Patents by Inventor Fungmin Liew

Fungmin Liew 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: 20240018527
    Abstract: Microorganisms are genetically engineered to produce 3-hydroxypropionate (3-HP). The microorganisms are carboxydotrophic acetogens. The microorganisms produce acetyl-coA using the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway for fixing CO/CO2. A ?-alanine pyruvate aminotransferase from a microorganism that contains such an enzyme is introduced. Additionally, an acetyl-coA carboxylase may also be introduced. The production of 3-HP can be improved. This can be effected by improved promoters or higher copy number or enzymes that are catalytically more efficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: Fungmin Liew, Michael Koepke
  • Patent number: 11788092
    Abstract: Microorganisms are genetically engineered to produce 3-hydroxypropionate (3-HP). The microorganisms are carboxydotrophic acetogens. The microorganisms produce acetyl-coA using the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway for fixing CO/CO2. A ?-alanine pyruvate aminotransferase from a microorganism that contains such an enzyme is introduced. Additionally, an acetyl-coA carboxylase may also be introduced. The production of 3-HP can be improved. This can be effected by improved promoters or higher copy number or enzymes that are catalytically more efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: LanzaTech, Inc.
    Inventors: Fungmin Liew, Michael Koepke
  • Publication number: 20230015505
    Abstract: Disclosed are compositions, methods, and kits for performing cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) and for expressing proteins in cells. Particularly disclosed are vectors comprising Golden Gate sites for cloning, methods for preparing such vectors, and the use thereof for performing CFPS and for expressing proteins in cells such as in naturally occurring or recombinant species of Clostridia, including Clostridium autoethanogenum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicants: Northwestern University, LanzaTech, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. JEWETT, Ashty S. KARIM, Michael KOEPKE, Darmawi JUMINAGA, Fungmin LIEW
  • Publication number: 20220251573
    Abstract: Microorganisms are genetically engineered to produce 3-hydroxypropionate (3-HP). The microorganisms are carboxydotrophic acetogens. The microorganisms produce acetyl-coA using the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway for fixing CO/CO2. A ?-alanine pyruvate aminotransferase from a microorganism that contains such an enzyme is introduced. Additionally, an acetyl-coA carboxylase may also be introduced. The production of 3-HP can be improved. This can be effected by improved promoters or higher copy number or enzymes that are catalytically more efficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Fungmin Liew, Michael Koepke
  • Publication number: 20210292732
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for production of 2-phenylethanol by microbial fermentation of substrates comprising carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide and further disclosed are genetically modified microorganisms for use in such methods. Additionally, the processes disclosed herein are improved methods of 2-PE production that alleviate dependence on natural and petrochemical processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Fungmin Liew, Michael Koepke, Shilpa Nagaraju, Audrey Harris
  • Patent number: 10494600
    Abstract: The invention provides a novel bacterium with improved properties, including improved ethanol production, ethanol productivity, CO uptake, specific growth rate, ethanol to acetate ratio, and alcohol tolerance. The bacterium may be derived from Clostridium autoethanogenum and/or may comprise at least one DNA or amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16. In one embodiment, the bacterium is Clostridium autoethanogenum deposited under DSMZ accession number DSM23693 or a bacterium derived therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Bjorn Daniel Heijstra, Evgenia Kern, Michael Koepke, Simon Segovia, Fungmin Liew
  • Patent number: 10294498
    Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring bacterium having decreased or eliminated activity of an enzyme that catalyzes the reaction defined by EC 1.2.7.5, such as aldehyde:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (AOR). Optionally, the bacterium also has decreased or eliminated activity of an enzyme that catalyzes the reaction defined by EC 1.2.1.10 and/or EC 1.1.1.1, such as aldehyde dehydrogenase, alcohol dehydrogenase, or bifunctional aldehyde/alcohol dehydrogenase. The invention further provides methods of producing products by culturing the bacterium in the presence of a gaseous substrate containing one or more of CO, CO2, and H2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: LanzaTech, Inc.
