Patents by Inventor Ernst Heinz

Ernst Heinz 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: 20110023185
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in an organism by introducing, into the organism, nucleic acids coding for polypeptides with acyltransferase activity. These nucleic acid sequences, if appropriate together with further nucleic acid sequences coding for polypeptides of the fatty acid or lipid metabolism biosynthesis, can advantageously be expressed in the organism. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for the production of oils and/or triacylglycerides with an elevated content of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The invention furthermore relates to the nucleic acid sequences, and constructs, vectors and organisms comprising the nucleic acid sequences. A further part of the invention relates to oils, lipids and/or fatty acids produced by the process according to the invention and to their use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL
    Inventors: ANDREAS RENZ, JÖRG BAUER, MARGIT FRENTZEN, NURSEN SÖZER, STOBART KEITH, THOMAS FRASER, COLIN M. LAZARUS, BAOXIU QI, AMINE ABBADI, ERNST HEINZ
  • Patent number: 7871804
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing polyunsaturated fatty acids in an organism, according to which nucleic acids coding for polypeptides with an acyl-CoA:lysophospholipid-acyltransferase activity are introduced into the organism. Advantageously, the nucleic acid sequences can be expressed in the transgenic organism optionally together with other nucleic acid sequences coding for polypeptides of the fatty acid or lipid metabolism. The invention also relates to the inventive nucleic acid sequences, nucleic acid constructs containing the inventive nucleic acid sequences, vectors containing the inventive nucleic acid sequences and/or the nucleic acid constructs, and transgenic organisms containing the nucleic acid sequences, nucleic acid constructs and/or vectors. The invention further relates to oils, lipids and/or fatty acids produced according to the inventive method, and to the use of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: BASF Plant Science GmbH
    Inventors: Petra Cirpus, Jörg Bauer, Ernst Heinz, Amine Abbadi, Jelena Kirsch
  • Patent number: 7855321
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in an organism by introducing, into the organism, nucleic acids which code for polypeptides with acyl transferase activity. These nucleic acid sequences, if appropriate together with further nucleic acid sequences which code for polypeptides of the fatty acid or lipid metabolism biosynthesis, can advantageously be expressed in the organism. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for the production of oils and/or triacylglycerides with an elevated content of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The invention furthermore relates to the nucleic acid sequences, nucleic acid constructs, vectors and organisms comprising the nucleic acid sequences according to the invention, vectors comprising the nucleic acid sequences and/or the nucleic acid constructs and to transgenic organisms comprising the abovementioned nucleic acid sequences, nucleic acid constructs and/or vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: University of Bristol
    Inventors: Andreas Renz, Jörg Bauer, Margit Frentzen, Nursen Sözer, Stobart Keith, Thomas Fraser, Colin M. Lazarus, Baoxiu Qi, Amine Abbadi, Ernst Heinz
  • Publication number: 20100212034
    Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences coding for polypeptides with ?-3-desaturase activity. The invention furthermore relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors and organisms comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence according to the invention, at least one vector comprising the nucleic acid sequence and/or the nucleic acid constructs, and transgenic organisms comprise the abovementioned nucleic acid sequences, nucleic acid constructs and/or vectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: BASF Plant Science GmbH
    Inventors: Petra Cirpus, Jörg Bauer, Thorsten Zank, Ernst Heinz
  • Patent number: 7777098
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for production of unsaturated ?-3-fatty acids and to a process for production of triglycerides with an elevated content of unsaturated fatty acids, especially of ?-3-fatty acids having more than three double bonds. The invention relates to the production of a transgenic organism, preferably of a transgenic plant or of a transgenic microorganism, with an elevated content of unsaturated ?-3-fatty acids, oils or lipids having ?-3-double bonds as the result of the expression of an ?-3-desaturase from fungi of the family Pythiaceae such as the genus Phytophtora, for example of the genus and species Phytophtora infestans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: BASF Plant Science GmbH
    Inventors: Petra Cirpus, Jörg Bauer, Thorsten Zank, Ernst Heinz
  • Patent number: 7714185
