Patents by Inventor Fujio Yu

Fujio Yu 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: 11667939
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing methacrylyl-CoA that converts 3-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA into methacrylyl-CoA using an enzyme having dehydratase activity as a method for producing methacrylyl-CoA using an enzyme catalyst. In this production method, conversion rate of 3-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA into methacrylyl-CoA by the enzyme having dehydratase activity is 50% or higher. In this production method, furthermore, the enzyme having dehydratase activity derives from a microorganism belonging to the genus Pseudomonas or Rhodococcus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Sato, Fujio Yu, Eiji Nakajima, Michiko Yamazaki, Wataru Mizunashi
  • Patent number: 10907136
    Abstract: It is intended to provide an efficient method for expressing a protein of interest as an active soluble recombinant protein in a transformant. The present invention provides a method for producing an enzyme having improved activity per recombinant as compared with a reference form, comprising the steps of: (1) preparing recombinants each expressing a mutant having an amino acid sequence derived from the amino acid sequence of the reference form by the substitution of one or more cysteine residues by other amino acid residues; (2) selecting a plurality of mutants that exhibit 50% or more activity per recombinant relative to 100% activity of the reference form; and (3) expressing a mutant in which corresponding amino acid residues are substituted at two or more positions among the respective positions of the substituted amino acid residues of the mutants selected in step (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Fujio Yu, Wataru Mizunashi
  • Publication number: 20200392546
    Abstract: As a method for producing a 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid ester using a biocatalyst, a method for producing a 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid ester, including a step of allowing an alcohol or phenol to act on 3-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA in the presence of alcohol acyltransferase to produce a 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid ester is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Applicants: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Toyama Prefectural University
    Inventors: Kenji Oki, Fujio Yu, Kozo Murao, Yasuhisa Asano, Fumihiro Motojima
  • Patent number: 10851392
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a methacrylic acid ester using a biocatalyst, said method comprising a step for treating methacrylyl-CoA with an alcohol or phenol in the presence of an alcohol acyltransferase to synthesize the methacrylic acid ester. According to this production method, a methacrylic acid ester can be efficiently produced while largely reducing energy, resource and environmental load, compared with the conventional chemical production processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Sato, Fujio Yu, Wataru Mizunashi, Eiji Nakajima
  • Patent number: 10676766
    Abstract: The invention relates to an engineered eukaryotic microorganism into which a gene encoding an acyl-CoA dehydrogenase is introduced and a method for producing methacrylic acid esters such as MMA and MMA-CoA and precursors thereof using the microorganism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Michelle O'Malley, Kevin Solomon, Wataru Mizunashi, Fujio Yu
  • Patent number: 10570426
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a methacrylic acid ester using a biocatalyst, said method comprising a step of reacting an alcohol or a phenol with methacrylyl-CoA in the presence of an alcohol acyltransferase originated from a plant selected from the group consisting of a plant belonging to the genus Osmanthus, a plant belonging to the genus Vitis, a plant belonging to the genus Citrus, a plant belonging to the genus Durio, a plant belonging to the genus Magnolia and a plant belonging to the genus Chamaemelum to thereby synthesize the methacrylic acid ester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Asano, Eiji Sato, Fujio Yu, Wataru Mizunashi
  • Publication number: 20190256880
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing methacrylyl-CoA that converts 3-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA into methacrylyl-CoA using an enzyme having dehydratase activity as a method for producing methacrylyl-CoA using an enzyme catalyst. In this production method, conversion rate of 3-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA into methacrylyl-CoA by the enzyme having dehydratase activity is 50% or higher. In this production method, furthermore, the enzyme having dehydratase activity derives from a microorganism belonging to the genus Pseudomonas or Rhodococcus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji SATO, Fujio YU, Eiji NAKAJIMA, Michiko YAMAZAKI, Wataru MIZUNASHI
  • Publication number: 20190185825
    Abstract: It is intended to provide an efficient method for expressing a protein of interest as an active soluble recombinant protein in a transformant. The present invention provides a method for producing an enzyme having improved activity per recombinant as compared with a reference form, comprising the steps of: (1) preparing recombinants each expressing a mutant having an amino acid sequence derived from the amino acid sequence of the reference form by the substitution of one or more cysteine residues by other amino acid residues; (2) selecting a plurality of mutants that exhibit 50% or more activity per recombinant relative to 100% activity of the reference form; and (3) expressing a mutant in which corresponding amino acid residues are substituted at two or more positions among the respective positions of the substituted amino acid residues of the mutants selected in step (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Fujio YU, Wataru Mizunashi
  • Patent number: 10323264
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing methacrylyl-CoA that converts 3-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA into methacrylyl-CoA using an enzyme having dehydratase activity as a method for producing methacrylyl-CoA using an enzyme catalyst. In this production method, conversion rate of 3-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA into methacrylyl-CoA by the enzyme having dehydratase activity is 50% or higher. In this production method, furthermore, the enzyme having dehydratase activity derives from a microorganism belonging to the genus Pseudomonas or Rhodococcus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Sato, Fujio Yu, Eiji Nakajima, Michiko Yamazaki, Wataru Mizunashi
  • Patent number: 10294500
