Patents by Inventor Kenneth J. Gruys

Kenneth J. Gruys 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: 7192753
    Abstract: Nucleic acid sequences, vectors, recombinant host cells, transgenic plants, and methods for their preparation are disclosed. The nucleic acid sequences encode threonine deaminase proteins that catalyze the conversion of threonine to ?-ketobutyrate. One or both of the amino acids at positions 447 and 481 of the encoded proteins can be selected from groups of particular amino acids. For example, the amino acid at position 447 can be alanine, isoleucine, valine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, or methionine. The amino acid at position 481 can be alanine, isoleucine, proline, phenylalanine, tryptophan, or methionine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Gruys, Timothy A. Mitsky, Ganesh M Kishore, Steven C. Slater, Stephen R. Padgette, David M. Stark
  • Patent number: 6946588
    Abstract: Nucleic acid sequences, vectors, recombinant host cells, transgenic plants, and methods for their preparation are disclosed. The nucleic acid sequences encode threonine deaminase proteins that catalyze the conversion of threonine to ?-ketobutyrate. One or both of the amino acids at positions 447 and 481 of the encoded proteins can be selected from groups of particular amino acids. For example, the amino acid at position 447 can be alanine, isoleucine, valine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, or methionine. The amino acid at position 481 can be alanine, isoleucine, proline, phenylalanine, tryptophan, or methionine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Gruys, Timothy A. Mitsky, Ganesh M. Kishore, Steven C. Slater, Stephen R. Padgette, David M. Stark
  • Patent number: 6835820
    Abstract: A 7,916 base pair nucleic acid fragment from Bacillus megaterium is disclosed. The fragment encodes five proteins, PhaP, PhaQ, PhaR, PhaB, 09 and PhaC, shown or inferred to be involved in the biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoate materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: The University of Massachusetts
    Inventors: Maura Cannon, Francis C. Cannon, Gabriel J. McCool, Henry E. Valentin, Kenneth J. Gruys
  • Publication number: 20030028917
    Abstract: Genes and methods for optimizing levels of substrates employed in the biosynthesis of copolymers of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) in plants and bacteria via manipulation of normal metabolic pathways using recombinant DNA techniques are provided. This is achieved through the use of a variety of wild-type and/or deregulated enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of aspartate family amino acids, and wild-type or deregulated forms of enzymes, such as threonine deaminase, involved in the conversion of threonine to P(3HB-co-3HV) copolymer endproduct. By these methods, enhanced levels of threonine, &agr;-ketobutyrate, propionate, propionyl-CoA, &bgr;-ketovaleryl-CoA, and &bgr;-hydroxyvaleryl-CoA are produced. Also provided are methods for the biological production of P(3HB-co-3HV) copolymers in plants and bacteria utilizing propionyl-CoA produced through a variety of engineered metabolic pathways.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: Monsanto Technology, LLC.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Gruys, Timothy A. Mitsky, Ganesh M. Kishore, Steven C. Slater, Stephen R. Padgette, David M. Stark
  • Publication number: 20020182690
    Abstract: A 7,916 base pair nucleic acid fragment from Bacillus megaterium is disclosed. The fragment encodes five proteins, PhaP, PhaQ, PhaR, PhaB, and PhaC, shown or inferred to be involved in the biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoate materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: MAURA C. CANNON, FRANCIS C. CANNON, GABRIEL J. MCCOOL, HENRY E. VALENTINE, KENNETH J. GRUYS