Patents by Inventor Gary F. Gerard

Gary F. Gerard 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: 9862938
    Abstract: The present invention is in the fields of molecular and cellular biology. The invention is generally related to reverse transcriptase enzymes and methods for the reverse transcription of nucleic acid molecules, especially messenger RNA molecules. Specifically, the invention relates to reverse transcriptase enzymes which have been mutated or modified to increase thermostability, decrease terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity, and/or increase fidelity, and to methods of producing, amplifying or sequencing nucleic acid molecules (particularly cDNA molecules) using these reverse transcriptase enzymes or compositions. The invention also relates to nucleic acid molecules produced by these methods and to the use of such nucleic acid molecules to produce desired polypeptides. The invention also concerns kits comprising such enzymes or compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Smith, Robert Jason Potter, Gulshan Dhariwal, Gary F. Gerard, Kim Rosenthal, Jun E. Lee
  • Publication number: 20140363854
    Abstract: The present invention is in the fields of molecular and cellular biology. The invention is generally related to reverse transcriptase enzymes and methods for the reverse transcription of nucleic acid molecules, especially messenger RNA molecules. Specifically, the invention relates to reverse transcriptase enzymes which have been mutated or modified to increase thermostability, decrease terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity, and/or increase fidelity, and to methods of producing, amplifying or sequencing nucleic acid molecules (particularly cDNA molecules) using these reverse transcriptase enzymes or compositions. The invention also relates to nucleic acid molecules produced by these methods and to the use of such nucleic acid molecules to produce desired polypeptides. The invention also concerns kits comprising such enzymes or compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Michael D. SMITH, Robert Jason Potter, Gulshan Dhariwal, Gary F. Gerard, Kim Rosenthal, Jun E. Lee
  • Publication number: 20120021464
    Abstract: The present invention is in the fields of molecular and cellular biology. The invention is generally related to reverse transcriptase enzymes and methods for the reverse transcription of nucleic acid molecules, especially messenger RNA molecules. Specifically, the invention relates to reverse transcriptase enzymes which have been mutated or modified to increase thermostability, decrease terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity, and/or increase fidelity, and to methods of producing, amplifying or sequencing nucleic acid molecules (particularly cDNA molecules) using these reverse transcriptase enzymes or compositions. The invention also relates to nucleic acid molecules produced by these methods and to the use of such nucleic acid molecules to produce desired polypeptides. The invention also concerns kits comprising such enzymes or compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael D. SMITH, Robert Jason POTTER, Gulshan DHARIWAL, Gary F. GERARD, Kim ROSENTHAL, Jun E. LEE
  • Patent number: 8043816
    Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid inhibitors, compositions and method for enhancing synthesis of nucleic acid molecules. In a preferred aspect, the invention relates to inhibition or control of nucleic acid synthesis, sequencing or amplification. Specifically, the present invention discloses nucleic acids having affinity for polypeptides with polymerase activity for use in such synthesis, amplification or sequencing reactions. The nucleic acid inhibitors are capable of inhibiting nonspecific nucleic acid synthesis under certain conditions (e.g., at ambient temperatures). Thus, in a preferred aspect, the invention relates to “hot start” synthesis of nucleic acid molecules. Accordingly, the invention prevents, reduces or substantially reduces nonspecific nucleic acid synthesis. The invention also relates to kits for synthesizing, amplifying, reverse transcribing or sequencing nucleic acid molecules comprising one or more of the nucleic acid inhibitors or compositions of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Mekbib Astatke, Deb K. Chatterjee, Gary F. Gerard
  • Publication number: 20110160289
    Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid inhibitors, compositions and method for enhancing synthesis of nucleic acid molecules. In a preferred aspect, the invention relates to inhibition or control of nucleic acid synthesis, sequencing or amplification. Specifically, the present invention discloses nucleic acids having affinity for polypeptides with polymerase activity for use in such synthesis, amplification or sequencing reactions. The nucleic acid inhibitors are capable of inhibiting nonspecific nucleic acid synthesis under certain conditions (e.g., at ambient temperatures). Thus, in a preferred aspect, the invention relates to “hot start” synthesis of nucleic acid molecules. Accordingly, the invention prevents, reduces or substantially reduces nonspecific nucleic acid synthesis. The invention also relates to kits for synthesizing, amplifying, reverse transcribing or sequencing nucleic acid molecules comprising one or more of the nucleic acid inhibitors or compositions of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mekbib ASTATKE, Deb K. Chatterjee, Gary F. Gerard
  • Publication number: 20110081704
    Abstract: The present invention is in the fields of molecular and cellular biology. The invention is generally related to reverse transcriptase enzymes and methods for the reverse transcription of nucleic acid molecules, especially messenger RNA molecules. Specifically, the invention relates to reverse transcriptase enzymes which have been mutated or modified to increase thermostability, decrease terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity, and/or increase fidelity, and to methods of producing, amplifying or sequencing nucleic acid molecules (particularly cDNA molecules) using these reverse transcriptase enzymes or compositions. The invention also relates to nucleic acid molecules produced by these methods and to the use of such nucleic acid molecules to produce desired polypeptides. The invention also concerns kits comprising such enzymes or compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael D. Smith, Robert Jason Potter, Gulshan Dhariwal, Gary F. Gerard, Kim Rosenthal
