Patents by Inventor Christopher M. D. Hill

Christopher M. D. Hill 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: 20150329841
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cellulose-degrading enzyme composition comprising one or more cellobiohydrolase and/or endoglucanase enzyme, and an effective amount of an isolated GH16 polypeptide, where the presence of the isolated GH16 polypeptide in the enzyme composition increases the rate or extent of degradation of a cellulosic substrate compared to an equivalent dosage of a corresponding cellulose-degrading enzyme composition lacking the at least one isolated GH16 polypeptide. The present invention also relates to a method for producing fermentable sugars from a cellulosic substrate using the above cellulose-degrading enzyme composition and to genetically modified microbes for produced the above cellulose-degrading enzyme composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher M. D. Hill, John J. Tomashek, James A. Lavigne, Sandra Mortimer, Reginald Storms, Adrian Tsang, Greg Butler, Justin Powlowski
  • Patent number: 8609388
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified Family 5 cellulase comprising a substitution of an amino acid at position 363 with a non-native alanine, serine or threonine, the position determined from alignment of the modified Family 5 cellulase with amino acids 71-397 of a Trichoderma reesei Cel5A amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 and enzyme mixtures comprising same. Additionally provided is a genetic construct comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding the modified Family 5 cellulase and a genetically modified microbe comprising the genetic construct. The invention also provides a process for producing the modified Family 5 cellulase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Nabil Masri, Patrick St-Pierre, Sandra Mortimer, Christopher M. D. Hill
  • Publication number: 20130095554
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified Family 5 cellulase comprising a substitution of an amino acid at position 363 with a non-native alanine, serine or threonine, said position determined from alignment of the modified Family 5 cellulase with amino acids 71-397 of a Trichoderma reesei Cel5A amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 and enzyme mixtures comprising same. Additionally provided is a genetic construct comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding the modified Family 5 cellulase and a genetically modified microbe comprising the genetic construct. The invention also provides a process for producing the modified Family 5 cellulase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: Iogen Bio-Products Corporation
    Inventors: Nabil Masri, Patrick St-Pierre, Sandra Mortimer, Christopher M.D. Hill
  • Patent number: 8012734
    Abstract: A Family 6 cellulase variant enzyme comprising one or more than one amino acid substitution selected from a basic, polar or non-polar amino acid at position 103, a valine or isoleucine at position 136, a tyrosine at position 186, a glutamic acid or glutamine at position 365 and a glutamine at position 410 is provided (said position determined form alignment of the parental Family 6 with SEQ ID NO: 1). Genetic constructs and genetically modified microbes comprising DNA sequences encoding the Family 6 cellulase variant are also provided. Family 6 cellulases of the invention display reduced inhibition by glucose relative to the parent Family 6 cellulases. Such cellulases find use in a variety of applications in industry, e.g., in the hydrolysis of pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock, that require cellulose activity in the presence glucose concentrations that would otherwise inhibit the activity of the parental enzyme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Iogen Energy Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Lavigne, Christopher M. D. Hill, Annie Tremblay, Patrick St-Pierre, John J. Tomashek
  • Publication number: 20090186381
    Abstract: A Family 6 cellulase variant enzyme comprising one or more than one amino acid substitution selected from a basic, polar or non-polar amino acid at position 103, a valine or isoleucine at position 136, a tyrosine at position 186, a glutamic acid or glutamine at position 365 and a glutamine at position 410 is provided (said position determined form alignment of the parental Family 6 with SEQ ID NO: 1). Genetic constructs and genetically modified microbes comprising DNA sequences encoding the Family 6 cellulase variant are also provided. Family 6 cellulases of the invention display reduced inhibition by glucose relative to the parent Family 6 cellulases. Such cellulases find use in a variety of applications in industry, e.g., in the hydrolysis of pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock, that require cellulose activity in the presence glucose concentrations that would otherwise inhibit the activity of the parental enzyme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: IOGEN ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: James A. Lavigne, Christopher M.D. Hill, Annie Tremblay, Patrick St-Pierre, John J. Tomashek