Patents by Inventor Hisashi ARIKAWA
Hisashi ARIKAWA 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).
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Publication number: 20220411830Abstract: A polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing microorganism is cultured to obtain microbial bodies accumulating polyhydroxyalkanoate particles and having an average cell size of 2 ?m or more. The microbial bodies are subjected to a heat treatment at a temperature higher than a temperature in the culturing to increase an average particle size of the polyhydroxyalkanoate particles in the microbial bodies. The resulting average particle size is equal to or greater than 1.8 ?m and equal to or smaller than the average cell size. The microbial bodies subjected to the heat treatment can be disrupted to obtain a cell disruption solution. The PHA particles can be separated from an aqueous phase of the cell disruption solution.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2020Publication date: December 29, 2022Applicant: KANEKA CORPORATIONInventors: Hisashi ARIKAWA, Shunsuke SATO, Yoshihiro MOURI
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Publication number: 20220315958Abstract: Provided is a transformed microorganism that has a polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase gene and in which expression of an A1386 gene and/or an A2405 gene is reduced. In the transformed microorganism, expression of a minC gene and a minD gene may be enhanced. Also provided is a method of producing a PHA, the method including the step of culturing the transformed microorganism in the presence of a carbon source.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2020Publication date: October 6, 2022Applicant: KANEKA CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshihiro MOURI, Hisashi ARIKAWA, Shunsuke SATO
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Patent number: 11453896Abstract: The present application provides: a transformed microorganism for producing a PHA copolymer containing 3HH monomer unit at a higher composition ratio, specifically, a transformed microorganism comprising a PHA synthase gene capable of synthesizing a PHA copolymer containing 3HH monomer unit and a gene encoding a protein having (R)-specific enoyl-CoA hydratase activity, characterized in that, in the transformed microorganism, the expression of a gene encoding at least one ?-ketothiolase enzyme having thiolysis activity for ?-keto-(C6) acyl-CoA (i.e., ?-ketohexanoyl-CoA) is inhibited, thereby losing or reducing the enzyme activity; and a method for producing a PHA copolymer containing 3HH monomer unit, comprising a step of culturing the transformed microorganism.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2020Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATIONInventors: Hisashi Arikawa, Shunsuke Sato
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Patent number: 11225676Abstract: A PHA copolymer which is slowly crystallized is improved in crystallization speed to improve the melt workability of the PHA copolymer in working such as injection molding, film molding, blow molding, fiber spinning, extrusion foaming or bead foaming, thereby improving the resultant articles in productivity. A method for the improvement is a method for producing a PHA mixture, including the step of culturing a microorganism having both of a gene encoding a PHA synthase that synthesizes a copolymer PHA (A) and that is derived from the genus Aeromonas, and a gene encoding a PHA synthase that synthesizes a PHA (B) different in melting point from the copolymer PHA (A) by 10° C. or more to produce, in a cell of the microorganism, two or more PHAs different in melting point from one another by 10° C. or more simultaneously.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2019Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATIONInventors: Shingo Kobayashi, Rina Aoki, Tetsuya Minami, Hisashi Arikawa, Keiji Matsumoto
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Publication number: 20210388324Abstract: Provided is a transformed microorganism that has a polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase gene and in which expression of a minD gene is enhanced. Also provided is a transformed microorganism that has a polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase gene and in which expression of a minC gene and a minD gene is enhanced. In this transformed microorganism, expression of a minE gene may be enhanced or reduced. Also provided is a method of producing a PHA, the method including the step of culturing any of the transformed microorganisms in the presence of a carbon source.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2021Publication date: December 16, 2021Applicant: KANEKA CORPORATIONInventors: Hisashi ARIKAWA, Shunsuke SATO
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Patent number: 10876140Abstract: Provided is a method for producing PHA by a microbe with improved productivity of PHA, and a PHA-producing microbe used for the production method. A method for producing polyhydroxyalkanoic acid, the method including a step of culturing a microbe having a polyhydroxyalkanoic acid synthase gene and an inactivated gene encoding a flagellar protein to cause the microbe to produce polyhydroxyalkanoic acid. In the microbe, a lipase, a dephosphorylating enzyme, and a protein represented by the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6 or 7 may be additionally inactivated. The microbe may be Cupriavidus necator.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2017Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATIONInventors: Shunsuke Sato, Hisashi Arikawa, Rina Aoki