    Abstract: To provide a method for directly and efficiently producing methacrylic acid in a single step from renewable raw materials and/or biomass arising from the utilization of the renewable raw materials. Further provided is a method for producing methacrylic acid using microbes having the ability to produce methacrylic acid, from renewable raw materials and/or biomass arising from the utilization of the renewable raw materials, as a carbon source and/or energy source. The method for producing methacrylic acid enables methacrylic acid to be safely and easily produced from biomass, without using petroleum-derived raw materials, by utilizing microbes having the ability to produce methacrylic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Sato, Michiko Yamazaki, Eiji Nakajima, Fujio Yu, Toshio Fujita, Wataru Mizunashi
  • Publication number: 20180346942
    Abstract: The invention relates to an engineered eukaryotic microorganism into which a gene encoding an acyl-CoA dehydrogenase is introduced and a method for producing methacrylic acid esters such as MMA and MMA-CoA and precursors thereof using the microorganism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicants: The Regents of the University of California, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Michelle O'MALLEY, Kevin SOLOMON, Wataru MIZUNASHI, Fujio YU
  • Publication number: 20170022525
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a methacrylic acid ester using a biocatalyst, said method comprising a step of reacting an alcohol or a phenol with methacrylyl-CoA in the presence of an alcohol acyltransferase originated from a plant selected from the group consisting of a plant belonging to the genus Osmanthus, a plant belonging to the genus Vitis, a plant belonging to the genus Citrus, a plant belonging to the genus Durio, a plant belonging to the genus Magnolia and a plant belonging to the genus Chamaemelum to thereby synthesize the methacrylic acid ester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa ASANO, Eiji SATO, Fujio YU, Wataru MIZUNASHI
  • Publication number: 20160145665
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing methacrylyl-CoA that converts 3-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA into methacrylyl-CoA using an enzyme having dehydratase activity as a method for producing methacrylyl-CoA using an enzyme catalyst. In this production method, conversion rate of 3-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA into methacrylyl-CoA by the enzyme having dehydratase activity is 50% or higher. In this production method, furthermore, the enzyme having dehydratase activity derives from a microorganism belonging to the genus Pseudomonas or Rhodococcus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji SATO, Fujio YU, Eiji NAKAJIMA, Michiko YAMAZAKI, Wataru MIZUNASHI
  • Publication number: 20150191756
    Abstract: To provide a method for directly and efficiently producing methacrylic acid in a single step from renewable raw materials and/or biomass arising from the utilization of the renewable raw materials. Further provided is a method for producing methacrylic acid using microbes having the ability to produce methacrylic acid, from renewable raw materials and/or biomass arising from the utilization of the renewable raw materials, as a carbon source and/or energy source. The method for producing methacrylic acid enables methacrylic acid to be safely and easily produced from biomass, without using petroleum-derived raw materials, by utilizing microbes having the ability to produce methacrylic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI RAYON CO., LTD
    Inventors: Eiji Sato, Michiko Yamazaki, Eiji Nakajima, Fujio Yu, Toshio Fujita, Wataru Mizunashi
  • Publication number: 20150184207
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a methacrylic acid ester using a biocatalyst, said method comprising a step for treating methacrylyl-CoA with an alcohol or phenol in the presence of an alcohol acyltransferase to synthesize the methacrylic acid ester. According to this production method, a methacrylic acid ester can be efficiently produced while largely reducing energy, resource and environmental load, compared with the conventional chemical production processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Sato, Fujio Yu, Wataru Mizunashi, Eiji Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9051597
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a fluorescent substrate for detecting the enzymatic activity of a nitrile-related enzyme and compound represented by formula (I) and a fluorescent substrate for detecting the enzymatic activity of a nitrile-related enzyme, which includes the compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd., The University of Tokyo
    Inventors: Yasuteru Urano, Tetsuo Nagano, Tomoe Ohta, Fujio Yu
  • Patent number: 8697383
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a fluorescent substrate for detecting the enzymatic activity of a nitrile-related enzyme. The present invention provides a compound represented by formula (I) and a fluorescent substrate for detecting the enzymatic activity of a nitrile-related enzyme, which comprises the compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd., The University of Tokyo
    Inventors: Yasuteru Urano, Tetsuo Nagano, Tomoe Ohta, Fujio Yu
  • Publication number: 20140072990
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a fluorescent substrate for detecting the enzymatic activity of a nitrile-related enzyme. The present invention provides a compound represented by formula (I) and a fluorescent substrate for detecting the enzymatic activity of a nitrile-related enzyme, which comprises the compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicants: The University of Tokyo, Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuteru URANO, Tetsuo NAGANO, Tomoe OHTA, Fujio YU
  • Patent number: 8409841
    Abstract: An improved hydroxynitrile lyase characterized by having a mutation of substitution of at least one amino acid residue in the amino acid sequence of a wild-type hydroxynitrile lyase with another amino acid and by its hydroxynitrile lyase activity per transformant being higher than the hydroxynitrile lyase activity per transformant into which the wild-type hydroxynitrile lyase gene is introduced; and a method for producing a hydroxynitrile lyase, comprising expressing the improved hydroxynitrile lyase in a host and recovering the improved hydroxynitrile lyase from the resultant culture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Asano, Takanori Akiyama, Fujio Yu, Eiji Sato
  • Publication number: 20130065263
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a fluorescent substrate for detecting the enzymatic activity of a nitrile-related enzyme. The present invention provides a compound represented by formula (I) and a fluorescent substrate for detecting the enzymatic activity of a nitrile-related enzyme, which comprises the compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicants: The University of Tokyo, Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuteru Urano, Tetsuo Nagano, Tomoe Ohta, Fujio Yu