nucleic acid and amino acid sequences associated with the metabolism of seed storage compounds in plants. A novel discovery described herein lies in the identification of the nucleic acid sequences that encode the wri1 genetic locus in Arabidopsis thaliana, and lipid metabolism regulator (LMR) polynucleotide sequences contained therein. Preferably, the seed storage compounds are lipids, fatty acids, starches or seed storage proteins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Michigan State University
    Inventors: Christoph Benning, Alex Cernac
  • Compositions and methods for the synthesis and subsequent modification of uridine-5?-diphosphosulfoquinovose (UDP-SQ)
    Patent number: 7226764
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to compositions and methods related to the synthesis and modification of uridine-5?-diphospho-sulfoquinovose (UDP-SQ). In particular, the methods of the present invention comprise the utilization of recombinant enzymes from Arabidopsis thaliana, UDP-glucose, and a sulfur donor to synthesize UDP-SQ, and the subsequent modification of UDP-SQ to form compounds including, but not limited to, 6-sulfo-?-D-quinovosyl diaclyglycerol (SQDG) and alkyl sulfoquinovoside. The compositions and methods of the invention provide a more simple, rapid means of synthesizing UDP-SQ, and the subsequent modification of UDP-SQ to compounds including, but not limited to, SQDG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees Operating Michigan State University
    Inventors: Christoph Benning, Sherrie Lea Sanda, Bin Yu
  • Compositions and methods for the production of betaine lipids
    Patent number: 7169597
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the production of Betaine lipids. The methods of the present invention comprise the expression of recombinant enzymes (e.g. from Rhodobacter sphaeroides) in host cells (e.g. bacteria, yeast, and plants) to produce Betaine lipid compounds including, but not limited to, Diacylglyceryl-O-4?-(N,N,N,-trimethyl) homoserine (DGTS). The methods and compositions of the present invention may be utilized such that the amount of phosphate containing fertilizer required for the growth of a particular plant is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Michigan State University
    Inventors: Christoph Benning, Wayne Riekhof, Rouven Klug
  • Plant seed specific promoters
    Publication number: 20070022502
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel seed specific promoter regions. The present invention further provide methods of producing proteins and other products of interest and methods of controlling expression of nucleic acid sequences of interest using the seed specific promoter regions. The present invention also provides methods of identifying and isolating novel seed specific promoters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Inventors: John Ohlrogge, Christoph Benning, Hongbo Gao, Thomas Girke, Joseph White
  • Plant seed specific promoters
    Patent number: 7081565
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel seed specific promoter regions. The present invention further provide methods of producing proteins and other products of interest and methods of controlling expression of nucleic acid sequences of interest using the seed specific promoter regions. The present invention also provides methods of identifying and isolating novel seed specific promoters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Board of Trustees Operating Michigan State University
    Inventors: John B. Ohlrogge, Christoph Benning, Hongbo Gao, Thomas Arno Alfred Girke, Joseph A. White
  • Compositions and methods for the production of betaine lipids
    Publication number: 20040093639
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the production of Betaine lipids. The methods of the present invention comprise the expression of recombinant enzymes (e.g. from Rhodobacter sphaeroides) in host cells (e.g. bacteria, yeast, and plants) to produce Betaine lipid compounds including, but not limited to, Diacylglyceryl-O-4′-(N,N,N,-trimethyl) homoserine (DGTS). The methods and compositions of the present invention may be utilized such that the amount of phosphate containing fertilizer required for the growth of a particular plant is decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Applicant: Michigan State University
    Inventors: Christoph Benning, Wayne Riekhof
  • DNA encoding for plant digalactosyldiacylglycerol galactosyltransferase and methods of use
    Patent number: 6642436
    Abstract: The cDNA encoding digalactosyldiacylglycerol galactosyltransferase (DGD1) is provided. The deduced amino acid sequence is also provided. Methods of making and using DGD1 to screen for new herbicides and alter a plant's leaf lipid composition are also provided, as well as expression vectors, transgenic plants or other organisms transfected with said vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Board of Trustees operating Michigan State University
    Inventors: Christoph Benning, Peter Döermann
  • Lipid metabolism regulators in plants
    Publication number: 20030097685
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel nucleic acid and amino acid sequences associated with the metabolism of seed storage compounds in plants. A novel discovery described herein lies in the identification of the nucleic acid sequences that encode the wri1 genetic locus in Arabidopsis thaliana, and lipid metabolism regulator (LMR) polynucleotide sequences contained therein. Preferably, the seed storage compounds are lipids, fatty acids, starches or seed storage proteins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventors: Christoph Benning, Alex Cernac
  • Compositions and methods for the production of betaine lipids
    Publication number: 20030074688
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the production of Betaine lipids. The methods of the present invention comprise the expression of recombinant enzymes (e.g. from Rhodobacter sphaeroides) in host cells (e.g. bacteria, yeast, and plants) to produce Betaine lipid compounds including, but not limited to, Diacylglyceryl-O-4′-(N,N,N,-trimethyl) homoserine (DGTS). The methods and compositions of the present invention may be utilized such that the amount of phosphate containing fertilizer required for the growth of a particular plant is decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Applicant: Michigan State University
    Inventors: Christoph Benning, Wayne Riekhof, Rouven Klug
  • Plant seed specific promoters
    Publication number: 20030005485
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel seed specific promoter regions. The present invention further provide methods of producing proteins and other products of interest and methods of controlling expression of nucleic acid sequences of interest using the seed specific promoter regions. The present invention also provides methods of identifying and isolating novel seed specific promoters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: John B. Ohlrogge, Christoph Benning, Hongbo Gao, Thomas Arno Alfred Girke, Joseph A. White