Patents by Inventor Ilse I. Blumentals

Ilse I. Blumentals 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).

  • Proteolytic enzymes from hyperthermophilic bacteria and processes for their production
    Patent number: 5391489
    Abstract: Cell-free extracts from Pyrococcus furiosus were found to possess unusually high levels of proteolytic activity as measured by hydrolysis of azocasein; loss in activity was only 30% after incubation for 24 hours at 98.degree. C. and the half-life of proteolytic activity at that temperature was about 60 hours. Furthermore, cell-free extracts incubated at 98.degree. C. in 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) for 24 hours yielded an SDS-resistant protease having a temperature optimum of at least 100.degree. C. The enzyme retained at least 40% of its activity when tested at 98.degree. C. by azocasein hydrolysis in the presence of 4M urea, 2M guanidinium chloride, 10 mM dithiothreitol or 150 mM .beta.-mercaptoethanol. The protease was found to have a pH optimum of 6.8 at 98.degree. C. and retained more than 45% of its activity at pH 9.3 and 82% of its activity at pH 4.5 in assays performed at those values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Robert M. Kelly, Anne K. S. Robinson, Ilse I. Blumentals, Stephen H. Brown, Christian B. Anfinsen
  • Proteolytic enzymes from hyperthermophilic bacteria and processes for their production
    Patent number: 5242817
    Abstract: Cell-free extracts from Pyrococcus furiosus were found to possess unusually high levels of proteolytic activity as measured by hydrolysis of azocasein; loss in activity was only 30% after incubation for 24 hours at 98.degree. C. and the half-life of proteolytic activity at that temperature was about 60 hours. Furthermore, cell-free extracts incubated at 98.degree. C. in 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) for 24 hours yielded an SDS-resistant protease having a temperature optimum of at least 100.degree. C. The enzyme retained at least 40% of its activity when tested at 98.degree. C. by azocasein hydrolysis in the presence of 4M urea, 2M guanidinium chloride, 10 mM dithiothreitol or 150 mM .beta.-mercaptoethanol. The protease was found to have a pH optimum of 6.8 at 98.degree. C. and retained more than 45% of its activity at pH 9.3 and 82% of its activity at pH 4.5 in assays performed at those values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Robert M. Kelly, Anne K. S. Robinson, Ilse I. Blumentals, Stephen H. Brown, Christian B. Anfinsen
  • Thermophilic DNA polymerase
    Patent number: H1531
    Abstract: The invention relates to a substantially pure thermostable DNA polymerase. Preferably, the DNA polymerase has a molecular weight of about 95 kilodaltons and is more thermostable than Taq DNA polymerase. The present invention also relates to cloning and expression of the DNA polymerase in E. coli, to DNA molecules containing the cloned gene, and to host cells which express said genes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Inventors: Ilse I. Blumentals, Roger S. Lasken, Brian J. Schmidt, Mary C. Longo, A. John Hughes, Jr., Deb K. Chatterjee