Patents by Inventor Kechun Zhang
Kechun Zhang 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).
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Publication number: 20230348941Abstract: Pantoic acid is obtained by fermenting substrate 2-hydroxy-3,3-dimethyl-4-aldehydobutyric acid by using bacteria or yeast. A microorganism is selected from bacteria or fungi. The microorganism is selected from wild or genetically engineered Escherichia coli, Bacillus, Corynebacterium, yeast or Streptomyces. Pantothenic acid is obtained by chemically reacting the pantoic acid obtained by the method described above with ?-alanine. Panthenol is obtained by chemically reacting the pantoic acid obtained by the method described above with ?-alaninol.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2021Publication date: November 2, 2023Inventors: Kechun ZHANG, Jilong WANG
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Patent number: 10907181Abstract: This disclosure describes biosynthesized compounds including anhydromevalonolactone and ?-methyl-?-valerolactone. This disclosure further describes biosynthetic methods for making these compounds. In some embodiments, the biosynthetic methods can include a combination of biosynthesis and chemical steps to produce ?-methyl-?-valerolactone. Finally, this disclosure described recombinant cells useful for the biosynthesis of these compounds.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2019Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTAInventors: Kechun Zhang, Mingyong Xiong
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Publication number: 20200172944Abstract: This disclosure describes biosynthesized compounds including anhydromevalonolactone and ?-methyl-?-valerolactone. This disclosure further describes biosynthetic methods for making these compounds. In some embodiments, the biosynthetic methods can include a combination of biosynthesis and chemical steps to produce ?-methyl-?-valerolactone. Finally, this disclosure described recombinant cells useful for the biosynthesis of these compounds.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2019Publication date: June 4, 2020Inventors: Kechun Zhang, Mingyong Xiong
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Patent number: 10597687Abstract: This disclosure describes biosynthesized compounds including anhydromevalonolactone and ?-methyl-?-valerolactone. This disclosure further describes biosynthetic methods for making these compounds. In some embodiments, the biosynthetic methods can include a combination of biosynthesis and chemical steps to produce ?-methyl-?-valerolactone. Finally, this disclosure described recombinant cells useful for the biosynthesis of these compounds.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2019Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTAInventors: Kechun Zhang, Mingyong Xiong
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Patent number: 10414858Abstract: Methods of forming a C4 to C7 diol compound, the methods including a first step of reacting a C4 to C7 dicarboxylic acid with hydrogen (H2) gas on a first heterogeneous catalyst at a first temperature and a first pressure to form a C4 to C7 lactone; and a subsequent step of reacting the lactone with hydrogen (H2) gas on a second heterogeneous catalyst at a second temperature and a second pressure, wherein the second temperature is lower than the first temperature. Also disclosed are methods of forming a solvent, the methods including reacting a C4 to C7 dicarboxylic acid with hydrogen (H2) gas on a first heterogeneous catalyst at a first temperature and a first pressure to form a solvent. Further disclosed herein are methods that include reacting mevalonolactone with hydrogen (H2) gas on a second heterogeneous catalyst at a second temperature and a second pressure to form a diol compound.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2017Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTAInventors: Paul J. Dauenhauer, Charles Spanjers, Kechun Zhang
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Publication number: 20190153490Abstract: This disclosure describes biosynthesized compounds including anhydromevalonolactone and ?-methyl-?-valerolactone. This disclosure further describes biosynthetic methods for making these compounds. In some embodiments, the biosynthetic methods can include a combination of biosynthesis and chemical steps to produce ?-methyl-?-valerolactone. Finally, this disclosure described recombinant cells useful for the biosynthesis of these compounds.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2019Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: Kechun Zhang, Mingyong Xiong
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Patent number: 10202624Abstract: This disclosure describes biosynthesized compounds including anhydromevalonolactone and ?-methyl-?-valerolactone. This disclosure further describes biosynthetic methods for making these compounds. In some embodiments, the biosynthetic methods can include a combination of biosynthesis and chemical steps to produce ?-methyl-?-valerolactone. Finally, this disclosure described recombinant cells useful for the biosynthesis of these compounds.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2014Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTAInventors: Kechun Zhang, Mingyong Xiong
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Patent number: 10077340Abstract: Block copolymers include a poly ?-methyl-?-valerolactone (PMVL) block. The PMVL blocks can be formed from biosynthesized ?-methyl-?-valerolactone (MVL). The PMVL block may be formed from biosynthesized ?-methyl-?-valerolactone (MVL) with a 14C/12C ratio greater than zero. The block copolymers can include hard blocks. The block copolymers can be thermoplastic elastomers. The block copolymers may include a polylactic acid (PLA) block.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2015Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTAInventors: Marc A. Hillmyer, Deborah Kay Schneiderman, Frank Steven Bates, Kechun Zhang
