Patents by Inventor Daniel P. O'Keefe

Daniel P. O'Keefe 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: 9944954
    Abstract: Provided herein are glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) enzymes with increased KM for NADH and GPD enzymes with substantially the same affinity for NADH and NADPH and/or are feedback inhibited by glycerol-3-phosphate. Also provided herein are recombinant microorganisms comprising a heterologous gene encoding GPD and a deletion or disruption in an endogenous gene encoding GPD. Also provided are recombinant microorganisms comprising a heterologous gene encoding GPD and a butanol biosynthetic pathway. Further provided are methods of producing butanol comprising providing the recombinant microorganisms described herein and contacting the recombinant microorganism with at least one fermentable carbon substrate under conditions wherein butanol is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC
    Inventors: Ritu Bhalla, Gopal K. Chotani, Michael Dauner, Mark J. Nelson, Daniel P. O'Keefe, Caroline M. Peres, Jahnavi Chandra Prasad, Jean-Francois Tomb
  • Publication number: 20170275652
    Abstract: Provided herein are recombinant yeast host cells and methods for their use for production of isobutanol. Yeast host cells provided comprise an isobutanol biosynthetic pathway and at least one of reduced or eliminated aldehyde dehydrogenase activity, reduced or eliminated acetolactate reductase activity; or a heterologous polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having ketol-acid reductoisomerase activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Larry Cameron Anthony, Hongxian HE, Lixuan Lisa HUANG, Daniel P. O'KEEFE, Arthur Leo KRUCKBERG, Yougen LI, Lori Ann MAGGIO-HALL, Jessica MCELVAIN, Mark J. NELSON, Ranjan PATNAIK, Steven Cary ROTHMAN
  • Publication number: 20160376613
    Abstract: Provided herein are glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) enzymes with increased KM for NADH and GPD enzymes with substantially the same affinity for NADH and NADPH and/or are feedback inhibited by glycerol-3-phosphate. Also provided herein are recombinant microorganisms comprising a heterologous gene encoding GPD and a deletion or disruption in an endogenous gene encoding GPD. Also provided are recombinant microorganisms comprising a heterologous gene encoding GPD and a butanol biosynthetic pathway. Further provided are methods of producing butanol comprising providing the recombinant microorganisms described herein and contacting the recombinant microorganism with at least one fermentable carbon substrate under conditions wherein butanol is produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: RITU BHALLA, GOPAL K. CHOTANI, MICHAEL DAUNER, MARK J. NELSON, DANIEL P. O'KEEFE, CAROLINE M. PERES, JAHNAVI CHANDRA PRASAD, JEAN-FRANCOIS TOMB
  • Patent number: 9410166
    Abstract: The invention relates to suitable candidate alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) enzymes for production of lower alkyl alcohols including isobutanol. The invention also relates to recombinant host cells that comprise such ADH enzymes and methods for producing lower alkyl alcohols in the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC
    Inventors: Sriram Satagopan, Daniel P. O'Keefe, Janardhan Gude
  • Patent number: 9388392
    Abstract: Provided herein are polypeptides having ketol-acid reductoisomerase activity as well as microbial host cells comprising such polypeptides. Polypeptides provided herein may be used in biosynthetic pathways, including, but not limited to, isobutanol biosynthetic pathways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC
    Inventors: Sridhar Govindarajan, Yougen Li, Der-Ing Liao, Daniel P. O'Keefe, Jeremy Stephen Minshull, Steven Cary Rothman, Alexander Vincent Tobias
  • Publication number: 20160032255
    Abstract: Provided herein are polypeptides having ketol-acid reductoisomerase activity as well as microbial host cells comprising such polypeptides. Polypeptides provided herein may be used in biosynthetic pathways, including, but not limited to, isobutanol biosynthetic pathways.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Sridhar Govindarajan, Yougen Li, Der-Ing Liao, Daniel P. O'Keefe, Jeremy Stephen Minshull, Steven Cary Rothman, Alexander Vincent Tobias
  • Patent number: 9169467
    Abstract: Provided herein are polypeptides having ketol-aid reductoisomerase activity as well as microbial host cells comprising such polypeptides. Polypeptides provided herein may be used in biosynthetic pathways, including, but not limited to, isobutanol biosynthetic pathways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC
    Inventors: Sridhar Govindarajan, Yougen Li, Der-Ing Liao, Daniel P. O'Keefe, Jeremy Stephen Minshull, Steven Cary Rothman, Alexander Vincent Tobias
  • Publication number: 20140377824
