Patents by Inventor Kazumi Hiraga

Kazumi Hiraga 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: 11359217
    Abstract: Provided is a transformant of a microorganism that has improved catechol productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE EARTH
    Inventors: Masayuki Inui, Kazumi Hiraga, Masako Suda, Takeshi Kubota
  • Publication number: 20220025412
    Abstract: Provided is a microorganism that is able to produce 2-phenylethanol at a high concentration, and a method of efficiently producing 2-phenylethanol by using a saccharide as a raw material. Provided is a coryneform bacterium transformant in which a shikimate pathway is activated, and further, a gene that encodes an enzyme having phenylpyruvate decarboxylase activity is introduced in such a manner that the gene can be expressed. Also provided is a 2-phenylethanol producing method that includes causing the coryneform bacterium transformant according to the present disclosure to react in water containing a saccharide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicants: Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth, Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Inui, Kazumi Hiraga, Masako Suda, Masayoshi Hashizume, Junya Ishida
  • Publication number: 20210222211
    Abstract: Provided is a transformant of a microorganism that has improved catechol productivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE EARTH
    Inventors: Masayuki INUI, Kazumi HIRAGA, Masako SUDA, Takeshi KUBOTA
  • Patent number: 10988743
    Abstract: Provided is a microorganism that is capable of efficiently producing para-aminobenzoic acid (4-ABA) or a salt thereof, using saccharides as raw materials, and a method for efficiently producing 4-ABA or a salt thereof by using this microorganism. A transformant obtained by introducing, into a coryneform bacterium, a gene that encodes 4-amino-4-deoxychorismate lyase, a gene that encodes a para-aminobenzoate synthase component I, and a gene that encodes a para-aminobenzoate synthase component II, is capable of efficiently producing 4-ABA or a salt thereof from saccharides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignees: RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE EARTH, SUMITOMO BAKELITE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Inui, Kazumi Hiraga, Masako Suda, Takeshi Kubota
  • Patent number: 10961526
    Abstract: Provided is a microorganism that is able to efficiently produce protocatechuic acid or a salt thereof by using a saccharide as a raw material, and a method of efficiently producing protocatechuic acid or a salt thereof by using the microorganism. Provided is a transformant having protocatechuic acid producing ability, subjected to modifications of enhancement of 3-dehydroshikimate dehydratase activity; enhancement of chorismate pyruvate lyase activity; and enhancement of 4-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase activity. Also provided is a method of producing protocatechuic acid or a salt thereof, including the step of culturing the transformant in a reaction solution containing a saccharide so as to cause the transformant to produce protocatechuic acid or a salt thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignees: RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE EARTH, SUMITOMO BAKELITE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Inui, Kazumi Hiraga, Masako Suda, Takahisa Kogure
  • Patent number: 10738296
    Abstract: The mutant chorismate-pyruvate lyase (A) or (B) as described below is capable of producing 4-hydroxybenzoic acid or a salt thereof with sufficient practical efficiency. (A) A mutant chorismate-pyruvate lyase obtained by replacing the valine at position 80 in a chorismate-pyruvate lyase (ubiC) from Pantoea ananatis consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 with one or more other amino acids. (B) A mutant chorismate-pyruvate lyase obtained by replacing an amino acid in another chorismate-pyruvate lyase, the amino acid being at a position enzymologically homologous with that of the above valine, with one or mere other amino acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: GREEN CHEMICALS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Inui, Kazumi Hiraga, Masako Suda, Ryoma Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20190194629
    Abstract: Provided is a microorganism that is capable of efficiently producing para-aminobenzoic acid (4-ABA) or a salt thereof, using saccharides as raw materials, and a method for efficiently producing 4-ABA or a salt thereof by using this microorganism. A transformant obtained by introducing, into a coryneform bacterium, a gene that encodes 4-amino-4-deoxychorismate lyase, a gene that encodes a para-aminobenzoate synthase component I, and a gene that encodes a para-aminobenzoate synthase component II, is capable of efficiently producing 4-ABA or a salt thereof from saccharides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicants: RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE EARTH, SUMITOMO BAKELITE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki INUI, Kazumi HIRAGA, Masako SUDA, Takeshi KUBOTA
  • Publication number: 20190136222