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for the specific production of poly-unsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and a process for the production of triglycerides having an increased content of unsaturated fatty acids, in particular omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids having at least two double bonds and a 20 or 22 carbon atom chain length. The invention relates to the production of a transgenic organism, preferably a transgenic plant or a transgenic microorganism, hav-ing an increased content of fatty acids, oils or lipids containing C20- or C22-fatty acids with a delta-5, 7, 8, 10 double bond, respectively due to the expression of a delta-8-desaturase and a delta-9-elon-gase from organisms such as plants preferably Algae like Isochrysis galbana or Euglena gracilis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: University of Bristol
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Napier, Olga Sayanova, Colin M. Lazarus, Baoxiu Qi, Ernst Heinz, Thorsten Zank, Ulrich Zähringer
  • Publication number: 20100021976
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the production of unsaturated fatty acids with at least two double bonds. The invention furthermore relates to the use of nucleic acid sequences SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5 and SEQ ID NO: 11 encoding polypeptides having desaturase activity in the method and for generating a transgenic organism, preferably a transgenic plant or a transgenic microorganism, with an increased content of fatty acids, oils or lipids with unsaturated C18-, C20-, or C22-fatty acids, and to their homologs or derivatives, to gene constructs encompassing these genes, and to their use alone or in combination with biosynthesis genes of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The invention also relates to multiexpression cassettes for seed-specific expression, and to vectors or organisms which encompass a desaturase gene alone or in combination with further desaturases and/or elongase genes or homologs using said expression cassettes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: BASF Plant Science GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Lerchl, Andreas Renz, Ernst Heinz, Frederic Domergue, Ulrich Zahringer
  • Patent number: 7629503
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for the specific preparation of unsaturated ?-3 fatty acids, and to a process for preparing triglycerides having an increased content of unsaturated fatty acids, particularly of ?-3 fatty acids having more than three double bonds. The invention relates to the preparation of a transgenic organism, preferably a transgenic plant or a transgenic microorganism, having increased content of fatty acids, oils or lipids having ?-4 double bonds owing to the expression of a ?-4-desaturase from Euglena gracilis. The invention additionally relates to expression cassettes comprising a nucleic acid sequence, a vector and organisms comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence or one expression cassette. The invention additionally relates to unsaturated fatty acids and to triglycerides having an increased content of unsaturated fatty acids and to the use thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: BASF Plant Science GmbH
    Inventors: Petra Cirpus, Jörg Bauer, Astrid Meyer, Ernst Heinz, Ulrich Zähringer
  • Patent number: 7615679
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the production of unsaturated fatty acids with at least two double bonds. The invention further relates to the use of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 encoding a polypeptide having delta-5 desaturase activity in the method and for generating a transgenic organism, preferably a transgenic plant or microorganism with an increased content of fatty acids, oil or lipids with unsaturated long chain fatty acids, to their homologs or derivatives, and to gene constructs encompassing these genes. The invention also relates to the use of the nucleic acid sequences alone or in combination with further desaturases and/or elongase genes in the method and for generating transgenic organisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: BASF Plant Science GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Lerchl, Andreas Renz, Ernst Heinz, Frederic Domergue, Ulrich Zähringer
  • Publication number: 20090209774
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing polyunsaturated fatty acids in an organism by introducing nucleic acids into the organism which code for polypeptides having acyl-CoA:lysophospholipid a cyltransferase activity. Advantageously, these nucleic acid sequences may, if appropriate together with further nucleic acid sequences coding for biosynthesis polypeptides of the fatty acid or lipid metabolism, be expressed in the transgenic organism. The invention furthermore relates to the nucleic acid sequences, to nucleic acid constructs comprising the nucleic acid sequences of the invention, to vectors comprising the nucleic acid sequences and/or the nucleic acid constructs and to transgenic organisms comprising the abovementioned nucleic acid sequences, nucleic acid constructs and/or vectors. A further part of the invention relates to oils, lipids and/or fatty acids produced by the process of the invention and to their use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: BASF Plant Science GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Renz, Ernst Heinz, Amine Abbadi, Frederic Domergue, Thorsten Zank
