Patents by Inventor Howard Chou

Howard Chou 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: 10982241
    Abstract: The invention relates to a long-chain dibasic acid with low content of monobasic acid impurity and a production method thereof, in particular to the preparation of a long-chain dibasic acid producing strain by means of directed evolution and homologous recombination, and to the production of a long-chain dibasic acid with low content of monobasic acid impurity by fermentation of said strain. The invention relates to a mutated CYP52A12 gene, homologous gene or variant thereof, which, relative to GenBank Accession Number AY230498 and taking the first base upstream of the start codon ATG as ?1, comprises a mutation. The invention relates to a strain comprising said mutated CYP52A12 gene, homologous gene or variant thereof wherein when the strain is fermented to produce a long-chain dibasic acid, the content of monobasic acid impurity in the fermentation product is significantly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Inventors: Wenbo Liu, Min Xu, Chen Yang, Howard Chou, Xiucai Liu
  • Publication number: 20210054423
    Abstract: The invention provides microorganisms genetically modified to overexpress biofilm dispersal related polypeptides to enhance the production of lysine and lysine derivatives by the microorganism, method of generating such microorganism, and methods of producing lysine and lysine derivatives using the genetically modified microorganisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicants: CATHAY BIOTECH INC., CIBT AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Howard CHOU, Ling CHEN, Yunfeng LEI, Xiucai LIU
  • Publication number: 20200255873
    Abstract: The invention provides microorganisms genetically modified to co-overexpress a carbohydrate binding module and lysine decarboxylase polypeptides in a mesophilic host to enhance the production of lysine derivatives by the microorganism, method of generating such microorganism, and methods of producing lysine derivatives using the genetically modified microorganisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Howard Chou, Ling Chen, Xiucai Liu
  • Publication number: 20200239919
    Abstract: The invention relates to a long-chain dibasic acid with low content of monobasic acid impurity and a production method thereof, in particular to the preparation of a long-chain dibasic acid producing strain by means of directed evolution and homologous recombination, and to the production of a long-chain dibasic acid with low content of monobasic acid impurity by fermentation of said strain. The invention relates to a mutated CYP52A12 gene, homologous gene or variant thereof, which, relative to GenBank Accession Number AY230498 and taking the first base upstream of the start codon ATG as ?1, comprises a mutation. The invention relates to a strain comprising said mutated CYP52A12 gene, homologous gene or variant thereof wherein when the strain is fermented to produce a long-chain dibasic acid, the content of monobasic acid impurity in the fermentation product is significantly reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Wenbo LIU, Min XU, Chen YANG, Howard CHOU, Xiucai LIU
  • Publication number: 20200231999
    Abstract: The invention provides CadA polypeptides with mutations that increase activity in alkaline pH compared to the wild-type lysine decarboxylase. The invention also provides methods of generating such mutant polypeptides, microorganisms genetically modified to overexpress the mutant polypeptides, and methods of generating such microorganism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicants: CATHAY R&D CENTER CO., Ltd., CIBT AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Howard CHOU, Wenqiang LU, Ling CHEN, Xiucai LIU
  • Publication number: 20200224226
    Abstract: The invention provides microorganisms genetically modified to overexpress thermophilic lysine decarboxylase polypeptides in a mesophilic host to enhance the production of lysine and lysine derivatives by the microorganism, method of generating such microorganism, and methods of producing lysine and lysine derivatives using the genetically modified microorganisms
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Howard Chou, Xiucai Liu
  • Publication number: 20200157152
    Abstract: One aspect provided herein relates to lysine decarboxylase polypeptides comprising mutants of SEQ ID NO: 2 (i.e., mutants of Klebsiella oxytoca (K. oxytoca) Ldc) and/or fragments thereof. In certain embodiments, the mutants or fragments thereof may have at least about 95% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2. Another aspect provided herein relates to a DNA polynucleotide comprising one or more lysine decarboxylase nucleotide sequences of mutants of SEQ ID NO: 1 (i.e., mutants of K. oxytoca ldc), fragments thereof, or fragments of SEQ ID NO: 1 (i.e., fragments of K. oxytoca ldc). In certain embodiments, the DNA polynucleotide as disclosed herein may encode one or more lysine decarboxylase polypeptides provided herein. In certain embodiments, the DNA polynucleotide as disclosed herein may encode SEQ ID NO: 2, mutants, and/or fragments thereof. In certain embodiments, the lysine decarboxylase nucleotide sequences provided herein may have at least 95% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicants: CATHAY BIOTECH INC., CIBT AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Howard CHOU, Naiqiang LI, Xiucai LIU
