Patents by Inventor Eiichiro Kimura

Eiichiro Kimura 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: 20130316401
    Abstract: A method for improving the thermostability of a protein includes introducing, into the protein, two or more amino acid substitutions selected from the group consisting of: (i) substitution of an arginine residue for a lysine residue, (ii) substitution of a threonine residue for a serine residue, and (iii) substitution of an alanine residue for a serine residue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: AJINOMOTO CO., INC.
    Inventors: Yosuke Nishio, Eiichiro Kimura, Yoshihiro Usuda, Kazuho Ikeo, Yoji Nakamura, Takashi Gojobori, Yutaka Kawarabayashi, Yumi Hino, Eiichi Hori, Jun Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20130260389
    Abstract: The present invention provides ?2 microglobulin as a biomarker for qualifying or assessing peripheral artery disease in a subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicants: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior Un University, Vermillion, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Cooke, Eric T. Fung, Eiichiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 8510053
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for modifying a property of a protein. The present invention also relates to a method for producing a protein which has a modified property, and a method for producing a microorganism which has a modified property. The present invention is useful in the field of microbial industrial production and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Yosuke Nishio, Eiichiro Kimura, Yoshihiro Usuda, Kazuho Ikeo, Yoji Nakamura, Takashi Gojobori, Yutaka Kawarabayashi, Yumi Hino, Eiichi Hori, Jun Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8440068
    Abstract: Disclosed is a biosensor capable of measuring a total concentration of plural types of amino acids. An amino-acid biosensor (200) for measuring a total concentration of a plurality of specific amino acids, comprises a measuring electrode (202) which includes as components a mediator and an enzyme which selectively act on the plurality of specific amino acids each serving as a substrate, and a counter electrode (203). The enzyme has a substrate affinity to each of the plurality of specific amino acids. The enzyme is operable to catalyze a reaction in each of the plurality of specific amino acids as a substrate so as to form a reaction product, and the mediator is operable, during amino-acid concentration measurement, to carry electrons between the reaction product and the measuring electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Eiichiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 8377646
    Abstract: The present invention provides ?2 microglobulin as a biomarker for qualifying or assessing peripheral artery disease in a subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignees: Vermillion, Inc., Board of Trustees of the Leland Standford Junior University
    Inventors: John P. Cooke, Eric T. Fung, Eiichiro Kimura
  • Publication number: 20120077708
    Abstract: The present invention provides ?2 microglobulin as a biomarker for qualifying or assessing peripheral artery disease in a subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicants: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, VERMILLION, INC.
    Inventors: John Cooke, Eric T. Fung, Eiichiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 8053204
    Abstract: The present invention provides ?2 microglobulin as a biomarker for qualifying or assessing peripheral artery disease in a subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignees: Vermillion, Inc., Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: John Cooke, Eric T. Fung, Eiichiro Kimura
  • Publication number: 20110151481
    Abstract: The present invention provides ?2 microglobulin as a biomarker for qualifying or assessing peripheral artery disease in a subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: VERMILLLION, INC.
    Inventors: John Cooke, Eric T. Fung, Eiichiro Kimura
  • Publication number: 20110151089
    Abstract: A composition which enhances the saltiness and the salty flavor of food or drink, and a method for enhancing the saltiness and the salty flavor of food or drink are described. The composition contains magnesium glutamate, and can be used to improve a decrease in the taking ratio of a food or a drink, which contains sodium chloride in a reduced amount, because of the lack of the salty taste thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Toshifumi Imada, Mayumi Ishida, Rumiko Kawano, Heii Arai, Rirei Sou, Eiichiro Kimura
  • Publication number: 20110136909
    Abstract: Agents for the inhibition, suppression, or prevention of overeating include glutamic acid and/or at least one of its salts, as is or in a carrier or base, and have superior safety at a low price and further have a favorable flavor and are suited for long-term use. Such agents will amplify or sustain a sense of fullness and, further, are effective against appetite stimulation that arises regardless of a sense of fullness with respect to foods that are, for example, sweet or delicious, especially for a person who has a drive for thinness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: Toshifumi Imada, Shuzhen Hao, Tatsuro Tanaka, Miki Tomoe, Eiichiro Kimura, Hisayuki Uneyama, Kunio Torii
  • Patent number: 7867719
    Abstract: The present invention provides ?2 microglobulin as a biomarker for qualifying or assessing peripheral artery disease in a subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignees: Vermillion, Inc., The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: John Cooke, Eric T. Fung, Eiichiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 7833397
    Abstract: Disclosed is a biosensor capable of measuring a total concentration of plural types of amino acids. An amino-acid biosensor (200) for measuring a total concentration of a plurality of specific amino acids, comprises a measuring electrode (202) which includes as components a mediator and an enzyme which selectively act on the plurality of specific amino acids each serving as a substrate, and a counter electrode (203). The enzyme has a substrate affinity to each of the plurality of specific amino acids. The enzyme is operable to catalyze a reaction in each of the plurality of specific amino acids as a substrate so as to form a reaction product, and the mediator is operable, during amino-acid concentration measurement, to carry electrons between the reaction product and the measuring electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Eiichiro Kimura
  • Publication number: 20100017147
    Abstract: Disclosed is a biosensor capable of measuring a total concentration of plural types of amino acids. An amino-acid biosensor (200) for measuring a total concentration of a plurality of specific amino acids, comprises a measuring electrode (202) which includes as components a mediator and an enzyme which selectively act on the plurality of specific amino acids each serving as a substrate, and a counter electrode (203). The enzyme has a substrate affinity to each of the plurality of specific amino acids. The enzyme is operable to catalyze a reaction in each of the plurality of specific amino acids as a substrate so as to form a reaction product, and the mediator is operable, during amino-acid concentration measurement, to carry electrons between the reaction product and the measuring electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventor: Eiichiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 7608437
    Abstract: A method of producing coryneform bacteria having an improved amino acid or nucleic acid-productivity comprises the steps of introducing a mutation in a promoter sequence of amino acid- or nucleic acid-biosynthesizing genes on a chromosome of a coryneform bacterium so that it is close to a consensus sequence or introducing a change in the promoter sequence of amino acid- or nucleic acid-biosynthesizing genes on the chromosome of a coryneform bacterium by gene recombination so that it is close to a consensus sequence, obtaining mutants of the coryneform amino acid- or nucleic acid-producing microorganism, culturing the mutants and select a mutant capable of producing the intended amino acid or nucleic acid in a large amount. This method allows one of skill in the art to construct a mutant capable of enriching or controlling the expression of an intended gene without using a plasmid and to promote production of amino acids in a high yield, by the recombination or mutation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Yoko Asakura, Jun Nakamura, Sohei Kanno, Mikiko Suga, Eiichiro Kimura, Hisao Ito, Kazuhiko Matsui, Tsuyoshi Ohsumi, Tsuyoshi Nakamatsu, Osamu Kurahashi
  • Publication number: 20080026412
    Abstract: The present invention provides ?2 microglobulin as a biomarker for qualifying or assessing peripheral artery disease in a subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicants: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Ajinomoto Co., Inc., Virmillion, Inc.