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Patent number: 10829793Abstract: Provided are a transformant that produces a copolymerized PHA containing 3HH units in a higher composition proportion; and a method for producing a copolymerized PHA, using this transformant. The transformant is a transformant that produces a copolymerized PHA containing 3HH units, in which a gene encoding an enzyme having trans-2-enoyl-CoA hydratase activity and (R)-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity is introduced into a prokaryotic microorganism having a PHA synthetase gene capable of synthesizing the copolymerized PHA containing the 3HH units. The method is a method for producing a copolymerized PHA containing 3HH units, which includes a step of culturing this transformant.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2019Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATIONInventors: Hisashi Arikawa, Keiji Matsumoto
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Publication number: 20200340020Abstract: The present application provides: a transformed microorganism for producing a PHA copolymer containing 3HH monomer unit at a higher composition ratio, specifically, a transformed microorganism comprising a PHA synthase gene capable of synthesizing a PHA copolymer containing 3HH monomer unit and a gene encoding a protein having (R)-specific enoyl-CoA hydratase activity, characterized in that, in the transformed microorganism, the expression of a gene encoding at least one ?-ketothiolase enzyme having thiolysis activity for ?-keto-(C6) acyl-CoA (i.e., ?-ketohexanoyl-CoA) is inhibited, thereby losing or reducing the enzyme activity; and a method for producing a PHA copolymer containing 3HH monomer unit, comprising a step of culturing the transformed microorganism.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2020Publication date: October 29, 2020Applicant: KANEKA CORPORATIONInventors: Hisashi ARIKAWA, Shunsuke Sato
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Publication number: 20200109423Abstract: Provided is a method for producing PHA by a microbe with improved productivity of PHA, and a PHA-producing microbe used for the production method. A method for producing polyhydroxyalkanoic acid, the method including a step of culturing a microbe having a polyhydroxyalkanoic acid synthase gene and an inactivated gene encoding a flagellar protein to cause the microbe to produce polyhydroxyalkanoic acid. In the microbe, a lipase, a dephosphorylating enzyme, and a protein represented by the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6 or 7 may be additionally inactivated. The microbe may be Cupriavidus necator.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2017Publication date: April 9, 2020Applicant: KANEKA CORPORATIONInventors: Shunsuke SATO, Hisashi ARIKAWA, Rina AOKI
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Publication number: 20200056214Abstract: A PHA copolymer which is slowly crystallized is improved in crystallization speed to improve the melt workability of the PHA copolymer in working such as injection molding, film molding, blow molding, fiber spinning, extrusion foaming or bead foaming, thereby improving the resultant articles in productivity. A method for the improvement is a method for producing a PHA mixture, including the step of culturing a microorganism having both of a gene encoding a PHA synthase that synthesizes a copolymer PHA (A) and that is derived from the genus Aeromonas, and a gene encoding a PHA synthase that synthesizes a PHA (B) different in melting point from the copolymer PHA (A) by 10° C. or more to produce, in a cell of the microorganism, two or more PHAs different in melting point from one another by 10° C. or more simultaneously.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2019Publication date: February 20, 2020Applicant: KANEKA CORPORATIONInventors: Shingo KOBAYASHI, Rina AOKI, Tetsuya MINAMI, Hisashi ARIKAWA, Keiji MATSUMOTO
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Patent number: 10519473Abstract: A PHA copolymer which is slowly crystallized is improved in crystallization speed to improve the melt workability of the PHA copolymer in working such as injection molding, film molding, blow molding, fiber spinning, extrusion foaming or bead foaming, thereby improving the resultant articles in productivity. A method for the improvement is a method for producing a PHA mixture, including the step of culturing a microorganism having both of a gene encoding a PHA synthase that synthesizes a copolymer PHA (A) and that is derived from the genus Aeromonas, and a gene encoding a PHA synthase that synthesizes a PHA (B) different in melting point from the copolymer PHA (A) by 10° C. or more to produce, in a cell of the microorganism, two or more PHAs different in melting point from one another by 10° C. or more simultaneously.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2015Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATIONInventors: Shingo Kobayashi, Rina Aoki, Tetsuya Minami, Hisashi Arikawa, Keiji Matsumoto
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Publication number: 20190153486Abstract: Provided are a transformant that produces a copolymerized PHA containing 3HH units in a higher composition proportion; and a method for producing a copolymerized PHA, using this transformant. The transformant is a transformant that produces a copolymerized PHA containing 3HH units, in which a gene encoding an enzyme having trans-2-enoyl-CoA hydratase activity and (R)-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity is introduced into a prokaryotic microorganism having a PHA synthetase gene capable of synthesizing the copolymerized PHA containing the 3HH units. The method is a method for producing a copolymerized PHA containing 3HH units, which includes a step of culturing this transformant.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2019Publication date: May 23, 2019Applicant: KANEKA CORPORATIONInventors: Hisashi Arikawa, Keiji Matsumoto