    Abstract: The invention relates to suitable candidate ADH enzymes for production of lower alkyl alcohols including isobutanol. The invention also relates to recombinant host cells that comprise such ADH enzymes and methods for producing lower alkyl alcohols in the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC
    Inventors: Sriram Satagopan, Daniel P. O'keefe, Janardhan Gude
  • Publication number: 20140273129
    Abstract: Provided herein are glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) enzymes with increased KM for NADH and GPD enzymes with substantially the same affinity for NADH and NADPH and/or are feedback inhibited by glycerol-3-phosphate. Also provided herein are recombinant microorganisms comprising a heterologous gene encoding GPD and a deletion or disruption in an endogenous gene encoding GPD. Also provided are recombinant microorganisms comprising a heterologous gene encoding GPD and a butanol biosynthetic pathway. Further provided are methods of producing butanol comprising providing the recombinant microorganisms described herein and contacting the recombinant microorganism with at least one fermentable carbon substrate under conditions wherein butanol is produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: BUTAMAX ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLC
    Inventors: Ritu Bhalla, Gopal K. Chotani, Michael Dauner, Mark J. Nelson, Daniel P. O'keefe, Caroline M. Peres, Jahnavi Chandra Prasad, Jean-Francois Tomb
  • Publication number: 20140221608
    Abstract: An acid-cleavable peptide linker comprising aspartic acid and proline residues is disclosed. The acid-cleavable peptide linker provides an altered sensitivity to acid-hydrolytic release of peptides of interest from fusion peptides of the formula PEP1-L-PEP2. The inventive linker, L, is described in various embodiments, each of which provides substantially more rapid acid-release of peptides of interest than does a single aspartic acid-proline pair. In an additional aspect, a method of increasing the stability of an acid cleavable linkage to acid hydrolysis is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: LAURA A BEDZYK, Stephen R. Fahnestock, Tanja Maria Gruber, Daniel P. O'Keefe, Pierre E Rouviere
  • Patent number: 8765433
    Abstract: The invention relates to suitable candidate alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) enzymes for production of lower alkyl alcohols including isobutanol. The invention also relates to recombinant host cells that comprise such ADH enzymes and methods for producing lower alkyl alcohols in the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC
    Inventors: Sriram Satagopan, Daniel P. O'Keefe, Janardhan Gude
  • Publication number: 20140080998
    Abstract: An acid-cleavable peptide linker comprising aspartic acid and proline residues is disclosed. The acid-cleavable peptide linker provides an altered sensitivity to acid-hydrolytic release of peptides of interest from fusion peptides of the formula PEP1-L-PEP2. The inventive linker, L, is described in various embodiments, each of which provides substantially more rapid acid-release of peptides of interest than does a single aspartic acid-proline pair. In an additional aspect, a method of increasing the stability of an acid cleavable linkage to acid hydrolysis is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: LAURA A BEDZYK, Stephen R. Fahnestock, Tanja Maria Gruber, Daniel P. O'Keefe, Pierre E Rouviere
  • Publication number: 20140051133
    Abstract: Provided herein are polypeptides having ketol-aid reductoisomerase activity as well as microbial host cells comprising such polypeptides. Polypeptides provided herein may be used in biosynthetic pathways, including, but not limited to, isobutanol biosynthetic pathways.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: BUTAMAX ADVANCED BIOFUELS, LLC
    Inventors: Sridhar Govindarajan, Yougen Li, Der-Ing Liao, Daniel P. O'Keefe, Jeremy Stephen Minshull, Steven Cary Rothman, Alexander Vincent Tobias
  • Patent number: 8110382
    Abstract: A process is provided for producing glycolic acid from formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. More specifically, heat-treated formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are reacted to produce glycolonitrile having low concentrations of impurities. The glycolonitrile is subsequently converted to an aqueous solution of ammonium glycolate using an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity derived from Acidovorax facilis 72W (ATCC 57746). Glycolic acid is recovered in the form of the acid or salt from the aqueous ammonium glycolate solution using a variety of methods described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Robert DiCosimo, Anna Panova, Jeffery Scott Thompson, Robert D. Fallon, F. Glenn Gallagher, Thomas Foo, Xu Li, George C. Fox, Joseph J. Zaher, Mark S. Payne, Daniel P. O'Keefe