    Inventors: Fungmin Liew, Michael Koepke
  • Publication number: 20180142265
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing a terpene or a precursor thereof by microbial fermentation. Typically, the method involves culturing a recombinant bacterium in the presence of a gaseous substrate whereby the bacterium produces a terpene or a precursor thereof, such as mevalonic acid, isopentenyl pyrophosphate, dimethylallyl pyrophosphate, isoprene, geranyl pyrophosphate, farnesyl pyrophosphate, and/or farnesene. The bacterium may comprise one or more exogenous enzymes, such as enzymes in mevalonate, DXS, or terpene biosynthesis pathways.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Wendy Yiting Chen, FungMin Liew, Michael Koepke
  • Patent number: 9834795
    Abstract: The invention provides recombinant microorganisms and methods for the production of acetone from gaseous substrates. For example, the recombinant microorganism may be modified to express an exogenous thiolase, an exogenous CoA transferase, and an exogenous decarboxylase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Koepke, Sean Simpson, Fungmin Liew, Wendy Yiting Chen
  • Publication number: 20170327849
    Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring bacterium having decreased or eliminated activity of an enzyme that catalyzes the reaction defined by EC 1.2.7.5, such as aldehyde:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (AOR). Optionally, the bacterium also has decreased or eliminated activity of an enzyme that catalyzes the reaction defined by EC 1.2.1.10 and/or EC 1.1.1.1, such as aldehyde dehydrogenase, alcohol dehydrogenase, or bifunctional aldehyde/alcohol dehydrogenase. The invention further provides methods of producing products by culturing the bacterium in the presence of a gaseous substrate containing one or more of CO, CO2, and H2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Fungmin Liew, Michael Koepke
  • Publication number: 20160376615
    Abstract: The invention provides recombinant microorganisms and methods for the production of acetone from gaseous substrates. For example, the recombinant microorganism may be modified to express an exogenous thiolase, an exogenous CoA transferase, and an exogenous decarboxylase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Koepke, Sean Simpson, Fungmin Liew, Wendy Yiting Chen
  • Patent number: 9410130
    Abstract: The invention provides, inter alia, methods for the production of acetone, isopropanol and/or precursors of acetone and/or isopropanol by microbial fermentation of substrates comprising CO, genetically modified microorganisms of use in such methods, nucleic acids suitable for preparation of genetically modified microorganisms, a novel alcohol dehydrogenase and nucleic acids encoding same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Koepke, Sean Simpson, FungMin Liew, Wendy Chen
  • Patent number: 9365873
    Abstract: The invention provides genetically engineered microorganisms with altered carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH) activity and methods related thereto. In particular, the invention provides a genetically engineered carboxydotrophic acetogenic bacterium having decreased or eliminated activity of CODH1 and/or CODH2. In certain embodiments, the bacterium may also have increased activity of CODH/ACS. The invention further provides a method for producing a product by culturing the bacterium in the presence of a gaseous substrate comprising one or more of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Koepke, Fungmin Liew
  • Patent number: 9365868
    Abstract: The invention provides, inter alia, methods for the production of acetone, isopropanol and/or precursors of acetone and/or isopropanol by microbial fermentation of substrates comprising CO, genetically modified microorganisms of use in such methods, nucleic acids suitable for preparation of genetically modified microorganisms, a novel alcohol dehydrogenase and nucleic acids encoding same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Koepke, Sean Simpson, Fungmin Liew, Wendy Chen
  • Patent number: 9359611
    Abstract: The invention relates, inter alia, to novel genetically modified microorganisms capable of using CO to produce 1-butanol and/or a precursor thereof, novel methyltransferases and nucleic acids encoding same, methods for producing genetically modified microorganisms using said novel methyltransferases, and methods of producing 1-butanol and/or a precursor thereof by microbial fermentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Koepke, Sean Dennis Simpson, FungMin Liew
  • Patent number: 9347076
    Abstract: A carboxydotrophic acetogenic recombinant microorganism is modified so that it produces biodiesel and optionally one or more other products by fermentation of a substrate comprising CO. Biodiesel is produced by microbial fermentation of a substrate comprising CO. The recombinant microorganism is modified to express one or more exogenous enzymes in the biodiesel biosynthesis pathway not present in a parental microorganism from which the recombinant microorganism is derived. The one or more enzymes comprise a nonspecific acyltransferase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: FungMin Liew, Michael Koepke
  • Publication number: 20160040193
    Abstract: The invention provides genetically engineered microorganisms with altered carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH) activity and methods related thereto. In particular, the invention provides a genetically engineered carboxydotrophic acetogenic bacterium having decreased or eliminated activity of CODH1 and/or CODH2. In certain embodiments, the bacterium may also have increased activity of CODH/ACS. The invention further provides a method for producing a product by culturing the bacterium in the presence of a gaseous substrate comprising one or more of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Koepke, Fungmin Liew
  • Publication number: 20160017276
    Abstract: The invention provides a novel bacterium with improved properties, including improved ethanol production, ethanol productivity, CO uptake, specific growth rate, ethanol to acetate ratio, and alcohol tolerance. The bacterium may be derived from Clostridium autoethanogenum and/or may comprise at least one DNA or amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16. In one embodiment, the bacterium is Clostridium autoethanogenum deposited under DSMZ accession number DSM23693 or a bacterium derived therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Bjorn Daniel Heijstra, Evgenia Kern, Michael Koepke, Simon Segovia, Fungmin Liew
  • Publication number: 20150376654
    Abstract: The invention relates to a recombinant carboxydotrophic acetogenic microorganism capable of producing one or more products by fermentation of a substrate comprising CO, wherein the microorganism has an increased tolerance to ethanol versus a parental carboxydotrophic acetogenic microorganism. The invention also provides, inter alia, methods for the production of ethanol and one or more other products from a substrate comprising CO using the recombinant carboxydotrophic acetogenic microorganism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Koepke, FungMin Liew, Sean Dennis Simpson
  • Publication number: 20150284692
    Abstract: The invention provides, inter alia, methods for the production of acetone, isopropanol and/or precursors of acetone and/or isopropanol by microbial fermentation of substrates comprising CO, genetically modified microorganisms of use in such methods, nucleic acids suitable for preparation of genetically modified microorganisms, a novel alcohol dehydrogenase and nucleic acids encoding same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Koepke, Sean Simpson, FungMin Liew, Wendy Chen