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Patent number: 10006064Abstract: This disclosure describes engineered biosynthetic pathways, recombinant cells, and methods relating to biosynthesis of esters. The recombinant cells may be modified to exhibit increased biosynthesis of an ester compared to a wild-type control. The recombinant cell may be incubated in medium that includes a carbon source under conditions effective for the recombinant cell to produce an ester. This disclosure also describes a method that generally includes introducing into a host cell a heterologous polynucleotide encoding at least one polypeptide that catalyzes a step in converting a carbon source to an ester, wherein the at least one polynucleotide is operably linked to a promoter so that the modified host cell catalyzes conversion of the carbon source to an ester.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTAInventors: Kechun Zhang, Mingyong Xiong, Yi-Shu Tai
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Publication number: 20180080032Abstract: This disclosure describes a recombinant microbial cells and methods of making and using such recombinant microbial cells. Generally, the recombinant cells may be modified to exhibit increased biosynthesis of a TCA derivative compared to a wild-type control. In some embodiments, the TCA derivative can include 1,4-butanediol. In various embodiments, the microbial cell is a fungal cell or a bacterial cell. In some embodiments, the increased biosynthesis of the TCA derivative can include an increase in xylose dehydrogenase activity, xylonolactonase activity, xylonate dehydratase activity, or 2-keto-3-deoxyaldonic acid dehydratase activity.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2017Publication date: March 22, 2018Inventors: Kechun ZHANG, Mingyong XIONG
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Patent number: 9909129Abstract: This disclosure describes a recombinant microbial cells and methods of making and using such recombinant microbial cells. Generally, the recombinant cells may be modified to exhibit increased biosynthesis of a TCA derivative compared to a wild-type control. In some embodiments, the TCA derivative can include 1,4-butanediol. In various embodiments, the microbial cell is a fungal cell or a bacterial cell. In some embodiments, the increased biosynthesis of the TCA derivative can include an increase in xylose dehydrogenase activity, xylonolactonase activity, xylonate dehydratase activity, or 2-keto-3-deoxyaldonic acid dehydratase activity.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2013Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTAInventors: Kechun Zhang, Mingyong Xiong
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Publication number: 20170297983Abstract: Methods of forming a C4 to C7 diol compound, the methods including a first step of reacting a C4 to C7 dicarboxylic acid with hydrogen (H2) gas on a first heterogeneous catalyst at a first temperature and a first pressure to form a C4 to C7 lactone; and a subsequent step of reacting the lactone with hydrogen (H2) gas on a second heterogeneous catalyst at a second temperature and a second pressure, wherein the second temperature is lower than the first temperature. Also disclosed are methods of forming a solvent, the methods including reacting a C4 to C7 dicarboxylic acid with hydrogen (H2) gas on a first heterogeneous catalyst at a first temperature and a first pressure to form a solvent. Further disclosed herein are methods that include reacting mevalonolactone with hydrogen (H2) gas on a second heterogeneous catalyst at a second temperature and a second pressure to form a diol compound.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2017Publication date: October 19, 2017Inventors: Paul J. Dauenhauer, Charles Spanjers, Kechun Zhang
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Publication number: 20170137855Abstract: This disclosure describes methods for screening heterologous coding regions (e.g., a single gene coding region, and operon, or other gene cluster) for the ability to genetically modify a host cell to perform nonphosphorylative biosynthesis of 2,5-dioxopentanoate and downstream derivatives thereof (e.g., 1,4-butanediol, glutamate, or glutaconate. This disclosure further describes recombinant cells modified to increase nonphosphorylative biosynthesis of 2,5-dioxopentanoate compared to an appropriate control cell (e.g., a wild-type cell or an otherwise genetically-modified cell) and methods of using making and using such recombinant cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2016Publication date: May 18, 2017Inventors: Kechun Zhang, Yi-shu Tai, Pooja Jambunathan
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Publication number: 20170044326Abstract: Block copolymers include a poly ?-methyl-?-valerolactone (PMVL) block. The PMVL blocks can be formed from biosynthesized ?-methyl-?-valero lactone (MVL). The block copolymers can include hard blocks. The block copolymers can be thermoplastic elastomers.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2015Publication date: February 16, 2017Inventors: Marc A. Hillmyer, Deborah Kay Schneiderman, Frank Steven Bates, Kechun Zhang
