Patents by Inventor Lishan Zhao

Lishan Zhao 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: 8546118
    Abstract: This invention relates to polypeptides having aldolase activity, including pyruvate activity such as, without limitation, HMG and/or KHG aldolase activity, polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides, and methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. In some embodiments, the invention is directed to polypeptides having aldolase activity, including pyruvate activity such as, without limitation, HMG and/or KHG aldolase activity, including thermostable and thermotolerant activity, and polynucleotides encoding these enzymes, and making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. The polypeptides in accordance with the invention can be used in a variety of pharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial contexts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Verenium Corporation
    Inventors: David P. Weiner, Lishan Zhao, Peter Luginbuhl, Ellen Burke, Toby Richardson, Paula M. Hicks
  • Patent number: 8435765
    Abstract: Methods and compositions that can be used to make monatin from glucose, tryptophan, indole-3-lactic acid, indole-3-pyruvate, and 2-hydroxy 2-(indol-3-ylmethyl)-4-keto glutaric acid, are provided. Methods are also disclosed for producing the indole-3-pyruvate and 2-hydroxy 2-(indol-3-ylmethyl)-4-keto glutaric acid intermediates. Compositions provided include nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides, chemical structures, and cells. Methods include in vitro and in vivo processes, and the in vitro methods include chemical reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: Timothy W. Abraham, Douglas C. Cameron, Paula M. Hicks, Sara C. McFarlan, James R. Millis, John Rosazza, David P. Weiner, Lishan Zhao
  • Patent number: 8372989
    Abstract: Methods and compositions that can be used to make monatin from glucose, tryptophan, indole-3-lactic acid, indole-3-pyruvate, and 2-hydroxy 2-(indol-3-ylmethyl)-4-keto glutaric acid, are provided. Methods are also disclosed for producing the indole-3-pyruvate and 2-hydroxy 2-(indol-3-ylmethyl)-4-keto glutaric acid intermediates. Compositions provided include nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides, chemical structures, and cells. Methods include in vitro and in vivo processes, and the in vitro methods include chemical reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: Timothy W. Abraham, Douglas C. Cameron, Paula M. Hicks, Sara C. McFarlan, John Rosazza, Lishan Zhao, David P. Weiner
  • Publication number: 20120270260
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of developing terpene synthase variants through engineered host cells. Particularly, the disclosure provides methods of developing terpene synthase variants with improved in vivo performance that are useful in the commercial production of terpene products. Further encompassed in the present disclosure are superior terpene synthase variants and host cells comprising such terpene synthase variants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: AMYRIS, INC.
    Inventors: Lishan Zhao, Lan Xu, Patrick Westfall, Andrew Main
  • Publication number: 20120266328
    Abstract: The invention is directed to polypeptides having any cellulolytic activity, e.g., a cellulase activity, e.g., endoglucanase, cellobiohydrolase, beta-glucosidase, xylanase, mannanse, ?-xylosidase, arabinofuranosidase, and/or oligomerase activity, including thermostable and thermotolerant activity, and polynucleotides encoding these enzymes, and making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. The polypeptides of the invention can be used in a variety of pharmaceutical, agricultural, food and feed processing and industrial contexts. The invention also provides compositions or products of manufacture comprising mixtures of enzymes comprising at least one enzyme of this invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: BP CORPORATION NORTH AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: KEVIN A. GRAY, LISHAN ZHAO, MICHELLE H. CAYOUETTE
  • Patent number: 8236512
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of developing terpene synthase variants through engineered host cells. Particularly, the disclosure provides methods of developing terpene synthase variants with improved in vivo performance that are useful in the commercial production of terpene products. Further encompassed in the present disclosure are superior terpene synthase variants and host cells comprising such terpene synthase variants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Amyris, Inc.
    Inventors: Lishan Zhao, Lan Xu, Patrick Westfall, Andrew Main
  • Publication number: 20120196315
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of developing terpene synthase variants through engineered host cells. Particularly, the disclosure provides methods of developing terpene synthase variants with improved in vivo performance that are useful in the commercial production of terpene products. Further encompassed in the present disclosure are superior terpene synthase variants and host cells comprising such terpene synthase variants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: AMYRIS, INC.