  • Patent number: 7544859
    Abstract: The invention relates to novel elongase genes with the sequences stated in sequence SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5 and SEQ ID NO: 7 or their homologs, derivatives or analogs, to a gene construct comprising this gene or its homologs, derivatives and analogs, and to its use. The invention also relates to vectors or transgenic organisms comprising an elongase gene with the sequence SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5 and SEQ ID NO: 7 or its homologs, derivatives and analogs. The invention furthermore relates to the use of the elongase gene sequences alone or in combination with further elongases and/or further fatty acid biosynthesis genes. The present invention relates to a novel elongase gene with the sequence SEQ ID NO:1 or its homologs, derivatives and analogs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ernst Heinz, Thorsten Zank, Ulrich Zähringer, Jens Lerchl, Andreas Renz
  • Patent number: 7537920
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing polyunsaturated fatty acids in an organism by introducing nucleic acids into the organism which code for polypeptides having acyl-CoA:lysophospholipid a cyltransferase activity. Advantageously, these nucleic acid sequences may, if appropriate together with further nucleic acid sequences coding for biosynthesis polypeptides of the fatty acid or lipid metabolism, be expressed in the transgenic organism. The invention furthermore relates to the nucleic acid sequences, to nucleic acid constructs comprising the nucleic acid sequences of the invention, to vectors comprising the nucleic acid sequences and/or the nucleic acid constructs and to transgenic organisms comprising the abovementioned nucleic acid sequences, nucleic acid constructs and/or vectors. A further part of the invention relates to oils, lipids and/or fatty acids produced by the process of the invention and to their use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: BASF Plant Science GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Renz, Ernst Heinz, Amine Abbadi, Frederic Domergue, Thorsten Zank
  • Publication number: 20090094707
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing polyunsaturated fatty acids in an organism, according to which nucleic acids coding for polypeptides with an acyl-CoA:lysophospholipid-acyltransferase activity am introduced into the organism. Advantageously, said nucleic acid sequences can be expressed in the transgenic organism optionally together with other nucleic acid sequences coding for polypeptides of the fatty acid or lipid metabolism. The invention also relates to the inventive nucleic acid sequences, nucleic acid constructs containing the inventive nucleic acid sequences, vectors containing the inventive nucleic acid sequences and/or the nucleic acid constructs, and transgenic organisms containing said nucleic acid sequences, nucleic acid constructs and/or vectors. The invention further relates to oils, lipids and/or fatty acids produced according to the inventive method, and to the use of the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: BASF PLANT SCIENCE GMBH
    Inventors: Petra Cirpus, Jorg Bauer, Ernst Heinz, Amine Abbadi, Jelena Kirsch
  • Publication number: 20080160054
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel elongase gene with the sequences stated in sequence SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5 and SEQ ID NO: 7 or their homologs, derivatives or analogs, to a gene construct comprising this gene or its homologs, derivatives and analogs, and to its use. The invention also relates to vectors or transgenic organisms comprising an elongase gene with the sequence SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5 and SEQ ID NO: 7 or its homologs, derivatives and analogs. The invention furthermore relates to the use of the elongase gene sequences alone or in combination with further elongases and/or further fatty acid biosynthesis genes. The present invention relates to a novel elongase gene with the sequence SEQ ID NO:1 or its homologs, derivatives and analogs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Ernst Heinz, Thorsten Zank, Ulrich Zahringer, Jens Lerchl, Andreas Renz
  • Publication number: 20080155705
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of multiply-unsaturated fatty acids in an organism, into which nucleic acids have been introduced, which code for polypeptides with ?-5 elongase activity. Said nucleic acid sequences, optionally with further nucleic acid sequences, coding for polypeptides for the biosynthesis of fatty acids and lipid metabolism, are advantageously expressed in the organism. Nucleic acid sequences coding for a ?-6 desaturase, a ?-5 desaturase, ?-4 desaturase and/or ?-6 elongase activity are particularly advantageous and, advantageously, said saturases and elongases are derived from Thalassiosira, Euglena or Ostreococcus. The invention further relates to a method for the production of oils and/or triacylglycerides with an increased content of long-chain, multiply-unsaturated fatty acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: BASF Plant Science GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Zank, Jorg Bauer, Petra Cirpus, Amine Abbadi, Ernst Heinz, Xiao Qiu, Patricia Vrinten, Petra Sperling, Frederic Domergue, Astrid Meyer, Jelena Kirsch
