Patents by Inventor Jing-Ke Weng

Jing-Ke Weng 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: 12241072
    Abstract: Lyciumin cyclic peptides and methods of producing lyciumin cyclic peptides are described. A host cell can include a transgene encoding a lyciumin precursor peptide, or a biologically-active fragment thereof. The lyciumin precursor peptide, or biologically-active fragment thereof, can include one or more core lyciumin peptide domains. The transgene can be expressed in the host cell to thereby produce a lyciumin precursor peptide, or biologically-active fragment thereof. The lyciumin precursor peptide, or biologically-active fragment thereof, can be converted to one or more lyciumin cyclic peptides in the host cell. A library of nucleic acids encoding lyciumin precursor peptides, or biologically-active fragments thereof, can be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
    Inventors: Roland D. Kersten, Jing-Ke Weng
  • Publication number: 20250019715
    Abstract: An alternative route to moroidin-type bicyclic peptide biosynthesis is presented. Also included herein, it is reported that such moroidin-type bicyclic peptides are ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) in plants. Whereas D. moroides and C. argentea entail a previously uncharacterized DUF2775 family protein as candidate precursor peptides for moroidin biosynthesis, Japanese kerria (Kerria japonica) employs a BURP-domain protein as a precursor peptide similar to that of the recently reported lyciumin biosyntheti system. Disclosed herein are compositions and methods related to the biosynthesis of moroidin. In some embodiments of the disclosure, the moroidin peptides are synthetic. In other embodiments, the moroidin peptides are heterogenous. A skilled artisan will readily appreciate that based on the data disclosed herein that the present disclosure provides for the production of moroidins in transgenic host cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Inventors: Roland D. Kersten, Jing-Ke Weng
  • Publication number: 20240294957
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, compositions, proteins, nucleic acids, cells, vectors, compounds, reagents, and systems for the preparation of kavalactones, flavokavains, and kavalactone and flavokavain biosynthetic intermediates using enzymes expressed in heterologous host cells, such as microorganisms or plants, or using in vitro enzymatic reactions. This invention also provides for the expression of the enzymes by recombinant cell lines and vectors. Furthermore, the enzymes can be components of constructs such as fusion proteins. The kavalactones produced can be utilized to treat anxiety disorder, insomnia, and other psychological and neurological disorders. The flavokavains produced can be utilized to treat various cancers including colon, bladder, and breast cancers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2023
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Applicant: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
    Inventors: Tomás Pluskal, Jing-Ke Weng
  • Patent number: 11746364
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, compositions, proteins, nucleic acids, cells, vectors, compounds, reagents, and systems for the preparation of kavalactones, flavokavains, and kavalactone and flavokavain biosynthetic intermediates using enzymes expressed in heterologous host cells, such as microorganisms or plants, or using in vitro enzymatic reactions. This invention also provides for the expression of the enzymes by recombinant cell lines and vectors. Furthermore, the enzymes can be components of constructs such as fusion proteins. The kavalactones produced can be utilized to treat anxiety disorder, insomnia, and other psychological and neurological disorders. The flavokavains produced can be utilized to treat various cancers including colon, bladder, and breast cancers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
    Inventors: Tomás Pluskal, Jing-Ke Weng
  • Patent number: 11739354
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, compositions, proteins, nucleic acids, cells, vectors, compounds, reagents, and systems for the preparation of kavalactones, flavokavains, and kavalactone and flavokavain biosynthetic intermediates using enzymes expressed in heterologous host cells, such as microorganisms or plants, or using in vitro enzymatic reactions. This invention also provides for the expression of the enzymes by recombinant cell lines and vectors. Furthermore, the enzymes can be components of constructs such as fusion proteins. The kavalactones produced can be utilized to treat anxiety disorder, insomnia, and other psychological and neurological disorders. The flavokavains produced can be utilized to treat various cancers including colon, bladder, and breast cancers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
    Inventors: Tomás Pluskal, Jing-Ke Weng
  • Publication number: 20230193336
    Abstract: Enasidenib glycosides and methods of making enasidenib glycosides are disclosed. Glycosyl transferases catalyze addition of one or more monosaccharides to enasidenib to yield enasidenib glycosides. Suitable monosaccharides can be in the L- or D-configuration and typically have 5, 6, or 7 carbons. Suitable monosaccharides include allose, apiose, arabinose, fructose, fucitol, fucose, galactose, galacturonate, glucose, glucuronic acid, mannose, N-acetylglucosamine, rhamnose, or xylose. Uridine diphosphate glycosyl transferases can catalyze formation of either an alpha or beta glycosidic bond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Sheng Ding, Yasmin-Pei Kamal Chau, Jacob Donald Stanley Wirth, Tian Xu, Jing-Ke Weng
