Patents by Inventor Douglas J. Pitera
Douglas J. Pitera 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).
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Patent number: 8288147Abstract: Methods for synthesizing isopentenyl pyrophosphate are provided. A first method comprises introducing into a host microorganism a plurality of heterologous nucleic acid sequences, each coding for a different enzyme in the mevalonate pathway for producing isopentenyl pyrophosphate. A related method comprises introducing into a host microorganism an intermediate in the mevalonate pathway and at least one heterologous nucleic acid sequence, each sequence coding for an enzyme in the mevalonate pathway necessary for converting the intermediate into isopentenyl pyrophosphate. The invention also provides nucleic acid sequences, enzymes, expression vectors, and transformed host cells for carrying out the methods.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2011Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Jay D. Keasling, Vincent J.J. Martin, Douglas J. Pitera, Seon-Won Kim, Sydnor T. Withers, III, Yasuo Yoshikuni, Jack Newman, Artem Valentinovich Khlebnikov
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Patent number: 8257957Abstract: The present invention provides genetically modified host cells and use of same for producing isoprenoid compounds.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2007Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, Amyris Biotechnologies, Inc.Inventors: Jay D. Keasling, Farnaz Nowroozi, Douglas J. Pitera, Jennifer Anthony, Jack D. Newman, Larry Anthony
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Patent number: 8114645Abstract: The present invention provides methods of increasing production of an isoprenoid or an isoprenoid precursor in a host cell, the methods generally involving modulating the level of activity of a fatty acid biosynthetic pathway enzyme in the host cell and/or culturing the host cell in a culture medium comprising a fatty acid or a compound that can be metabolized in a cell or broken down in the medium to yield a fatty acid and/or culturing the host cell in a culture medium having increased osmolarity.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2007Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Douglas J. Pitera, Jack D. Newman, Jeffrey Lance Kizer, Jay D. Keasling, Brian F. Pfleger
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Patent number: 7927794Abstract: The present invention provides isolated, genetically modified host cells, where a host cell is genetically modified with a nucleic acid that includes a nucleotide sequence encoding a biosynthetic pathway enzyme. Synthesis of the enzyme in the host cell results in conversion of a substrate for the enzyme into a biosynthetic pathway intermediate, which intermediate is produced in an amount effective to inhibit growth of the genetically modified host cell. The present invention further provides compositions and kits comprising a subject genetically modified host cell. Subject host cells are useful for identifying a gene product having activity in a biosynthetic pathway. The present invention further provides methods of identifying a gene product having activity in a biosynthetic pathway.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2004Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Jay D. Keasling, Jack D. Newman, Douglas J. Pitera, Sydnor T. Withers, III, Keith Kinkead Reiling, Vincent J. J. Martin
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Patent number: 7915026Abstract: Methods for synthesizing isopentenyl pyrophosphate are provided. A first method comprises introducing into a host microorganism a plurality of heterologous nucleic acid sequences, each coding for a different enzyme in the mevalonate pathway for producing isopentenyl pyrophosphate. A related method comprises introducing into a host microorganism an intermediate in the mevalonate pathway and at least one heterologous nucleic acid sequence, each sequence coding for an enzyme in the mevalonate pathway necessary for converting the intermediate into isopentenyl pyrophosphate. The invention also provides nucleic acid sequences, enzymes, expression vectors, and transformed host cells for carrying out the methods.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2009Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Jay D. Keasling, Vincent J. J. Martin, Douglas J. Pitera, Seon-Won Kim, Sydnor T. Withers, III, Yasuo Yoshikuni, Jack Newman, Artem Valentinovich Khlebnikov
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Patent number: 7736882Abstract: Methods for synthesizing isopentenyl pyrophosphate are provided. A first method comprises introducing into a host microorganism a plurality of heterologous nucleic acid sequences, each coding for a different enzyme in the mevalonate pathway for producing isopentenyl pyrophosphate. A related method comprises introducing into a host microorganism an intermediate in the mevalonate pathway and at least one heterologous nucleic acid sequence, each sequence coding for an enzyme in the mevalonate pathway necessary for converting the intermediate into isopentenyl pyrophosphate. The invention also provides nucleic acid sequences, enzymes, expression vectors, and transformed host cells for carrying out the methods.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2006Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Jay D. Keasling, Vincent J. J. Martin, Douglas J. Pitera, Seon-Won Kim, Sydnor T. Withers, III, Yasuo Yoshikuni, Jack Newman, Artem Valentinovich Khlebnikov
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Publication number: 20100112672Abstract: The present invention provides genetically modified host cells and use of same for producing isoprenoid compounds.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2007Publication date: May 6, 2010Inventors: Jay D. Keasling, Farnaz Nowroozi, Douglas J. Pitera, Jack D. Newman, Jennifer Anthony, Larry Anthony
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Publication number: 20100055754Abstract: The present invention provides methods of increasing production of an isoprenoid or an isoprenoid precursor in a host cell, the methods generally involving modulating the level of activity of a fatty acid biosynthetic pathway enzyme in the host cell and/or culturing the host cell in a culture medium comprising a fatty acid or a compound that can be metabolized in a cell or broken down in the medium to yield a fatty acid and/or culturing the host cell in a culture medium having increased osmolarity.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2007Publication date: March 4, 2010Inventors: Douglas J. Pitera, Jack D. Newman, Jeffrey Lance Kizer, Jay D. Keasling, Brian F. Pfleger