  • Patent number: 10647976
    Abstract: The expression plasmid vectors comprise a polynucleotide sequence encoding Ldc2 polypeptide, a fragment, and/or a mutant. A backbone plasmid is capable of autonomous replication in a host cell. The host cell is not a P. aeruginosa cell. Transformants are transformed with expression plasmid vector. The transformants are not P. aeruginosa. Mutant host cells comprise a polynucleotide sequence encoding Ldc2 polypeptide, a fragment and/or a mutant that has been integrated into the host cell chromosome. A polypeptide, a fragment and/or a mutant comprise Ldc2. A non-naturally occurring polynucleotide, and/or a mutant encodes polypeptide comprising Ldc2. Biobased cadaverine is produced using the transformants and the biobased cadaverine is prepared by the method. Polyamides are formed using the biobased cadaverine and compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignees: Cathay Biotech Inc., CIBT America Inc
    Inventors: Howard Chou, Naiqiang Li, Xiucai Liu
  • Patent number: 10612055
    Abstract: Provided herein is a genetically modified host cell comprising a heterologous nucleic acid encoding a biofilm dispersal polypeptide that decreases intracellular c-di-GMP levels and enhances the production of lysine and lysine derivatives. Further provided are methods of generating such cell and producing lysine and lysine derivatives using the genetically modified host cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignees: Cathay Biotec Inc., CIBT America Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Chou, Xiucai Liu
  • Patent number: 10584149
    Abstract: Provided are lysine decarboxylase polypeptides comprising mutants of SEQ ID NO: 2 and/or fragments thereof. The mutants or fragments have at least 95% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2. Also provided are DNA polynucleotides encoding said lysine decarboxylases, expression vector comprising the DNA polynucleotides, transformants, mutant host cells, methods for the production of lysine decarboxylases, and methods for the production of a lysine-derived product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignees: Cathay Biotech Inc., CIBT America Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Chou, Naiqiang Li, Xiucai Liu
  • Publication number: 20200010855
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a long-chain dibasic acid with low content of hydroxyl acid impurity and a production method thereof, in particular to a method for producing a long-chain dibasic acid with low content of hydroxyl acid impurity by fermenting a long-chain dibasic acid producing strain prepared by homologous recombination method. The present invention relates to a recombinant long-chain dibasic acid producing microorganism, having increased alcohol dehydrogenase activity and optionally decreased acetyl-CoA oxidase activity. The present invention also relates to a method of producing a long-chain dibasic acid by the recombinant long-chain dibasic acid producing microorganism and use thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Wenbo LIU, Min XU, Chen YANG, Howard CHOU, Xiucai LIU
  • Publication number: 20200010863
    Abstract: The invention relates to a long-chain dibasic acid with low content of monobasic acid impurity and a production method thereof, in particular to the preparation of a long-chain dibasic acid producing strain by means of directed evolution and homologous recombination, and to the production of a long-chain dibasic acid with low content of monobasic acid impurity by fermentation of said strain. The invention relates to a mutated CYP52A12 gene, homologous gene or variant thereof, which, relative to GenBank Accession Number AY230498 and taking the first base upstream of the start codon ATG as ?1, comprises a mutation. The invention relates to a strain comprising said mutated CYP52A12 gene, homologous gene or variant thereof wherein when the strain is fermented to produce a long-chain dibasic acid, the content of monobasic acid impurity in the fermentation product is significantly reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Wenbo LIU, Min XU, Chen YANG, Howard CHOU, Xiucai LIU
  • Publication number: 20200010862
    Abstract: The invention relates to a long-chain dibasic acid with low content of fatty acid impurity and a method of producing it, in particular to the preparation of a long-chain dibasic acid producing strain by using directed evolution and homologous recombination, and to the fermentation production of a long-chain dibasic acid with low content of fatty acid impurity by using said strain. The invention relates to an isolated mutated CPR-b gene, homologous gene or variant thereof, relative to the GenBank Accession Number AY823228, taking the first base upstream of the start codon ATG as ?1, comprising a base mutation ?322G>A, and taking the first base downstream of the stop codon TAG as 1, comprising mutations 3TUTR.19C>T and 3?UTR.76_77insT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Wenbo LIU, Min XU, Chen YANG, Howard CHOU, Xiucai LIU
  • Publication number: 20200010859