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Patent number: 10233468Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a microorganism strain that accumulates a high molecular weight PHA, and a PHA production method using the microorganism. The present invention provides a method for producing a PHA copolymer, which includes culturing a microorganism, wherein at least a portion of either of the following genes (a) and (b) of the microorganism has been altered by substitution, deletion, insertion, and/or addition to reduce or eliminate the activity of a PHA degrading enzyme encoded by the gene: (a) a PHA degrading enzyme gene encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 in the sequence listing; and (b) a gene encoding a polypeptide having at least 85% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 in the sequence listing and having PHA degrading enzyme activity.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2013Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATIONInventors: Hisashi Arikawa, Shunsuke Sato, Keiji Matsumoto
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Publication number: 20180371509Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a PHA-producing microorganism which can assimilate sucrose, and a method for producing a PHA by culturing this microorganism, using sucrose as a carbon source. A PHA-producing microorganism, comprising a PHA synthase gene, and heterogeneous-organism-derived genes in the following items (1) and (2): (1) a sucrose hydrolase gene encoding an amino acid sequence described in SEQ ID NO: 1, or a gene encoding a polypeptide which has a sequence homology of 90% or more to the amino acid sequence and which has sucrose hydrolase activity; and (2) a sucrose permease gene encoding an amino acid sequence described in SEQ ID NO: 2, or a gene encoding a polypeptide which has a sequence homology of 90% or more to the amino acid sequence and which has sucrose permease activity. The invention is also a method for producing a PHA, including the step of culturing this microorganism in a medium including sucrose as a carbon source.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2016Publication date: December 27, 2018Applicant: KANEKA CORPORATIONInventors: Hisashi ARIKAWA, Tetsuya FUJIKI
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Patent number: 10072255Abstract: This invention relates to a microorganism that produces a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) copolymer with a regulated monomer composition ratio and comprises a (R)-specific enoyl-CoA hydratase gene in the genome DNA, wherein a nucleotide sequence upstream of the (R)-specific enoyl-CoA hydratase gene comprises a modification consisting of a substitution(s), a deletion(s), an insertion(s), and/or an addition(s) of one or a plurality of nucleotides so that the expression of the (R)-specific enoyl-CoA hydratase gene is regulated, and to a method for producing a PHA copolymer using the microorganism.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2015Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATIONInventors: Hisashi Arikawa, Shunsuke Sato, Keiji Matsumoto
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Publication number: 20170198313Abstract: A PHA copolymer which is slowly crystallized is improved in crystallization speed to improve the melt workability of the PHA copolymer in working such as injection molding, film molding, blow molding, fiber spinning, extrusion foaming or bead foaming, thereby improving the resultant articles in productivity. A method for the improvement is a method for producing a PHA mixture, including the step of culturing a microorganism having both of a gene encoding a PHA synthase that synthesizes a copolymer PHA (A) and that is derived from the genus Aeromonas, and a gene encoding a PHA synthase that synthesizes a PHA (B) different in melting point from the copolymer PHA (A) by 10° C. or more to produce, in a cell of the microorganism, two or more PHAs different in melting point from one another by 10° C. or more simultaneously.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2015Publication date: July 13, 2017Applicant: KANEKA CORPORATIONInventors: Shingo KOBAYASHI, Rina AOKI, Tetsuya MINAMI, Hisashi ARIKAWA, Keiji MATSUMOTO
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Publication number: 20170009221Abstract: This invention relates to a microorganism that produces a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) copolymer with a regulated monomer composition ratio and comprises a (R)-specific enoyl-CoA hydratase gene in the genome DNA, wherein a nucleotide sequence upstream of the (R)-specific enoyl-CoA hydratase gene comprises a modification consisting of a substitution(s), a deletion(s), an insertion(s), and/or an addition(s) of one or a plurality of nucleotides so that the expression of the (R)-specific enoyl-CoA hydratase gene is regulated, and to a method for producing a PHA copolymer using the microorganism.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2015Publication date: January 12, 2017Applicant: KANEKA CORPORATIONInventors: Hisashi ARIKAWA, Shunsuke SATO, Keiji MATSUMOTO
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Publication number: 20160237462Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a microorganism strain that accumulates a high molecular weight PHA, and a PHA production method using the microorganism. The present invention provides a method for producing a PHA copolymer, which includes culturing a microorganism, wherein at least a portion of either of the following genes (a) and (b) of the microorganism has been altered by substitution, deletion, insertion, and/or addition to reduce or eliminate the activity of a PHA degrading enzyme encoded by the gene: (a) a PHA degrading enzyme gene encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 in the sequence listing; and (b) a gene encoding a polypeptide having at least 85% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 in the sequence listing and having PHA degrading enzyme activity.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2013Publication date: August 18, 2016Applicant: KANEKA CORPORATIONInventors: Hisashi ARIKAWA, Shunsuke SATO, Keiji MATSUMOTO