  • Publication number: 20080076166
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids in an organism by introducing, into the organism, nucleic acids which encode polypeptides with ?5-elongase, ?6-desaturase, ?5-desaturase, ?4-desaturase, ?12-desaturase and/or ?6-elongase activity. These desaturases and elongases are advantageously derived from Ostreococcus. The invention furthermore relates to a process for the production of oils and/or triacylglycerides with an elevated content of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The invention furthermore relates to the nucleic acid sequences, nucleic acid constructs, vectors and organisms comprising the nucleic acid sequences according to the invention, to vectors comprising the nucleic acid sequences and/or the nucleic acid constructs and to transgenic organisms comprising the abovementioned nucleic acid sequences, nucleic acid constructs and/or vectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: BASF PLANT SCIENCE GMBH
    Inventors: Petra Cirpus, Jorg Bauer, Ernst Heinz, Frederic Domergue
  • Publication number: 20070224661
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for production of unsaturated ?-3-fatty acids and to a process for production of triglycerides with an elevated content of unsaturated fatty acids, especially of ?-3-fatty acids having more than three double bonds. The invention relates to the production of a transgenic organism, preferably of a transgenic plant or of a transgenic microorganism, with an elevated content of unsaturated ?-3-fatty acids, oils or lipids having ?-3-double bonds as the result of the expression of an ?-3-desaturase from fungi of the family Pythiaceae such as the genus Phytophtora, for example of the genus and species Phytophtora infestans.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Applicant: BASF PLANT SCIENCE
    Inventors: Petra Cirpus, Jorg Bauer, Thorsten Zank, Ernst Heinz
  • Patent number: 7183458
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing unsaturated fatty acids and to a process for preparing triglycerides with an increased content of unsaturated fatty acids. The invention further relates to the use of DNA sequences coding for ?6-acetylenase/?6-desaturases or ?6-desaturases for producing a transgenic organism, preferably a transgenic plant or a transgenic microorganism with increased content of fatty acids, oils or lipids with ?6 triple bonds and/or ?6 double bonds. The invention additionally relates to an isolated nucleic acid sequence; to an expression cassette comprising a nucleic acid sequence, a vector and organisms comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence or expression cassette. The invention additionally relates to unsaturated fatty acids and triglycerides with an increased content of unsaturated fatty acids and the use thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: BASF Plant Science GmbH
    Inventors: Ernst Heinz, Sten Stymne, Michael Lee, Thomas Girke, Petra Sperling, Ulrich Zaehringer
  • Patent number: 7179647
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel elongase gene with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 or its homologs, derivatives or analogs, to a gene construct comprising this gene or its homologs, derivatives and analogs, and to its use. The invention also relates to vectors or organisms comprising an elongase gene with the sequence SEQ ID No: 1 or its homologs, derivatives or analogs. Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for the preparation of polyunsaturated fatty acids and to a process for introducing DNA into organisms which produce large amounts of oils and, in particular, oils with a high content of unsaturated fatty acids. Moreover, the invention relates to an oil and/or a fatty acid preparation with a higher content of polyunsaturated fatty acids with at least two double bonds and/or a triacyiglycerol preparation with a higher content of polyunsaturated fatty acids with at least two double bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: BASF Plant Science GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Lerchl, Ernst Heinz, Thorsten Zank
  • Publication number: 20060246556
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for the specific production of poly-unsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and a process for the production of triglycerides having an increased content of unsaturated fatty acids, in particular omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids having at least two double bonds and a 20 or 22 carbon atom chain length. The invention relates to the production of a transgenic organism, preferably a transgenic plant or a transgenic microorganism, hav-ing an increased content of fatty acids, oils or lipids containing C20- or C22-fatty acids with a delta-5, 7, 8, 10 double bond, respectively due to the expression of a delta-8-desaturase and a delta-9-elon-gase from organisms such as plants preferably Algae like Isochrysis galbana or Euglena gracilis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Applicant: University of Bristol
    Inventors: Johnathan Napier, Olga Sayanova, Colin Lazarus, Baoxiu Qi, Ernst Heinz, Thorsten Zank, Ulrich Zahringer