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a long-chain dibasic acid with low content of long-chain dibasic acid impurity of shorter carbon chain, to the preparation of a long-chain dibasic acid producing strain by directed evolution of POX gene and homologous recombination, and to the production of a long-chain dibasic acid with low content of long-chain dibasic acid impurity of shorter carbon chain by using the strain. The present invention also relates to a strain containing a mutated promoter, wherein, when a long-chain dibasic acid is produced by fermentation of this strain, the content of the acid impurity of shorter carbon chain in the fermentation product is significantly reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Wenbo LIU, Min XU, Chen YANG, Howard CHOU, Xiucai LIU
  • Patent number: 10501503
    Abstract: Provided are microorganisms genetically modified to overexpress porin polypeptides to enhance the production of lysine and lysine derivatives by the microorganism. Also provided are methods of generating such microorganism, and methods of producing lysine and lysine derivatives using the genetically modified microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignees: Cathay Biotech Inc., CIBT America Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Chou, Lijun Yu, Xiucai Liu
  • Publication number: 20190338323
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a mutant polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of Escherichia coli tetracycline efflux pump A (TetA). Another aspect of the invention relates to a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of TetA, a fragment thereof, or a mutant thereof. Another aspect of the invention relates to a first expression plasmid vector comprising one or more first polynucleotides encoding a first polypeptide comprising a tetracycline efflux pump polypeptide, a fragment thereof or a mutant thereof, one or more second polynucleotides independently selected from the group consisting of a third polynucleotide encoding a third polypeptide comprising a lysine decarboxylase polypeptide, a fragment thereof or a mutant thereof, and a fourth polynucleotide encoding a fourth polypeptide comprising a lysine biosynthesis polypeptide, a fragment thereof or a mutant thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicants: CATHAY R&D CENTER CO., LTD., CIBT AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Howard CHOU, Xiucai Liu
  • Publication number: 20190330614
    Abstract: The invention provides CadA polypeptides with mutations that increase activity in alkaline pH compared to the wild-type lysine decarboxylase. The invention also provides methods of generating such mutant polypeptides, microorganisms genetically modified to overexpress the mutant polypeptides, and methods of generating such microorganisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicants: CATHAY R&D CENTER CO., LTD., CIBT AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Howard CHOU, Ling CHEN, Wenqiang LU, Xiucai LIU
  • Publication number: 20190330613
    Abstract: This invention provides acid decarboxylase-prion subunit fusion polypeptides, nucleic acid sequences, expression vectors, and host cells expression such fusion polypeptides to produce various amino acids and derivatives of the amino acids such as polyamines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2016
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Howard Chou, Ling Chen, Wenqiang Lu, Xiucai Liu
  • Publication number: 20190309270
    Abstract: The invention relates to the directed evolution of CYP52A12 gene and the use thereof for the production of a dicarboxylic acid. In particular, it relates to a method of preparing a long chain dicarboxylic acid producing strain by using directed evolution and homologous recombination, a strain obtained by the method that is capable of producing a long chain dicarboxylic acid under an acidic condition and the use thereof. In particular, the invention relates to a method of preparing a long chain dicarboxylic acid producing strain by directed evolution of CYP52A12 gene and homologous recombination, a strain obtained by the method that is capable of producing a long chain dicarboxylic acid under an acidic condition and the use thereof. By directed evolution of CYP52A12 gene, one strain which has a base mutation at the promoter region of said gene and is capable of producing a long chain dicarboxylic acid under an acidic condition in a shortened fermentation time is screened out in the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicants: SHANGHAI CATHAY BIOTECH R&D CENTER LTD., CATHAY INDUSTRIAL BIOTECH LTD.
    Inventors: Wenbo LIU, Min XU, Howard CHOU, Xiucai LIU
  • Patent number: 10400257
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a mutant polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of Escherichia coli tetracycline efflux pump A (TetA). Another aspect of the invention relates to a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of TetA, a fragment thereof, or a mutant thereof. Another aspect of the invention relates to a first expression plasmid vector comprising one or more first polynucleotides encoding a first polypeptide comprising a tetracycline efflux pump polypeptide, a fragment thereof or a mutant thereof, one or more second polynucleotides independently selected from the group consisting of a third polynucleotide encoding a third polypeptide comprising a lysine decarboxylase polypeptide, a fragment thereof or a mutant thereof, and a fourth polynucleotide encoding a fourth polypeptide comprising a lysine biosynthesis polypeptide, a fragment thereof or a mutant thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignees: CATHAY R&D CENTER CO., LTD, CIBT AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Howard Chou, Xiucai Liu