    Inventors: John Cooke, Eric Fung, Eiichiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 7244569
    Abstract: A plasmid isolatable from Corynebacterium thermoaminogenes, which comprises a gene coding for a Rep protein having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 8 or an amino acid sequence having homology of 90% or more to the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 8, and has a size of about 4.4 kb or about 6 kb, or a derivative thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Yumi Matsuzaki, Eiichiro Kimura, Tsuyoshi Nakamatsu, Osamu Kurahashi, Yoshio Kawahara, Shinichi Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 7183403
    Abstract: A plurality of primer sets are designed based on a region where conservation at the amino acid level is observed among various microorganisms for known gene sequences corresponding to a gene coding for an enzyme of the L-amino acid biosynthetic pathway derived from Corynebacterium thermoaminogenes, preferably an enzyme that functions at a higher temperature compared with that of Corynebacterium glutamicum. PCR is performed by using the primers and chromosomal DNA of Corynebacterium thermoaminogenes as a template. The primers with which an amplification fragment has been obtained are used as primers for screening to select a clone containing a target DNA fragment from a plasmid library of chromosomal DNA of Corynebacterium thermoaminogenes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Seiko Hirano, Eiichiro Kimura, Tsuyoshi Osumi, Kazuhiko Matsui, Yoshio Kawahara, Gen Nonaka, Yumi Matsuzaki, Naoki Akiyoshi, Kanae Nakamura, Osamu Kurahashi, Tsuyoshi Nakamatsu, Shinichi Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20070031913
    Abstract: Disclosed is a biosensor capable of measuring a total concentration of plural types of amino acids. An amino-acid biosensor (200) for measuring a total concentration of a plurality of specific amino acids, comprises a measuring electrode (202) which includes as components a mediator and an enzyme which selectively act on the plurality of specific amino acids each serving as a substrate, and a counter electrode (203). The enzyme has a substrate affinity to each of the plurality of specific amino acids. The enzyme is operable to catalyze a reaction in each of the plurality of specific amino acids as a substrate so as to form a reaction product, and the mediator is operable, during amino-acid concentration measurement, to carry electrons between the reaction product and the measuring electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Inventor: Eiichiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 7125977
    Abstract: A plurality of primer sets are designed based on a region where conservation at the amino acid level is observed among various microorganisms for known gene sequences corresponding to a gene coding for an enzyme of the L-amino acid biosynthetic pathway derived from Corynebacterium thermoaminogenes, preferably an enzyme that functions at a higher temperature compared with that of Corynebacterium glutamicum. PCR is performed by using the primers and chromosomal DNA of Corynebacterium thermoaminogenes as a template. The primers with which an amplification fragment has been obtained are used as primers for screening to select a clone containing a target DNA fragment from a plasmid library of chromosomal DNA of Corynebacterium thermoaminogenes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Seiko Hirano, Eiichiro Kimura, Tsuyoshi Osumi, Kazuhiko Matsui, Yoshio Kawahara, Gen Nonaka, Yumi Matsuzaki, Naoki Akiyoshi, Kanae Nakamura, Osamu Kurahashi, Tsuyoshi Nakamatsu, Shinichi Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 6995250
    Abstract: A plurality of primer sets are designed based on a region where conservation at the amino acid level is observed among various microorganisms for known gene sequences corresponding to a gene coding for an enzyme of the L-amino acid biosynthetic pathway derived from Corynebacterium thermoaminogenes, preferably an enzyme that functions at a higher temperature compared with that of Corynebacterium glutamicum. PCR is performed by using the primers and chromosomal DNA of Corynebacterium thermoaminogenes as a template. The primers with which an amplification fragment has been obtained are used as primers for screening to select a clone containing a target DNA fragment from a plasmid library of chromosomal DNA of Corynebacterium thermoaminogenes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Seiko Hirano, Eiichiro Kimura, Tsuyoshi Osumi, Kazuhiko Matsui, Yoshio Kawahara, Gen Nonaka, Yumi Matsuzaki, Naoki Akiyoshi, Kanae Nakamura, Osamu Kurahashi, Tsuyoshi Nakamatsu, Shinichi Sugimoto