Patents by Inventor Christopher R. Somerville

Christopher R. Somerville 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).

  • Transgenic plants producing polyhydroxyalkanoates
    Patent number: 5650555
    Abstract: The present invention relates to transgenic plants which produce poly-beta-D-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB) and related polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). The production of PHB is accomplished by genetically transforming the plants with modified genes from microorganisms. The genes encode the enzymes required to synthesize PHB from acetyl-CoA or related metabolites. PHB is a very useful polymer which is biodegradable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Board of Trustees Operating Michigan State University
    Inventors: Christopher R. Somerville, Yves Poirier, Douglas E. Dennis
  • Processes for producing polyhydroxybutyrate and related polyhydroxyalkanoates in the plastids of higher plants
    Patent number: 5610041
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing poly-D-(-)-3-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB) and related polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) in the plastids of plants. The production of PHB is accomplished by genetically transforming plants with modified genes from microorganisms. The genes encode the enzymes required to synthesize PHB from acetyl-CoA or related metabolites and are fused with additional plant sequences for targeting the enzymes to the plastid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Board of Trustees operating Michigan State University
    Inventors: Christopher R. Somerville, Christiane Nawrath, Yves Poirier
  • Nucleic acid fragment encoding herbicide resistant plant acetolactate synthase
    Patent number: 5605011
    Abstract: A nucleic acid fragment encoding a herbicide-resistant plant acetolactate synthase protein is disclosed. This nucleic acid fragment contains at least one nucleotide mutation resulting in one amino acid change in one of seven substantially conserved regions of acetolactate synthase amino acid homology. This mutation results in the production of an acetolactate synthase protein which is resistant to sulfonylurea herbicide compounds compared to the wild-type protein. Transformation of herbicide sensitive plants or plant cells with the fragment results in resistance to the herbicide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: John R. Bedbrook, Roy S. Chaleff, Saverio C. Falco, Barbara J. Mazur, Christopher R. Somerville, Narendra S. Yadav
  • Method for production of petroselinic acid and OMEGA12 hexadecanoic acid in transgenic plants
    Patent number: 5430134
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing lipids containing the fatty acid petroselinic acid in plants. The production of petroselinic acid is accomplished by genetically transforming plants which do not normally accumulate petroselinic acid with a gene for a .omega.12 desaturase from another species which does normally accumulate petroselinic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: Michigan State University
    Inventors: John B. Ohlrogge, Edgar B. Cahoon, John Shanklin, Christopher R. Somerville
  • Nucleic acid fragment encoding herbicide resistant plant acetolactate synthase
    Patent number: 5378824
    Abstract: A nucleic acid fragment encoding a herbicide-resistant plant acetolactate synthase protein is disclosed. This nucleic acid fragment contains at least one nucleotide mutation resulting in one amino acid change in one of seven substantially conserved regions of acetolactate synthase amino acid homology. This mutation results in the production of an acetolactate synthase protein which is resistant to sulfonylurea herbicide compounds compared to the wild-type protein. Transformation of herbicide sensitive plants or plant cells with the fragment results in resistance to the herbicide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: John R. Bedbrook, Roy S. Chaleff, Saverio C. Falco, Barbara J. Mazur, Christopher R. Somerville, Narendra S. Yadav
  • Nucleic acid fragment encoding herbicide resistant plant acetolactate synthase
    Patent number: 5013659
    Abstract: A nucleic acid fragment encoding a herbicide-resistant plant acetolactate synthase protein is disclosed. This nucleic acid fragment contains at least one nucleotide mutation resulting in one amino acid change in one of seven substantially conserved regions of acetolactate synthase amino acid homology. This mutation results in the production of an acetolactate synthase protein which is resistant to sulfonylurea herbicide compounds compared to the wild-type protein. Transformation of herbicide sensitive plants or plant cells with the fragment results in resistance to the herbicide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: John R. Bedbrook, Roy S. Chaleff, Saverio C. Falco, Barbara J. Mazur, Christopher R. Somerville, Narendra S. Yadav