  • Publication number: 20110008770
    Abstract: The present invention is generally related to compositions and methods for the reverse transcription of nucleic acid molecules, especially messenger RNA molecules. Specifically, the invention relates to compositions comprising mixtures of polypeptides having reverse transcriptase (RT) activity, and to methods of producing, amplifying or sequencing nucleic acid molecules (particularly cDNA molecules) using these compositions or polypeptides, particularly at temperatures above about 55° C. The invention also relates to nucleic acid molecules produced by these methods, to vectors and host cells comprising these nucleic acid molecules, and to the use of such nucleic acid molecules to produce desired polypeptides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gary F. Gerard, Michael D. Smith, Deb K. Chatterjee
  • Publication number: 20100190175
    Abstract: The invention is related generally to methods of amplifying or synthesizing or producing nucleic acid molecules using Translesion DNA polymerases. In particular, the invention relates to methods of introducing a random mutation into a nucleic acid and encoded polypeptide using Translesion DNA polymerases. The invention also relates to methods of introducing a modified nucleotide into a nucleic acid using Translesion DNA polymerases. The invention also relates to mutagenized and modified nucleic acid molecules and proteins produced by these methods, and to fragments or derivatives thereof. The invention also relates to vectors and host cells comprising mutagenized nucleic acid molecules, fragments, or derivatives. The invention also relates to the use of mutagenized nucleic acid molecules to produce desired polypeptides and uses of modified nucleic acid molecules to analyze samples. The invention also relates to kits or compositions or compounds for use in the invention or for carrying out the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gary F. Gerard, Zhihao Qiu, Martin Anthony Gleeson
  • Patent number: 7749708
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods for identifying the sequence of one or more variant nucleotides in a nucleic acid molecule. The method involves cleaving a double-stranded nucleic acid molecule containing a mismatch with a mismatch-specific endonuclease which cleaves on the 3? side of the mismatch, and preserving the integrity of the variant nucleotide by ligating a double-stranded linker with a 3?-overhang to said variant nucleotide. Because the variant nucleotide is immediately adjacent to the linker, PCR and/or sequence-by-synthesis analysis can be readily carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Transgenomic, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Taylor, Gary F. Gerard, Reyes Candau
  • Publication number: 20100015683
    Abstract: The present invention is in the fields of molecular and cellular biology. The invention is generally related to reverse transcriptase enzymes and methods for the reverse transcription of nucleic acid molecules, especially messenger RNA molecules. Specifically, the invention relates to reverse transcriptase enzymes which have been mutated or modified to increase thermostability, decrease terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity, and/or increase fidelity, and to methods of producing, amplifying or sequencing nucleic acid molecules (particularly cDNA molecules) using these reverse transcriptase enzymes or compositions. The invention also relates to nucleic acid molecules produced by these methods and to the use of such nucleic acid molecules to produce desired polypeptides. The invention also concerns kits comprising such enzymes or compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael D. Smith, Robert Jason Potter, Gulsham Dhariwal, Gary F. Gerard, Kim Rosenthal
  • Publication number: 20090275100
    Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid inhibitors, compositions and method for enhancing synthesis of nucleic acid molecules. In a preferred aspect, the invention relates to inhibition or control of nucleic acid synthesis, sequencing or amplification. Specifically, the present invention discloses nucleic acids having affinity for polypeptides with polymerase activity for use in such synthesis, amplification or sequencing reactions. The nucleic acid inhibitors are capable of inhibiting nonspecific nucleic acid synthesis under certain conditions (e.g., at ambient temperatures). Thus, in a preferred aspect, the invention relates to “hot start” synthesis of nucleic acid molecules. Accordingly, the invention prevents, reduces or substantially reduces nonspecific nucleic acid synthesis. The invention also relates to kits for synthesizing, amplifying, reverse transcribing or sequencing nucleic acid molecules comprising one or more of the nucleic acid inhibitors or compositions of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Mekbib Astatke, Deb K. Chatterjee, Gary F. Gerard
  • Patent number: 7579155
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods for identifying the sequence of one or more variant nucleotides in nucleic acid molecules. The method involves cleaving a double-stranded nucleic acid molecule containing a mismatch with a mismatch-specific endonuclease which cleaves on the 3? side of the mismatch, and preserving the integrity of the variant nucleotide by ligating a Double-Stranded Linker with a degenerate 3?-overhang to said variant nucleotide. Because the variant nucleotide is immediately adjacent to the linker, PCR and/or sequence-by-synthesis analysis can be readily carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Transgenomic, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Taylor, Reyes Candau, Gary F. Gerard
  • Patent number: 7560261
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding CEL II endonuclease and vectors and host cells for producing a protein encoded thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Transgenomic, Inc.
