Patents by Inventor Karen M. Draths

Karen M. Draths 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).

  • Synthesis of quinic acid from glucose
    Patent number: 5798236
    Abstract: There are described methods for the synthesis of quinoid organic compounds from a renewable energy source such as glucose. The method comprises enhancing the amount of glucose equivalents introduced into the pathway, blocking the common pathway so as to accumulate dehydroquinate and converting the dehydroquinate to quinic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Genencor International, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Frost, Karen M. Draths, Timothy L. Ward
  • Synthesis of catechol from biomass-derived carbon sources
    Patent number: 5629181
    Abstract: A method is provided for synthesizing catechol from a biomass-derived carbon source capable of being used as a host cell having a common pathway of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis. The method comprises the steps of biocatalytically converting the carbon source to 3-dehydroshikimate in said host cell, biocatalytically converting the DHS to protocatechuate, and decarboxylating the protocatechuate to form catechol. Also provided is a heterologous E. coli transformant characterized by the expression of genes encoding transhetolase, DAHP synthase, and DHQ synthase, further characterized by the constitutive expression of structural genes encoding 3-dehydroshikimate dehydratase and protocatechuate decarboxylase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: John W. Frost, Karen M. Draths
  • Bacterial cell tranformants for production of cis, cis-muconic acid and catechol
    Patent number: 5616496
    Abstract: A heterologous cell transformant is provided that biocatalytically converts a carbon source to catechol and cis, cis muconic acid. The cell transformant expresses heterologous genes encoding the enzymes 3-dehydroshikimate dehydratase, protocatechuate decarboxylase, and catechol 1,2-dioxygenase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: John W. Frost, Karen M. Draths
  • Synthesis of adipic acid from biomass-derived carbon sources
    Patent number: 5487987
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing adipic acid. The method comprises the steps of culturing a cell transformant capable of converting a carbon source to catechol for a period of time sufficient to convert said carbon source to catechol, biocatalytically converting the catechol to cis, cis-muconic acid using catechol 1,2-dioxygenase, and hydrogenating the cis, cis-muconic acid to produce adipic acid.Also provided is a heterologous transformant of the host cell having an endangeous common pathway of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis. The heterologous transformant is characterized by the constitutive expression of structural genes encoding 3-dehydroshikimate dehydratase, protocatechuate decarboxylase, and catechol 1,2-dioxygenase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: John W. Frost, Karen M. Draths
  • Biocatalytic synthesis of catechol from glucose
    Patent number: 5272073
    Abstract: There is described a biocatalytic method for the synthesis of cathecol from a renewable source such as glucose. The method comprises inducing a divergent pathway in the shikimate pathway of a host cell. Additionally, there are described methods for making precursors to cathecol such as protocatechuate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: John W. Frost, Karen M. Draths