Patents by Inventor Lee E. GUNTER

Lee E. GUNTER 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: 11473086
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides genetically modified plants, plant cells and plant tissues that show reduced lignin content as compared to a control plant which was not genetically modified. In addition, the disclosure provides methods of regulating lignin content in a plant. The disclosure also provides methods of producing bioproducts using the genetically modified plants of the instant disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Meng Xie, Jin-Gui Chen, Lee E. Gunter, Sara S. Jawdy, Wellington Muchero, Gerald Tuskan, Jin Zhang
  • Patent number: 11441152
    Abstract: This disclosure provides methods of improving callus formation in plants. This disclosure further provides genetically engineered plants with improved callus formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Wellington Muchero, Gerald Tuskan, Jin-Gui Chen, Lee E. Gunter
  • Patent number: 11028404
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods of improving mycorrhization in a plant or plant cell. Another aspect of this disclosure is directed to a genetically modified plant or plant cell with improved mycorrhization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignees: UT-Battelle, LLC, University of Tennessee Research Foundation
    Inventors: Wellington Muchero, Jessy L. Labbe, Lee E. Gunter, Jin-Gui Chen, Sara S. Jawdy, Xiaohan Yang, Gerald A. Tuskan, Juan Wang, Olaf Czarnecki, Priya Ranjan
  • Publication number: 20200399637
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides genetically modified plants, plant cells and plant tissues that show reduced lignin content as compared to a control plant which was not genetically modified. In addition, the disclosure provides methods of regulating lignin content in a plant. The disclosure also provides methods of producing bioproducts using the genetically modified plants of the instant disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Meng Xie, Jin-Gui Chen, Lee E. Gunter, Sara S. Jawdy, Wellington Muchero, Gerald Tuskan, Jin Zhang
  • Publication number: 20200032282
    Abstract: This disclosure provides methods of improving callus formation in plants. This disclosure further provides genetically engineered plants with improved callus formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Wellington Muchero, Gerald Tuskan, Jin-Gui Chen, Lee E. Gunter
  • Publication number: 20200032285
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods of improving mycorrhization in a plant or plant cell. Another aspect of this disclosure is directed to a genetically modified plant or plant cell with improved mycorrhization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Wellington Muchero, Jessy L. Labbe, Lee E. Gunter, Jin-Gui Chen, Sara S. Jawdy, Xiaohan Yang, Gerald A. Tuskan, Juan Wang, Olaf Czarnecki, Priya Ranjan
  • Patent number: 10246719
    Abstract: This disclosure provides genetically modified plants having desirable levels of sugar release and syringyl/guaiacyl (S/G) ratio; methods of genetically modifying plants to modulate sugar release and S/G ratio; and uses of such plants. The inventors have determined that genetic modification of a laccase gene (LAC2) from Populus, encoded by locus Potri.008G064000 resulted in transgenic Populus trees with changes in syringyl/guaiacyl ratios as well as altered sugar release phenotypes. Plants with altered sugar release, and S/G ratio, based on modulation of the expression or activity of the LAC2 gene, have divergent uses including pulp and paper production, and biofuel and bioproducts production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Jin-Gui Chen, Lee E. Gunter, Sara S. Jawdy, Xiaohan Yang, Gerald A. Tuskan, Anthony Christian Bryan
  • Patent number: 10227601
    Abstract: This disclosure provides genetically modified plants having desirable levels of sugar release, cellulose content and reduction of recalcitrance; methods of genetically modifying plants to modulate sugar release, cellulose and lignin contents; and uses of such plants. The inventors have determined that genetic modification of PdDUF266A from Populus, encoded by locus Potri.011G009500 resulted in transgenic Populus trees with changes in lignin and cellulose content as well as altered sugar release phenotypes. Plants with altered sugar release, cellulose and lignin content, based on modulation of the expression or activity of the PdDUF266A gene, have diverse uses including pulp and paper production, and biofuel and bioproducts production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Jin-Gui Chen, Sara Jawdy, Xiaohan Yang, Gerald A. Tuskan, Yongil Yang, Lee E. Gunter
  • Patent number: 10106807
    Abstract: The invention provides plants having desirable levels of sugar release and/or lignin synthesis. The invention further provides methods of selecting plants with such desirable levels of sugar release and/or lignin synthesis; methods of genetically modifying plants to modulate lignin synthesis, sugar release, and modulating phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan and flavonoid production; and uses of such plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignees: UT-BATTELLE, LLC, WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Wellington Muchero, Jay Chen, Lee E. Gunter, Sara Jawdy, Gerald A. Tuskan, Anthony Christian Bryan, Stephen Difazio, Hao-Bo Guo
  • Patent number: 9994998