    Inventors: Harini Shandilya, Gary F. Gerard, Peter Qiu
  • Publication number: 20090068652
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods for identifying the sequence of one or more variant nucleotides in a nucleic acid molecule. The method involves cleaving a double-stranded nucleic acid molecule containing a mismatch with a mismatch-specific endonuclease which cleaves on the 3? side of the mismatch, and preserving the integrity of the variant nucleotide by ligating a double-stranded linker with a 3?-overhang to said variant nucleotide. Because the variant nucleotide is immediately adjacent to the linker, PCR and/or sequence-by-synthesis analysis can be readily carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Paul D. Taylor, Gary F. Gerard, Reyes Candau
  • Publication number: 20090068659
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods for identifying the sequence of one or more variant nucleotides in nucleic acid molecules. The method involves cleaving a double-stranded nucleic acid molecule containing a mismatch with a mismatch-specific endonuclease which cleaves on the 3? side of the mismatch, and preserving the integrity of the variant nucleotide by ligating a Double-Stranded Linker with a degenerate 3?-overhang to said variant nucleotide. Because the variant nucleotide is immediately adjacent to the linker, PCR and/or sequence-by-synthesis analysis can be readily carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Paul D. Taylor, Reyes Candau, Gary F. Gerard
  • Publication number: 20080268520
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to compositions and methods for enhancing recombinational cloning of nucleic acid molecules. In particular, the invention relates to compositions comprising one or more ribosomal proteins and one or more additional protein components required for recombinational cloning. More particularly, the invention relates to such compositions wherein the ribosomal proteins are one or more E. coli ribosomal proteins, still more particularly wherein the ribosomal proteins are selected from the group of E. coli ribosomal proteins consisting of S10, S14, S15, S16, S17, S18, S19, S20, S21, L20, L21, and L23 through L34, and most particularly S20, L27, and S15. The invention also relates to the use of these compositions in methods for recombinational cloning of nucleic acids, in vitro and in vivo, to provide chimeric DNA molecules that have particular characteristics and/or DNA segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: INVITROGEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gary F. Gerard, Elizabeth Flynn, A-Li W. Hu
  • Publication number: 20080171388
    Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid inhibitors, compositions and method for enhancing synthesis of nucleic acid molecules. In a preferred aspect, the invention relates to inhibition or control of nucleic acid synthesis, sequencing or amplification. Specifically, the present invention discloses nucleic acids having affinity for polypeptides with polymerase activity for use in such synthesis, amplification or sequencing reactions. The nucleic acid inhibitors are capable of inhibiting nonspecific nucleic acid synthesis under certain conditions (e.g., at ambient temperatures). Thus, in a preferred aspect, the invention relates to “hot start” synthesis of nucleic acid molecules. Accordingly, the invention prevents, reduces or substantially reduces nonspecific nucleic acid synthesis. The invention also relates to kits for synthesizing, amplifying, reverse transcribing or sequencing nucleic acid molecules comprising one or more of the nucleic acid inhibitors or compositions of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: INVITROGEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mekbib Astatke, Deb K. Chatterjee, Gary F. Gerard
  • Publication number: 20080113354
    Abstract: Methods and kits are provided with DNA substrates having a fluorescent label positioned at a nucleotide internal from its 5? end for use with CEL nuclease to determine whether a DNA sequence contains mutations or polymorphic changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Yanggu Shi, Gary F. Gerard
  • Patent number: 7129075
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the isolation and characterization of CEL I and CEL II endonuclease proteins. Methods and kits for identifying mismatches in double-stranded DNA are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Transgenomic, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary F. Gerard, Harini Shandilya, Peter Qiu, James M. D'Alessio
  • Patent number: 7115406
    Abstract: A method of producing a Rous Sarcoma Virus reverse transcriptase (RSV RT) by expressing one orniore nucleic acid sequences encoding one or more subunits of RSV RT in a eukaryotic host cell and culturing the host cell under conditions sufficient to produce the recombinant RSV RT. The resulting RSV RT has a specific activity of between about 30,000 and 150,000 units per milligram and is suitable for methods including RT-polyinerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Invitrogen Corporation
    Inventors: Gary F Gerard, Michael D Smith, Deb K Chatterjee