  • Patent number: 8084238
    Abstract: A process is provided for producing glycolic acid from formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. More specifically, heat-treated formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are reacted to produce glycolonitrile having low concentrations of impurities. The glycolonitrile is subsequently converted to an aqueous solution of ammonium glycolate using an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity derived from Acidovorax facilis 72W (ATCC 57746). Glycolic acid is recovered in the form of the acid or salt from the aqueous ammonium glycolate solution using a variety of methods described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Robert DiCosimo, Anna Panova, Jeffery Scott Thompson, Robert D. Fallon, F. Glenn Gallagher, Thomas Foo, Xu Li, George C. Fox, Joseph J. Zaher, Mark S. Payne, Daniel P. O'Keefe
  • Patent number: 8071343
    Abstract: A process is provided for producing glycolic acid from formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. More specifically, heat-treated formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are reacted to produce glycolonitrile having low concentrations of impurities. The glycolonitrile is subsequently converted to an aqueous solution of ammonium glycolate using an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity derived from Acidovorax facilis 72W (ATCC 57746). Glycolic acid is recovered in the form of the acid or salt from the aqueous ammonium glycolate solution using a variety of methods described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Robert DiCosimo, Anna Panova, Jeffery Scott Thompson, Robert D. Fallon, F. Glenn Gallagher, Thomas Foo, Xu Li, George C. Fox, Joseph J. Zaher, Mark S. Payne, Daniel P. O'Keefe
  • Publication number: 20110269199
    Abstract: The invention relates to suitable candidate ADH enzymes for production of lower alkyl alcohols including isobutanol. The invention also relates to recombinant host cells that comprise such ADH enzymes and methods for producing lower alkyl alcohols in the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: BUTAMAX(TM) ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLC
    Inventors: Sririam Satagopan, Daniel P. O'Keefe, Janardhan Gude
  • Patent number: 8008052
    Abstract: A process is provided for producing glycolic acid from formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. More specifically, heat-treated formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are reacted to produce glycolonitrile having low concentrations of impurities. The glycolonitrile is subsequently converted to an aqueous solution of ammonium glycolate using an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity derived from Acidovorax facilis 72W (ATCC 57746). Glycolic acid is recovered in the form of the acid or salt from the aqueous ammonium glycolate solution using a variety of methods described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Robert DiCosimo, Anna Panova, Jeffery Scott Thompson, Robert D. Fallon, F. Glenn Gallagher, Thomas Foo, Xu Li, George C. Fox, Joseph J. Zaher, Mark S. Payne, Daniel P. O'Keefe
  • Patent number: 7939303
    Abstract: A process is provided for producing glycolic acid from formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. More specifically, heat-treated formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are reacted to produce glycolonitrile having low concentrations of impurities. The glycolonitrile is subsequently converted to an aqueous solution of ammonium glycolate using an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity derived from Acidovorax facilis 72W (ATCC 57746). Glycolic acid is recovered in the form of the acid or salt from the aqueous ammonium glycolate solution using a variety of methods described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Robert DiCosimo, Anna Panova, Jeffery Scott Thompson, Robert D. Fallon, F. Glenn Gallagher, Thomas Foo, Xu Li, George C. Fox, Joseph J. Zaher, Mark S. Payne, Daniel P. O'Keefe
  • Patent number: 7833745
    Abstract: A rapid and efficient method for novel biological substance screening by surface analysis has been developed using Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). This method relies on the surface screening of an array of micro-organisms grown on porous membranes, which had previously been in contact with a solid growth medium. ToF-SIMS analysis differentiates among organisms producing different substances, either directly as molecular product, or indirectly through the use of multivariate statistical data reduction techniques. This method has many advantages over traditional microbial screening methods, which require sample preparation and time for assay development.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Kathryn G. Lloyd, Daniel P. O'Keefe