  • Publication number: 20230192748
    Abstract: Etoposide glycosides and methods of making etoposide glycosides are disclosed. Glycosyl transferases catalyze addition of one or more monosaccharides to etoposide to yield etoposide glycosides. Suitable monosaccharides can be in the L- or D-configuration and typically have 5, 6, or 7 carbons. Suitable monosaccharides include allose, apiose, arabinose, fructose, fucitol, fucose, galactose, glucose, glucuronic acid, mannose, A-acetylglucosamine, rhamnose, or xylose. Uridine diphosphate glycosyl transferases can catalyze formation of either an alpha or beta glycosidic bond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Sheng Ding, Yasmin-Pei Chau, Jacob Donald Stanley Wirth, Tian Xu, Jing-Ke Weng
  • Publication number: 20230124589
    Abstract: Ivacaftor glycosides and methods of making ivacaftor glycosides are disclosed. Glycosyl transferases catalyze addition of one or more monosaccharides to ivacaftor to yield ivacaftor glycosides. Suitable monosaccharides can be in the L- or D-configuration and typically have 5, 6, or 7 carbons. Suitable monosaccharides include allose, apiose, arabinose, fructose, fucitol, fucose, galactose, glucose, glucuronic acid, mannose, A-acetylglucosamine, rhamnose, or xylose. Uridine diphosphate glycosyl transferases can catalyze formation of either an alpha or beta glycosidic bond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Sheng Ding, Yasmin-Pei Kamal Chau, Jacob Donald Stanley Wirth, Tian Xu, Jing-Ke Weng
  • Publication number: 20230058465
    Abstract: Transgenic host cells, vectors useful for making transgenic host cells, and kits useful for making transgenic host cells are described. Also described are transgenic plants. In some embodiments, transgenic host cells express a 4-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde synthase (4HPAAS). In some embodiments, transgenic host cells express a tyrosol:UDP-glucose 8-O-glucosyltransferase (T8GT). The transgenic host cells are useful for biosynthesis of one or more of salidroside, icariside D2, tyrosol, and 4-hydroxypenylacetaldehyde.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Torrens-Spence, Jing-Ke Weng
  • Patent number: 11492636
    Abstract: Provided herein are engineered bialaphos resistance acetyltransferase variants having a modified acetyltransferase activity against tryptophan or aminoadipate, or both, as compared to a wildtype bialaphos resistance acetyltransferase (e.g., BAR or PAT). Also provided are transgenic plants comprising a bialaphos resistance acetyltransferase variant as well as methods of making such transgenic plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
    Inventors: Bastien Christ, Jing-Ke Weng
  • Patent number: 11408009
    Abstract: Transgenic host cells, vectors useful for making transgenic host cells, and kits useful for making transgenic host cells are described. Also described are transgenic plants. In some embodiments, transgenic host cells express a 4-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde synthase (4HPAAS). In some embodiments, transgenic host cells express a tyrosol:UDP-glucose 8-O-glucosyltransferase (T8GT). The transgenic host cells are useful for biosynthesis of one or more of salidroside, icariside D2, tyrosol, and 4-hydroxypenylacetaldehyde.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
    Inventors: Michael Torrens-Spence, Jing-Ke Weng
  • Patent number: 11377466
    Abstract: Provided herein are analogs of the natural product icariin represented by Structural Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The analogs can be used to modulate (e.g., inhibit, such as by competitive inhibition) PDE5 and thereby treat a wide range of PDE5-mediated diseases, including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, neurological and reproductive diseases. Also provided herein are compositions and methods including compounds of Structural Formula (I).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
    Inventors: Yasmin Chau, Fu-Shuang Li, Jing-Ke Weng
  • Publication number: 20220002768
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, compositions, proteins, nucleic acids, cells, vectors, compounds, reagents, and systems for the preparation of kavalactones, flavokavains, and kavalactone and flavokavain biosynthetic intermediates using enzymes expressed in heterologous host cells, such as microorganisms or plants, or using in vitro enzymatic reactions. This invention also provides for the expression of the enzymes by recombinant cell lines and vectors. Furthermore, the enzymes can be components of constructs such as fusion proteins. The kavalactones produced can be utilized to treat anxiety disorder, insomnia, and other psychological and neurological disorders. The flavokavains produced can be utilized to treat various cancers including colon, bladder, and breast cancers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
    Inventors: Tomás Pluskal, Jing-Ke Weng
  • Publication number: 20220002769