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Patent number: 7670825Abstract: The present invention provides methods of producing an isoprenoid or an isoprenoid precursor in a genetically modified host cell. The methods generally involve modulating the level of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) in the cell, such that the level of HMG-CoA is not toxic to the cell and/or does not substantially inhibit cell growth, but is maintained at a level that provides for high-level production of mevalonate, IPP, and other downstream products of an isoprenoid or isoprenoid pathway, e.g., polyprenyl diphosphates and isoprenoid compounds. The present invention further provides genetically modified host cells that are suitable for use in a subject method. The present invention further provides recombinant nucleic acid constructs for use in generating a subject genetically modified host cell, including recombinant nucleic acid constructs comprising nucleotide sequences encoding one or more mevalonate pathway enzymes, and recombinant vectors (e.g., recombinant expression vectors) comprising same.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2007Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Jay D. Keasling, Jack D. Newman, Douglas J. Pitera
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Patent number: 7667017Abstract: Methods for synthesizing isopentenyl pyrophosphate are provided. A first method comprises introducing into a host microorganism a plurality of heterologous nucleic acid sequences, each coding for a different enzyme in the mevalonate pathway for producing isopentenyl pyrophosphate. A related method comprises introducing into a host microorganism an intermediate in the mevalonate pathway and at least one heterologous nucleic acid sequence, each sequence coding for an enzyme in the mevalonate pathway necessary for converting the intermediate into isopentenyl pyrophosphate. The invention also provides nucleic acid sequences, enzymes, expression vectors, and transformed host cells for carrying out the methods.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2006Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Jay D. Keasling, Vincent J. J. Martin, Douglas J. Pitera, Seon-Won Kim, Sydnor T. Withers, III, Yasuo Yoshikuni, Jack D. Newman, Artem Valentinovich Khlebnikov
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Patent number: 7622282Abstract: Methods for synthesizing isopentenyl pyrophosphate are provided. A first method comprises introducing into a host microorganism a plurality of heterologous nucleic acid sequences, each coding for a different enzyme in the mevalonate pathway for producing isopentenyl pyrophosphate. A related method comprises introducing into a host microorganism an intermediate in the mevalonate pathway and at least one heterologous nucleic acid sequence, each sequence coding for an enzyme in the mevalonate pathway necessary for converting the intermediate into isopentenyl pyrophosphate. The invention also provides nucleic acid sequences, enzymes, expression vectors, and transformed host cells for carrying out the methods.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2006Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Jay D. Keasling, Vincent J. J. Martin, Douglas J. Pitera, Seon-Won Kim, Sydnor T. Withers, III, Yasuo Yoshikuni, Jack Newman, Artem Valentinovich Khlebnikov
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Patent number: 7622283Abstract: Methods for synthesizing isopentenyl pyrophosphate are provided. A first method comprises introducing into a host microorganism a plurality of heterologous nucleic acid sequences, each coding for a different enzyme in the mevalonate pathway for producing isopentenyl pyrophosphate. A related method comprises introducing into a host microorganism an intermediate in the mevalonate pathway and at least one heterologous nucleic acid sequence, each sequence coding for an enzyme in the mevalonate pathway necessary for converting the intermediate into isopentenyl pyrophosphate. The invention also provides nucleic acid sequences, enzymes, expression vectors, and transformed host cells for carrying out the methods.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2006Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Jay D. Keasling, Vinent J. J. Martin, Douglas J. Pitera, Seon-Won Kim, Sydnor T. Withers, III, Yasuo Yoshikuni, Jack Newman, Artem Valentinovich Khlebnikov
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Publication number: 20090004724Abstract: The present invention provides methods of producing an isoprenoid or an isoprenoid precursor in a genetically modified host cell. The methods generally involve modulating the level of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) in the cell, such that the level of HMG-CoA is not toxic to the cell and/or does not substantially inhibit cell growth, but is maintained at a level that provides for high-level production of mevalonate, IPP, and other downstream products of an isoprenoid or isoprenoid pathway, e.g., polyprenyl diphosphates and isoprenoid compounds. The present invention further provides genetically modified host cells that are suitable for use in a subject method. The present invention further provides recombinant nucleic acid constructs for use in generating a subject genetically modified host cell, including recombinant nucleic acid constructs comprising nucleotide sequences encoding one or more mevalonate pathway enzymes, and recombinant vectors (e.g., recombinant expression vectors) comprising same.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2007Publication date: January 1, 2009Inventors: Jay D. Keasling, Jack D. Newman, Douglas J. Pitera
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Patent number: 7183089Abstract: The present invention provides methods of producing an isoprenoid or an isoprenoid precursor in a genetically modified host cell. The methods generally involve modulating the level of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) in the cell, such that the level of HMG-CoA is not toxic to the cell and/or does not substantially inhibit cell growth, but is maintained at a level that provides for high-level production of mevalonate, IPP, and other downstream products of an isoprenoid or isoprenoid pathway, e.g., polyprenyl diphosphates and isoprenoid compounds. The present invention further provides genetically modified host cells that are suitable for use in a subject method. The present invention further provides recombinant nucleic acid constructs for use in generating a subject genetically modified host cell, including recombinant nucleic acid constructs comprising nucleotide sequences encoding one or more mevalonate pathway enzymes, and recombinant vectors (e.g., recombinant expression vectors) comprising same.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2005Date of Patent: February 27, 2007Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Jay D. Keasling, Jack D. Newman, Douglas J. Pitera