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Patent number: 9550980Abstract: Healthcare costs are a significant worldwide, with many patients being denied medications because of their high prices. One approach to addressing this problem involves the biosynthesis of chiral drug intermediates, an environmentally friendly solution that can be used to generate pharmaceuticals at much lower costs than conventional techniques. In this context, embodiments of the invention comprise methods and materials designed to allow microorganisms to biosynthesize the nonnatural amino acid L-homoalanine. As is known in the art, L-homoalanine is a chiral precursor of a variety of pharmaceutically valuable compounds including the anticonvulsant medications levetiracetam (sold under the trade name Keppra®) and brivaracetam, as well as ethambutol, a bacteriostatic antimycobacterial drug used to treat tuberculosis. Consequently, embodiments of the invention can be used in low cost, environmentally friendly processes to generate these and other valuable compounds.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2015Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: James C. Liao, Kechun Zhang, Kwang Myung Cho
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Publication number: 20160068877Abstract: This disclosure describes biosynthesized compounds including anhydromevalonolactone and ?-methyl-?-valerolactone. This disclosure further describes biosynthetic methods for making these compounds. In some embodiments, the biosynthetic methods can include a combination of biosynthesis and chemical steps to produce ?-methyl-?-valerolactone. Finally, this disclosure described recombinant cells useful for the biosynthesis of these compounds.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2014Publication date: March 10, 2016Inventors: Kechun Zhang, Mingyong Xiong
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Publication number: 20160053236Abstract: Healthcare costs are a significant worldwide, with many patients being denied medications because of their high prices. One approach to addressing this problem involves the biosynthesis of chiral drug intermediates, an environmentally friendly solution that can be used to generate pharmaceuticals at much lower costs than conventional techniques. In this context, embodiments of the invention comprise methods and materials designed to allow microorganisms to biosynthesize the nonnatural amino acid L-homoalanine. As is known in the art, L-homoalanine is a chiral precursor of a variety of pharmaceutically valuable compounds including the anticonvulsant medications levetiracetam (sold under the trade name Keppra®) and brivaracetam, as well as ethambutol, a bacteriostatic antimycobacterial drug used to treat tuberculosis. Consequently, embodiments of the invention can be used in low cost, environmentally friendly processes to generate these and other valuable compounds.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2015Publication date: February 25, 2016Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIAInventors: James C. Liao, Kechun Zhang, Kwang Myung Cho
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Publication number: 20150337342Abstract: This disclosure describes a recombinant microbial cells and methods of making and using such recombinant microbial cells. Generally, the recombinant cells may be modified to exhibit increased biosynthesis of a TCA derivative compared to a wild-type control. In some embodiments, the TCA derivative can include 1,4-butanediol. In various embodiments, the microbial cell is a fungal cell or a bacterial cell. In some embodiments, the increased biosynthesis of the TCA derivative can include an increase in xylose dehydrogenase activity, xylonolactonase activity, xylonate dehydratase activity, or 2-keto-3-deoxyaldonic acid dehydratase activity.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2013Publication date: November 26, 2015Inventors: Kechun ZHANG, Mingyong XIONG
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Patent number: 9187774Abstract: Healthcare costs are a significant worldwide, with many patients being denied medications because of their high prices. One approach to addressing this problem involves the biosynthesis of chiral drug intermediates, an environmentally friendly solution that can be used to generate pharmaceuticals at much lower costs than conventional techniques. In this context, embodiments of the invention comprise methods and materials designed to allow microorganisms to biosynthesize the nonnatural amino acid L-homoalanine. As is known in the art, L-homoalanine is a chiral precursor of a variety of pharmaceutically valuable compounds including the anticonvulsant medications levetiracetam (sold under the trade name Keppra®) and brivaracetam, as well as ethambutol, a bacteriostatic antimycobacterial drug used to treat tuberculosis. Consequently, embodiments of the invention can be used in low cost, environmentally friendly processes to generate these and other valuable compounds.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2011Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: James C. Liao, Kechun Zhang, Kwang Myung Cho
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Publication number: 20150140620Abstract: This disclosure describes engineered biosynthetic pathways, recombinant cells, and methods relating to biosynthesis of esters. The recombinant cells may be modified to exhibit increased biosynthesis of an ester compared to a wild-type control. The recombinant cell may be incubated in medium that includes a carbon source under conditions effective for the recombinant cell to produce an ester. This disclosure also describes a method that generally includes introducing into a host cell a heterologous polynucleotide encoding at least one polypeptide that catalyzes a step in converting a carbon source to an ester, wherein the at least one polynucleotide is operably linked to a promoter so that the modified host cell catalyzes conversion of the carbon source to an ester.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: May 21, 2015Applicant: Regents of The University of MinnesotaInventors: Kechun Zhang, Mingyong Xiong, Yi-Shu Tai