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: 7078208
    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 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Invitrogen Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Smith, Robert Jason Potter, Gulshan Dhariwal, Gary F. Gerard, Kim Rosenthal
  • Patent number: 6989259
    Abstract: 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 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 use of such nucleic acid molecules to produce desired polypeptide. The invention also relates to methods for producing Avian Sarcoma-Leukosis Virus (ASLV) RT subunits, in particular, Avian Myeloblastosis Virus (AMV) RTs, to isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding ASLV RT subunits, and to ASLV RT subunits produced by these methods. The invention further relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding recombinant RT holoenzymes, particularly ASLV RTs, methods for producing these RTs and to RTs produced by these methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Invitrogen Corporation
    Inventors: Gary F. Gerard, Michael D. Smith, Deb K. Chatterjee
  • Patent number: 6964861
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Invitrogen Corporation
    Inventors: Gary F. Gerard, Elizabeth Flynn, A-Li W. Hu
  • Patent number: 6835561
    Abstract: 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 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 use of such nucleic acid molecules to produce desired polypeptide. The invention also relates to methods for producing Avian Sarcoma-Leukosis Virus (ASLV) RT subunits, in particular, Avian Myeloblastosis Virus (AMV) RTs, to isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding ASLV RT subunits, and to ASLV RT subunits produced by these methods. The invention further relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding recombinant RT holoenzymes, particularly ASLV RTs, methods for producing these RTs and to RTs produced by these methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Invitrogen Corporation
    Inventors: Gary F. Gerard, Michael D. Smith, Deb K. Chatterjee
  • Patent number: 6830902
    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: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Invitrogen Corporation
    Inventors: Mekbib Astatke, Deb K. Chatterjee, Gary F. Gerard
  • Publication number: 20040209276
    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 15, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Michael D. Smith, Robert Jason Potter, Gulshan Dhariwal, Gary F. Gerard, Kim Rosenthal, Jun E. Lee
  • Publication number: 20040166510
    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: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Gary F. Gerard, Harini Shandilya, Peter Qiu, James M. D'Alessio
  • Publication number: 20040152072
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to inhibitors useful to prevent, reduce, substantially reduce or eliminate degradation of nucleic acid templates during nucleic acid synthesis. Such inhibitors of the invention preferably prevent adverse chemical reactions during reverse transcription, which result in degradation of RNA molecules, especially messenger RNA (MRNA) molecules. The invention also relates to compositions comprising inhibitors of the invention, and to methods of producing, amplifying, or sequencing nucleic acid molecules (particularly cDNA molecules) using these compositions, particularly at elevated temperatures. The invention also relates to nucleic acid molecules produced by these methods, to vectors and host cells comprising these cDNA molecules and to the use of such nucleic acid molecules to produce desired polypeptides. The invention further relates to kits comprising such inhibitors or compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Applicant: Invitrogen Corporation
    Inventor: Gary F. Gerard
  • Publication number: 20030198944
    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: November 13, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: Invitrogen Corporation
    Inventors: Gary F. Gerard, Michael D. Smith, Deb K. Chatterjee
  • Publication number: 20030186270
    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: November 13, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Applicant: Invitrogen Corporation
    Inventors: Gary F. Gerard, Michael D. Smith, Deb K. Chatterjee
  • Publication number: 20030166170
    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: January 16, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Applicant: Invitrogen Corporation
    Inventors: Gary F. Gerard, Zhihao Qiu, Martin Anthony Gleeson
  • Publication number: 20030157662
    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: November 13, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Applicant: Invitrogen Corporation
    Inventors: Gary F. Gerard, Elizabeth Flynn, A-Li W. Hu
  • Publication number: 20030032086
    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: April 22, 1998
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: GARY F. GERARD, MICHAEL D. SMITH, DEB K. CHATTERJEE
  • Patent number: 6518019
    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 about 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: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Invitrogen Corporation
    Inventors: Gary F. Gerard, Michael D. Smith, Deb K. Chatterjee
  • Publication number: 20020090618
    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 1, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: Invitrogen Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Smith, Robert Jason Potter, Gulshan Dhariwal, Gary F. Gerard, Kim Rosenthal
  • Publication number: 20020081581
    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: February 5, 1999
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: GARY F. GERARD, MICHAEL D. SMITH, DEB K. CHATTERJEE
  • Patent number: 5405776
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gene which encodes reverse transcriptase having DNA polymerase activity and substantially no RNase H activity. The invention also relates to vectors containing the gene and hosts transformed with the vectors of the invention. The invention also relates to a method of producing reverse transcriptase having DNA polymerase activity and substantially no RNase H activity by expressing the reverse transcriptase genes of the present invention in a host. The invention also relates to a method of producing cDNA from mRNA using the reverse transcriptase of the invention. The invention also relates to a kit for the preparation of cDNA from mRNA comprising the reverse transcriptase of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Life Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Kotewicz, Gary F. Gerard
  • Patent number: 5244797
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gene which encodes reverse transcriptase having DNA polymerase activity and substantially no RNase H activity. The invention also relates to vectors containing the gene and hosts transformed with the vectors of the invention. The invention also relates to a method of producing reverse transcriptase having DNA polymerase activity and substantially no RNase H activity by expressing the reverse transcriptase genes of the present invention in a host. The invention also relates to a method of producing cDNA from mRNA using the reverse transcriptase of the invention. The invention also relates to a kit for the preparation of cDNA from mRNA comprising the reverse transcriptase of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Life Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Kotewicz, Gary F. Gerard
  • Patent number: 5017492
    Abstract: The cloning of truncated versions of Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase enzyme in E. coli is disclosed. The truncated reverse transcriptase enzymes have improved half-life when compared to native reverse transcriptase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Life Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Kotewicz, James M. D'Alessio, Gary F. Gerard