Patents by Inventor Kazuhisa Fushihara

Kazuhisa Fushihara 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).

  • Publication number: 20230167465
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for producing a polyisoprenoid, which makes it possible to synthesize in vitro a polyisoprenoid having an unprecedented structure, such as a 100% cis-polyisoprenoid or a polyisoprenoid containing an allylic diphosphate derivative as an initiating terminal. The present disclosure relates to a method for producing a polyisoprenoid in vitro, which employs a gene coding for a neryl diphosphate synthase and rubber particles bound to a protein encoded by the gene, or a method for producing a polyisoprenoid, which includes introducing into a plant a vector in which a gene coding for a neryl diphosphate synthase is linked to a promoter having a promoter activity that drives laticifer-specific gene expression to express a protein encoded by the gene specifically in laticifers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Applicants: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD., TOHOKU UNIVERSITY, KANAZAWA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Haruhiko YAMAGUCHI, Yukino INOUE, Kazuhisa FUSHIHARA, Seiji TAKAHASHI, Toru NAKAYAMA, Satoshi YAMASHITA
  • Patent number: 11459448
    Abstract: Provided are tires that are excellent in tire properties such as fuel economy, abrasion resistance, wet grip performance, snow and ice performance, fracture resistance, and flex crack growth resistance. Included is a tire containing a rubber composition containing a natural rubber derived from Taraxacum kok-saghyz having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 5,000,000 or more and including polymers having a radius of gyration (Rz) of 130 nm or larger, wherein the Mw and Rz values are measured by FFF-MALS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshifumi Haba, Tatsuhiro Tanaka, Yumi Sakaguchi, Yukino Inoue, Kazuhisa Fushihara
  • Publication number: 20220088972
    Abstract: A tire can include a first magnetic body disposed at a predetermined position in a tread portion, a magnetic sensor disposed radially inward of the first magnetic body, and a second magnetic body disposed closer to the magnetic sensor than the first magnetic body is. At a position where the magnetic sensor is disposed, a direction of a magnetic force line emitted by the first magnetic body and a direction of a magnetic force line emitted by the second magnetic body can be different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroto SETOKAWA, Kazuhisa FUSHIHARA, Mutsuki SUGIMOTO, Yukio NAKAO
  • Patent number: 11236365
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a polyisoprenoid, which can increase natural rubber production by enhancing the rubber synthesis activity of rubber particles. The present invention provides methods for producing a polyisoprenoid using a gene coding for a cis-prenyltransferase (CPT) family protein, a gene coding for a Nogo-B receptor (NgBR) family protein and a gene coding for a rubber elongation factor (REF) family protein, specifically a method for producing a polyisoprenoid in vitro using rubber particles bound to proteins coded for by these genes, and a method for producing a polyisoprenoid in vivo using a recombinant organism (plant) having these genes introduced therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignees: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD., TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yukino Inoue, Haruhiko Yamaguchi, Kazuhisa Fushihara, Seiji Takahashi, Satoshi Yamashita, Toru Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20220002759
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a method for producing a trans-polyisoprenoid which can increase trans rubber production. The present invention is directed to a method for producing a trans-polyisoprenoid in vitro, which involves the use of a gene coding for a trans-prenyltransferase (tPT) family protein and further involves the use of rubber particles bound to a protein encoded by the gene, or a method for producing a trans-polyisoprenoid, which includes introducing into a plant a vector including a promotor having a promoter activity that drives laticifer-specific gene expression and a gene coding for a tPT family protein linked to the promotor to express a protein encoded by the gene specifically in laticifers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicants: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD., TOHOKU UNIVERSITY, KANAZAWA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yuko SAKURAI, Haruhiko YAMAGUCHI, Yukino INOUE, Kazuhisa FUSHIHARA, Seiji TAKAHASHI, Satoshi YAMASHITA, Toru NAKAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20210395785
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a method for producing a trans-polyisoprenoid which can increase trans rubber production. The present invention is directed to a method for producing a trans-polyisoprenoid in vitro, which involves the use of a gene coding for a trans-prenyltransferase (tPT) family protein and further involves the use of rubber particles bound to a protein encoded by the gene, or a method for producing a trans-polyisoprenoid, which includes introducing into a plant a vector including a promotor having a promoter activity that drives laticifer-specific gene expression and a gene coding for a tPT family protein linked to the promotor to express a protein encoded by the gene specifically in laticifers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicants: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD., TOHOKU UNIVERSITY, KANAZAWA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yuko SAKURAI, Haruhiko YAMAGUCHI, Yukino INOUE, Kazuhisa FUSHIHARA, Seiji TAKAHASHI, Satoshi YAMASHITA, Toru NAKAYAMA
  • Patent number: 10907179