    Abstract: This disclosure provides plants having desirable levels of lignin synthesis, sugar release, S/G ratio, and resistance to stress and pathogens; methods of selecting plants with such desirable levels of lignin synthesis, sugar release, S/G ratio, and resistance to stress and pathogens; methods of genetically modifying plants to modulate lignin synthesis, sugar release, S/G ratio, and resistance to stress and pathogens; and uses of such plants. The inventors have determined that the expression and/or activity of POPTR_0014s08530, a gene encoding an Angustifolia/CtBP transcription factor, modulates lignin synthesis, sugar release, S/G ratio, and resistance to stress and pathogens in plants. Plants with lignin synthesis, sugar release, S/G ratio, and resistance to stress and pathogens, based on modulation of the expression or activity of the POPTR_0014s08530 gene, have divergent uses including pulp and paper production, and ethanol/biofuel production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Jay Chen, Lee E. Gunter, Sara Jawdy, Wellington Muchero, Gerald Tuskan, Jianjun Guo, Priya Ranjan, Stephen P. DiFazio, Anthony C. Bryan
  • Publication number: 20180057834
    Abstract: This disclosure provides genetically modified plants having desirable levels of sugar release, cellulose content and reduction of recalcitrance; methods of genetically modifying plants to modulate sugar release, cellulose and lignin contents; and uses of such plants. The inventors have determined that genetic modification of PdDUF266A from Populus, encoded by locus Potri.011G009500 resulted in transgenic Populus trees with changes in lignin and cellulose content as well as altered sugar release phenotypes. Plants with altered sugar release, cellulose and lignin content, based on modulation of the expression or activity of the PdDUF266A gene, have diverse uses including pulp and paper production, and biofuel and bioproducts production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Jin-Gui Chen, Sara Jawdy, Xiaohan Yang, Gerald A. Tuskan, Yongil Yang, Lee E. Gunter
  • Publication number: 20180016592
    Abstract: This disclosure provides genetically modified plants having desirable levels of sugar release and syringyl/guaiacyl (S/G) ratio; methods of genetically modifying plants to modulate sugar release and S/G ratio; and uses of such plants. The inventors have determined that genetic modification of a laccase gene (LAC2) from Populus, encoded by locus Potri.008G064000 resulted in transgenic Populus trees with changes in syringyl/guaiacyl ratios as well as altered sugar release phenotypes. Plants with altered sugar release, and S/G ratio, based on modulation of the expression or activity of the LAC2 gene, have divergent uses including pulp and paper production, and biofuel and bioproducts production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Jin-Gui CHEN, Lee E. GUNTER, Sara S. JAWDY, Xiaohan YANG, Gerald A. TUSKAN, Anthony Christian BRYAN
  • Publication number: 20160053275
    Abstract: This disclosure provides plants having desirable levels of lignin synthesis, sugar release, S/G ratio, and resistance to stress and pathogens; methods of selecting plants with such desirable levels of lignin synthesis, sugar release, S/G ratio, and resistance to stress and pathogens; methods of genetically modifying plants to modulate lignin synthesis, sugar release, S/G ratio, and resistance to stress and pathogens; and uses of such plants. The inventors have determined that the expression and/or activity of POPTR_0014s08530, a gene encoding an Angustifolia/CtBP transcription factor, modulates lignin synthesis, sugar release, S/G ratio, and resistance to stress and pathogens in plants. Plants with lignin synthesis, sugar release, S/G ratio, and resistance to stress and pathogens, based on modulation of the expression or activity of the POPTR_0014s08530 gene, have divergent uses including pulp and paper production, and ethanol/biofuel production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Jay Chen, Lee E. Gunter, Sara Jawdy, Wellington Muchero, Gerald Tuskan, Jianjun Guo, Priya Ranjan, Stephen P. DiFazio, Anthony C. Bryan
  • Publication number: 20150353948
    Abstract: The invention provides plants having desirable levels of sugar release and/or lignin synthesis. The invention further provides methods of selecting plants with such desirable levels of sugar release and/or lignin synthesis; methods of genetically modifying plants to modulate lignin synthesis, sugar release, and modulating phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan and flavonoid production; and uses of such plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Wellington Muchero, Jay Chen, Lee E. Gunter, Sara Jawdy, Gerald A. Tuskan, Anthony Christian Bryan, Stephen Difazio, Hao-Bo Guo
  • Patent number: 9206436
    Abstract: This disclosure provides methods and transgenic plants for improved production of renewable biofuels and other plant-derived biomaterials by altering the expression and/or activity of Gene Y, an O-acetyltransferase. This disclosure also provides expression vectors containing a nucleic acid (Gene Y) which encodes the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 and is operably linked to a heterologous promoter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Jay Chen, Nancy L. Engle, Lee E. Gunter, Sara Jawdy, Timothy J. Tschaplinski, Gerald A. Tuskan
  • Publication number: 20140182013
    Abstract: This disclosure provides methods and transgenic plants for improved production of renewable biofuels and other plant-derived biomaterials by altering the expression and/or activity of Gene Y, an O-acetyltransferase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Jay CHEN, Nancy L. ENGLE, Lee E. GUNTER, Sara JAWDY, Timothy J. TSCHAPLINSKI, Gerald A. TUSKAN