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, compositions, proteins, nucleic acids, cells, vectors, compounds, reagents, and systems for the preparation of kavalactones, flavokavains, and kavalactone and flavokavain biosynthetic intermediates using enzymes expressed in heterologous host cells, such as microorganisms or plants, or using in vitro enzymatic reactions. This invention also provides for the expression of the enzymes by recombinant cell lines and vectors. Furthermore, the enzymes can be components of constructs such as fusion proteins. The kavalactones produced can be utilized to treat anxiety disorder, insomnia, and other psychological and neurological disorders. The flavokavains produced can be utilized to treat various cancers including colon, bladder, and breast cancers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
    Inventors: Tomás Pluskal, Jing-Ke Weng
  • Publication number: 20210309684
    Abstract: Provided herein are analogs of the natural product icariin represented by Structural Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The analogs can be used to modulate (e.g., inhibit, such as by competitive inhibition) PDE5 and thereby treat a wide range of PDE5-mediated diseases, including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, neurological and reproductive diseases. Also provided herein are compositions and methods including compounds of Structural Formula (I).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Yasmin Chau, Fu-Shuang Li, Jing-Ke Weng
  • Patent number: 10941429
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, compositions, proteins, nucleic acids, cells, vectors, compounds, reagents, and systems for the preparation of kavalactones, flavokavains, and kavalactone and flavokavain biosynthetic intermediates using enzymes expressed in heterologous host cells, such as microorganisms or plants, or using in vitro enzymatic reactions. This invention also provides for the expression of the enzymes by recombinant cell lines and vectors. Furthermore, the enzymes can be components of constructs such as fusion proteins. The kavalactones produced can be utilized to treat anxiety disorder, insomnia, and other psychological and neurological disorders. The flavokavains produced can be utilized to treat various cancers including colon, bladder, and breast cancers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
    Inventors: Tomás Pluskal, Jing-Ke Weng
  • Publication number: 20200347396
    Abstract: Lyciumin cyclic peptides and methods of producing lyciumin cyclic peptides are described. A host cell can include a transgene encoding a lyciumin precursor peptide, or a biologically-active fragment thereof. The lyciumin precursor peptide, or biologically-active fragment thereof, can include one or more core lyciumin peptide domains. The transgene can be expressed in the host cell to thereby produce a lyciumin precursor peptide, or biologically-active fragment thereof. The lyciumin precursor peptide, or biologically-active fragment thereof, can be converted to one or more lyciumin cyclic peptides in the host cell. A library of nucleic acids encoding lyciumin precursor peptides, or biologically-active fragments thereof, can be generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Roland D. Kersten, Jing-Ke Weng
  • Publication number: 20190271015
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, compositions, proteins, nucleic acids, cells, vectors, compounds, reagents, and systems for the preparation of kavalactones, flavokavains, and kavalactone and flavokavain biosynthetic intermediates using enzymes expressed in heterologous host cells, such as microorganisms or plants, or using in vitro enzymatic reactions. This invention also provides for the expression of the enzymes by recombinant cell lines and vectors. Furthermore, the enzymes can be components of constructs such as fusion proteins. The kavalactones produced can be utilized to treat anxiety disorder, insomnia, and other psychological and neurological disorders. The flavokavains produced can be utilized to treat various cancers including colon, bladder, and breast cancers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Tomás Pluskal, Jing-Ke Weng
  • Publication number: 20190264221
    Abstract: Transgenic host cells, vectors useful for making transgenic host cells, and kits useful for making transgenic host cells are described. Also described are transgenic plants. In some embodiments, transgenic host cells express a 4-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde synthase (4HPAAS). In some embodiments, transgenic host cells express a tyrosol:UDP-glucose 8-O-glucosyltransferase (T8GT). The transgenic host cells are useful for biosynthesis of one or more of salidroside, icariside D2, tyrosol, and 4-hydroxypenylacetaldehyde.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Torrens-Spence, Jing-Ke Weng
  • Publication number: 20190249188
    Abstract: Provided herein are engineered bialaphos resistance acetyltransferase variants having a modified acetyltransferase activity against tryptophan or aminoadipate, or both, as compared to a wildtype bialaphos resistance acetyltransferase (e.g., BAR or PAT). Also provided are transgenic plants comprising a bialaphos resistance acetyltransferase variant as well as methods of making such transgenic plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Bastien CHRIST, Jing-Ke WENG