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a polyisoprenoid with which it is possible to enhance the rubber synthesis activity of rubber particles to increase natural rubber production. The present invention relates to a method for producing a polyisoprenoid in vitro, which involves the use of a gene coding for a cis-prenyltransferase (CPT) family protein and a gene coding for a Nogo-B receptor (NgBR) family protein, and further involves the use of rubber particles bound to proteins encoded by these genes; or a method for producing a polyisoprenoid, which includes introducing into a plant a vector in which a promoter having a promoter activity that drives laticifer-specific gene expression is linked to a gene coding for a CPT family protein and a gene coding for a NgBR family protein, to express proteins encoded by the genes specifically in laticifers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignees: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD., TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Haruhiko Yamaguchi, Yukino Inoue, Kazuhisa Fushihara, Seiji Takahashi, Satoshi Yamashita, Toru Nakayama
  • Patent number: 10889623
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing rubber particles bound to a membrane-associated protein by cell-free protein synthesis. The present invention relates to a method for producing rubber particles bound to a membrane-associated protein, the method including the step of performing protein synthesis in the presence of both rubber particles and a cell-free protein synthesis solution containing an mRNA coding for a membrane-associated protein to bind the membrane-associated protein to the rubber particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignees: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD., TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Haruhiko Yamaguchi, Yukino Inoue, Kazuhisa Fushihara, Seiji Takahashi, Satoshi Yamashita, Toru Nakayama, Yuzuru Tozawa
  • Publication number: 20200377698
    Abstract: Provided are tires that are excellent in tire properties such as fuel economy, abrasion resistance, wet grip performance, snow and ice performance, fracture resistance, and flex crack growth resistance. Included is a tire containing a rubber composition containing a natural rubber derived from Taraxacum kok-saghyz having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 5,000,000 or more and including polymers having a radius of gyration (Rz) of 130 nm or larger, wherein the Mw and Rz values are measured by FFF-MALS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshifumi HABA, Tatsuhiro TANAKA, Yumi SAKAGUCHI, Yukino INOUE, Kazuhisa FUSHIHARA
  • Patent number: 10590395
    Abstract: Provided is a mutant protein obtained by mutating a specific amino acid residue of HMGR, a rate-limiting enzyme of isoprene monomer biosynthesis in the polyisoprenoid biosynthesis pathway. The present invention relates to a mutant protein, wherein at least one amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of amino acid residues at positions 91, 225, 257, 287, 339, 411, 470, 509 and 574 of the Arabidopsis thaliana 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase shown by SEQ ID NO:1 and amino acid residues at positions corresponding to the foregoing in 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase is deleted or replaced with another amino acid residue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignees: OSAKA UNIVERSITY, SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Keiko Suzuki, Jekson Robertlee, Toshiya Muranaka, Keiji Takagi, Yukino Inoue, Kazuhisa Fushihara
  • Publication number: 20190376093
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a method for producing a trans-polyisoprenoid which can increase trans rubber production. The present invention is directed to a method for producing a trans-polyisoprenoid in vitro, which involves the use of a gene coding for a trans-prenyltransferase (tPT) family protein and further involves the use of rubber particles bound to a protein encoded by the gene, or a method for producing a trans-polyisoprenoid, which includes introducing into a plant a vector including a promoter having a promoter activity that drives laticifer-specific gene expression and a gene coding for a tPT family protein linked to the promoter to express a protein encoded by the gene specifically in laticifers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Applicants: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD., TOHOKU UNIVERSITY, KANAZAWA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yuko SAKURAI, Haruhiko YAMAGUCHI, Yukino INOUE, Kazuhisa FUSHIHARA, Seiji TAKAHASHI, Satoshi YAMASHITA, Toru NAKAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20190323039
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a polyisoprenoid, which can increase natural rubber production by enhancing the rubber synthesis activity of rubber particles. The present invention provides methods for producing a polyisoprenoid using a gene coding for a cis-prenyltransferase (CPT) family protein, a gene coding for a Nogo-B receptor (NgBR) family protein and a gene coding for a rubber elongation factor (REF) family protein, specifically a method for producing a polyisoprenoid in vitro using rubber particles bound to proteins coded for by these genes, and a method for producing a polyisoprenoid in vivo using a recombinant organism (plant) having these genes introduced therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicants: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD., TOHOKU University
    Inventors: Yukino INOUE, Haruhiko YAMAGUCHI, Kazuhisa FUSHIHARA, Seiji TAKAHASHI, Satoshi YAMASHITA, Toru NAKAYAMA
  • Patent number: 10385362
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a polyisoprenoid, which can increase natural rubber production by enhancing the rubber synthesis activity of rubber particles. The present invention provides methods for producing a polyisoprenoid using a gene coding for a cis-prenyltransferase (CPT) family protein, a gene coding for a Nogo-B receptor (NgBR) family protein and a gene coding for a rubber elongation factor (REF) family protein, specifically a method for producing a polyisoprenoid in vitro using rubber particles bound to proteins coded for by these genes, and a method for producing a polyisoprenoid in vivo using a recombinant organism (plant) having these genes introduced therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignees: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD., TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yukino Inoue, Haruhiko Yamaguchi, Kazuhisa Fushihara, Seiji Takahashi, Satoshi Yamashita, Toru Nakayama
  • Patent number: 10265585