    Abstract: The mutant chorismate-pyruvate lyase (A) or (B) as described below is capable of producing 4-hydroxybenzoic acid or a salt thereof with sufficient practical efficiency. (A) A mutant chorismate-pyruvate lyase obtained by replacing the valine at position 80 in a chorismate-pyruvate lyase (ubiC) from Pantoea ananatis consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 with one or more other amino acids. (B) A mutant chorismate-pyruvate lyase obtained by replacing an amino acid in another chorismate-pyruvate lyase, the amino acid being at a position enzymologically homologous with that of the above valine, with one or mere other amino acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: GREEN CHEMICALS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki INUI, Kazumi HIRAGA, Masako SUDA, Ryoma HASHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20190119664
    Abstract: Provided is a microorganism that is able to efficiently produce protocatechuic acid or a salt thereof by using a saccharide as a raw material, and a method of efficiently producing protocatechuic acid or a salt thereof by using the microorganism. Provided is a transformant having protocatechuic acid producing ability, subjected to modifications (A), (B), and (C) below: (A) enhancement of 3-dehydroshikimate dehydratase activity; (B) enhancement of chorismate pyruvate lyase activity; and (C) enhancement of 4-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase activity. Also provided is a method of producing protocatechuic acid or a salt thereof, including the step of culturing the transformant in a reaction solution containing a saccharide so as to cause the transformant to produce protocatechuic acid or a salt thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicants: RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE EARTH, SUMITOMO BAKELITE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki INUI, Kazumi HIRAGA, Masako SUDA, Takahisa KOGURE
  • Patent number: 10221409
    Abstract: The mutant chorismate-pyruvate lyase (A) or (B) as described below is capable of producing 4-hydroxybenzoic acid or a salt thereof with sufficient practical efficiency. (A) A mutant chorismate-pyruvate lyase obtained by replacing the valine at position 80 in a chorismate-pyruvate lyase (ubiC) from Pantoea ananatis consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 with one or more other amino acids. (B) A mutant chorismate-pyruvate lyase obtained by replacing an amino acid in another chorismate-pyruvate lyase, the amino acid being at a position enzymologically homologous with that of the above valine, with one or more other amino acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: GREEN CHEMICALS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideaki Yukawa, Masayuki Inui, Kazumi Hiraga, Masako Suda, Ryoma Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10208313
    Abstract: A coryneform bacterium transformant engineered by the following (A) to (D): (A) enhancement of 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate (DAHP) synthase activity; (B) prevention, inhibition, or reduction of intracellular sugar uptake mediated by phosphotransferase system (PTS); (C) enhancement of intracellular sugar uptake activity mediated by a sugar transporter different from phosphotransferase system and enhancement of glucokinase activity; and (D) enhancement of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) activity is capable of efficiently producing shikimic acid or the like from a sugar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE EARTH
    Inventors: Masayuki Inui, Masako Suda, Kazumi Hiraga, Takahisa Kogure
  • Patent number: 10017791
    Abstract: A transformant constructed by introducing a gene which encodes an enzyme having chorismate-pyruvate lyase activity into a coryneform bacterium as a host is capable of efficiently producing 4-hydroxybenzoic acid or a salt thereof from a sugar. When the transformant is cultured under aerobic conditions where the transformant does not grow, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid or a salt thereof can be produced in a particularly efficient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: GREEN CHEMICALS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideaki Yukawa, Masayuki Inui, Kazumi Hiraga, Masako Suda, Ryoma Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20180044688
    Abstract: A coryneform bacterium transformant engineered by the following (A) to (D): (A) enhancement of 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate (DAHP) synthase activity; (B) prevention, inhibition, or reduction of intracellular sugar uptake mediated by phosphotransferase system (PTS); (C) enhancement of intracellular sugar uptake activity mediated by a sugar transporter different from phosphotransferase system and enhancement of glucokinase activity; and (D) enhancement of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) activity is capable of efficiently producing shikimic acid or the like from a sugar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE EARTH
    Inventors: Masayuki INUI, Masako SUDA, Kazumi HIRAGA, Takahisa KOGURE
  • Patent number: 9803223
    Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a microorganism capable of efficiently producing aniline from aminobenzoic acid, and a process for efficiently producing aniline from aminobenzoic acid. To achieve the objective, provided is an aniline-producing transformant constructed by introducing a gene which encodes an enzyme having aminobenzoate decarboxylase activity into a coryneform bacterium as a host, characterized in that the enzyme having aminobenzoate decarboxylase activity is composed of an amino acid sequence which is the same as that represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 except for having a mutation of at least proline (P) at position 309 from the N terminus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignees: RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE EARTH, SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Keitarou Fujikura, Kazumi Hiraga, Masayuki Inui, Hideaki Yukawa
  • Publication number: 20170114374
    Abstract: A transformant constructed by introducing a gene which encodes an enzyme having chorismate-pyruvate lyase activity into a coryneform bacterium as a host is capable of efficiently producing 4-hydroxybenzoic acid or a salt thereof from a sugar. When the transformant is cultured under aerobic conditions where the transformant does not grow, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid or a salt thereof can be produced in a particularly efficient manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Applicant: GREEN PHENOL DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideaki YUKAWA, Masayuki INUI, Kazumi HIRAGA, Masako SUDA, Ryoma HASHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170073658
    Abstract: The mutant chorismate-pyruvate lyase (A) or (B) as described below is capable of producing 4-hydroxybenzoic acid or a salt thereof with sufficient practical efficiency. (A) A mutant chorismate-pyruvate lyase obtained by replacing the valine at position 80 in a chorismate-pyruvate lyase (ubiC) from Pantoea ananatis consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 with one or more other amino acids. (B) A mutant chorismate-pyruvate lyase obtained by replacing an amino acid in another chorismate-pyruvate lyase, the amino acid being at a position enzymologically homologous with that of the above valine, with one or more other amino acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: GREEN PHENOL DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideaki YUKAWA, Masayuki INUI, Kazumi HIRAGA, Masako SUDA, Ryoma HASHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20160068876
    Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a microorganism capable of efficiently producing aniline from aminobenzoic acid, and a process for efficiently producing aniline from aminobenzoic acid. To achieve the objective, provided is an aniline-producing transformant constructed by introducing a gene which encodes an enzyme having aminobenzoate decarboxylase activity into a coryneform bacterium as a host, characterized in that the enzyme having aminobenzoate decarboxylase activity is composed of an amino acid sequence which is the same as that represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 except for having a mutation of at least proline (P) at position 309 from the N terminus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicants: RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE EARTH, SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Keitarou FUJIKURA, Kazumi HIRAGA, Masayuki INUI, Hideaki YUKAWA
  • Publication number: 20080167444
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an ABC transporter inhibitor whereby the multi-drug resistance against anticancer drugs caused by amplification and expression of MDR1 gene, which is the most serious problem in chemotherapy for cancer, or the resistance against antifungal agents in mycotic diseases can be overcome. The present invention relates to an ABC transporter inhibitor containing enniatin or its analog as the active ingredient. The ABC transporter inhibitor of the present invention, being capable of inhibiting transport/excretion of a drug, especially an anticancer drug or an antifungal agent, from inside to outside of cells, is useful in preventing, suppressing, or inhibiting acquisition of resistance against various drugs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Kohei Oda, Kazumi Hiraga
  • Patent number: 7326556
    Abstract: A microorganism which belongs to the genus Rhizobium and has the ability of degrading an aromatic polyester, and a method of degrading an aromatic polyester by using the microorganism. According to this method, the aromatic polyester can be degraded safely and relatively swiftly at a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Teijin Limited
    Inventors: Kohei Oda, Yoshiharu Kimura, Kazumi Hiraga, Yasuhito Maeda, Kiyotsuna Toyohara, Hiroyoshi Minematsu
  • Publication number: 20060228792
    Abstract: A microorganism which belongs to the genus Rhizobium and has the ability of degrading an aromatic polyester, and a method of degrading an aromatic polyester by using the microorganism. According to this method, the aromatic polyester can be degraded safely and relatively swiftly at a low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Publication date: October 12, 2006
    Inventors: Kohei Oda, Yoshiharu Kimura, Kazumi Hiraga, Yasuhito Maeda, Kiyotsuna Toyohara, Hiroyoshi Minematsu