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball excellent in flying performance, in particular, to provide a golf ball traveling a great flight distance. The present invention provides a golf ball having a spherical core and at least one cover layer covering the spherical core, wherein the spherical core is formed from a rubber composition containing (a) a base rubber, (b) an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms and/or a metal salt thereof as a co-crosslinking agent, (c) a crosslinking initiator, and (d1) an aromatic carboxylic acid or (d2) an aromatic carboxylic acid salt, provided that the rubber composition further contains (e) a metal compound in the case of containing only (b) the ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms as the co-crosslinking agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Chiemi Mikura, Kazuhisa Fushihara, Mikio Yamada, Shun Kurihara, Ayaka Shindo
  • Publication number: 20180355000
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing rubber particles bound to a membrane-associated protein by cell-free protein synthesis. The present invention relates to a method for producing rubber particles bound to a membrane-associated protein, the method including the step of performing protein synthesis in the presence of both rubber particles and a cell-free protein synthesis solution containing an mRNA coding for a membrane-associated protein to bind the membrane-associated protein to the rubber particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicants: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD., TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Haruhiko YAMAGUCHI, Yukino INOUE, Kazuhisa FUSHIHARA, Seiji TAKAHASHI, Satoshi YAMASHITA, Toru NAKAYAMA, Yuzuru TOZAWA
  • Patent number: 10059780
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing rubber particles with a reduced coagulation tendency. The present invention relates to a method for producing rubber particles with a reduced coagulation tendency, the method including a step of performing protein synthesis in the presence of both rubber particles and a cell-free protein synthesis solution containing an mRNA coding for a rubber elongation factor (REF) family protein to bind the REF family protein to the rubber particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Haruhiko Yamaguchi, Yukino Inoue, Kazuhisa Fushihara, Seiji Takahashi, Satoshi Yamashita, Toru Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20180171364
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a polyisoprenoid with which it is possible to enhance the rubber synthesis activity of rubber particles to increase natural rubber production. The present invention relates to a method for producing a polyisoprenoid in vitro, which involves the use of a gene coding for a cis-prenyltransferase (CPT) family protein and a gene coding for a Nogo-B receptor (NgBR) family protein, and further involves the use of rubber particles bound to proteins encoded by these genes; or a method for producing a polyisoprenoid, which includes introducing into a plant a vector in which a promoter having a promoter activity that drives laticifer-specific gene expression is linked to a gene coding for a CPT family protein and a gene coding for a NgBR family protein, to express proteins encoded by the genes specifically in laticifers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicants: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD., TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Haruhiko YAMAGUCHI, Yukino INOUE, Kazuhisa FUSHIHARA, Seiji TAKAHASHI, Satoshi YAMASHITA, Toru NAKAYAMA
  • Patent number: 9975007
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball showing a great flight distance on driver shots. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a spherical core and at least one cover layer covering the spherical core, wherein the spherical core has a difference between absorbance of the absorption peak appeared at 1560±30 cm?1 at a surface thereof and absorbance of the absorption peak appeared at 1560±30 cm?1 at a center thereof of 0.024 or more, when measuring the spherical core with a Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ayaka Shindo, Chiemi Mikura, Shun Kurihara, Kazuhisa Fushihara
  • Patent number: 9719110
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of increasing production of amorpha-4,11-diene and a method of increasing production of natural rubber. The present invention relates to a method of increasing production of amorpha-4,11-diene which includes the step of attaching an enzyme inhibitor to Arabidopsis thaliana into which has been introduced a gene encoding amorphadiene synthase. The enzyme inhibitor inhibits at least one enzyme other than amorphadiene synthase, that catalyzes an enzymatic reaction in which farnesyl diphosphate acts as a substrate. The present invention also relates to a method of increasing production of natural rubber which includes the step of attaching an enzyme inhibitor to a rubber-producing plant. The enzyme inhibitor inhibits at least one enzyme other than enzymes involved in natural rubber synthesis, that catalyzes an enzymatic reaction in which farnesyl diphosphate acts as a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignees: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD., OSAKA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Haruhiko Yamaguchi, Yukino Inoue, Keiji Takagi, Kazuhisa Fushihara, Toshiya Muranaka, Keiko Suzuki, Kanako Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20170204377
    Abstract: Provided is a mutant protein obtained by mutating a specific amino acid residue of HMGR, a rate-limiting enzyme of isoprene monomer biosynthesis in the polyisoprenoid biosynthesis pathway. The present invention relates to a mutant protein, wherein at least one amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of amino acid residues at positions 91, 225, 257, 287, 339, 411, 470, 509 and 574 of the Arabidopsis thaliana 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase shown by SEQ ID NO:1 and amino acid residues at positions corresponding to the foregoing in 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase is deleted or replaced with another amino acid residue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicants: OSAKA UNIVERSITY, SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Keiko SUZUKI, Jekson ROBERTLEE, Toshiya MURANAKA, Keiji TAKAGI, Yukino INOUE, Kazuhisa FUSHIHARA