    Inventors: Lishan Zhao, Lan Xu, Patrick Westfall, Andrew Main
  • Patent number: 8101393
    Abstract: The invention provides polypeptides having any cellulolytic activity, e.g., a cellulase activity, a endoglucanase, a cellobiohydrolase, a beta-glucosidase, a xylanase, a mannanse, a ?-xylosidase, an arabinofuranosidase, and/or an oligomerase activity, polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides, and methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. In one aspect, the invention is directed to polypeptides having any cellulolytic activity, e.g., a cellulase activity, e.g., endoglucanase, cellobiohydrolase, beta-glucosidase, xylanase, mannanse, ?-xylosidase, arabinofuranosidase, and/or oligomerase activity, including thermostable and thermotolerant activity, and polynucleotides encoding these enzymes, and making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. In one aspect, the invention provides polypeptides having an oligomerase activity, e.g., enzymes that convert recalcitrant soluble oligomers to fermentable sugars in the saccharification of biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin A. Gray, Lishan Zhao, Michelle H. Cayouette
  • Publication number: 20120010104
    Abstract: The invention provides growth selection methods for screening an environmental or a mixed population library of nucleic acids comprising uncharacterized nucleic acids for the presence of a nucleic acid encoding an enzyme of interest. In one aspect, methods for screening and identification of enzymes, e.g., transaminases, nitrilases, aldolases, epoxide hydrolases are provided. Methods for the production and screening of gene libraries generated from nucleic acids isolated from more than one organism for enzymes of interest, e.g., transaminases, nitrilases, aldolases, epoxide hydrolases, are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: David Weiner, Tim Hitchman, Lishan Zhao, Mark J. Burk, Grace Desantis, Sarah Richardson Hanson, Aileen Milan, Toby Richardson, Patti Kretz, William Greenberg
  • Publication number: 20120009634
    Abstract: This invention relates to polypeptides having aldolase activity, including pyruvate activity such as, without limitation, HMG and/or KHG aldolase activity, polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides, and methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. In some embodiments, the invention is directed to polypeptides having aldolase activity, including pyruvate activity such as, without limitation, HMG and/or KHG aldolase activity, including thermostable and thermotolerant activity, and polynucleotides encoding these enzymes, and making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. The polypeptides in accordance with the invention can be used in a variety of pharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial contexts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: Ellen BURKE, Steven John Gort, Paula M. Hicks, Peter Luginbuhl, Sara C. McFarlan, Toby Richardson, Christopher Solheid, David Weiner, Lishan Zhao
  • Patent number: 8043837
    Abstract: This invention relates to polypeptides having aldolase activity, including pyruvate activity such as, without limitation, HMG and/or KHG aldolase activity, polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides, and methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. In some embodiments, the invention is directed to polypeptides having aldolase activity, including pyruvate activity such as, without limitation, HMG and/or KHG aldolase activity, including thermostable and thermotolerant activity, and polynucleotides encoding these enzymes, and making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. The polypeptides in accordance with the invention can be used in a variety of pharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial contexts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: Ellen Burke, Steven John Gort, Paula M. Hicks, Peter Luginbuhl, Sara C. McFarlan, Toby Richardson, Christopher Solheid, David Weiner, Lishan Zhao
  • Patent number: 7981844
    Abstract: The invention provides biocatalytic methods for the manufacture of pure single enantiomer compounds. This invention provides methods of screening for enzymes which are highly enantioselective or enzymes that can provide any desired stereoisomer of a compound. The invention provides the use of single enantiomer substrates in performing a growth screen of a clonal library to identify highly stereoselective enzymes. In one aspect, methods for screening and identification of enzymes, e.g., transaminases, nitrilases, aldolases, epoxide hydrolases are provided. Methods for the production and screening of gene libraries generated from nucleic acids isolated from more than one organism for enzyme, e.g., transaminase, activities are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Verenium Corporation
    Inventors: David Weiner, Tim Hitchman, Lishan Zhao, Mark J. Burk, Grace Desantis, Sarah Richardson Hanson, Aileen Milan, Toby Richardson, Patti Kretz, William Greenberg
  • Publication number: 20100095390
    Abstract: This invention relates to polypeptides having aldolase activity, including pyruvate activity such as, without limitation, HMG and/or KHG aldolase activity, polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides, and methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. In some embodiments, the invention is directed to polypeptides having aldolase activity, including pyruvate activity such as, without limitation, HMG and/or KHG aldolase activity, including thermostable and thermotolerant activity, and polynucleotides encoding these enzymes, and making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. The polypeptides in accordance with the invention can be used in a variety of pharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial contexts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: David P. Weiner, Lishan Zhao, Peter Luginbuhl, Ellen Burke, Toby H. Richardson, Paula M. Hicks
  • Publication number: 20090220480
    Abstract: The invention provides polypeptides having any cellulolytic activity, e.g., a cellulase activity, a endoglucanase, a cellobiohydrolase, a beta-glucosidase, a xylanase, a mannanse, a ?-xylosidase, an arabinofuranosidase, and/or an oligomerase activity, polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides, and methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. In one aspect, the invention is directed to polypeptides having any cellulolytic activity, e.g., a cellulase activity, e.g., endoglucanase, cellobiohydrolase, beta-glucosidase, xylanase, mannanse, ?-xylosidase, arabinofuranosidase, and/or oligomerase activity, including thermostable and thermotolerant activity, and polynucleotides encoding these enzymes, and making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. In one aspect, the invention provides polypeptides having an oligomerase activity, e.g., enzymes that convert recalcitrant soluble oligomers to fermentable sugars in the saccharification of biomass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: VERENIUM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin A. Gray, Lishan Zhao, Michelle H. Cayouette
  • Patent number: 7582455
    Abstract: Monatin and certain stereoisomers of monatin, such as R,R monatin and S,R monatin, as well as salts thereof, are produced using polypeptides and biosynthetic pathways. These polypeptides and biosynthetic pathways are also useful in the production of R-2-hydroxy-2-(indoly-3-ylmethyl)-4-keto glutaric acid, an intermediate that is formed in certain monatin synthesis pathways, including some biosynthetic pathways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian J. Brazeau, Ellen Burke, Mervyn DeSouza, Steven J. Gort, Paula M. Hicks, Sherry R. Kollmann, Peter Luginbuhl, Sara C. McFarlan, Toby Richardson, Fernando A. Sanchez-Riera, Christopher Solheid, David Weiner, Lishan Zhao
  • Patent number: 7572607
    Abstract: Methods and compositions that can be used to make monatin from glucose, tryptophan, indole-3-lactic acid, indole-3-pyruvate, and 2-hydroxy 2-(indol-3-ylmethyl)-4-keto glutaric acid, are provided. Methods are also disclosed for producing the indole-3-pyruvate and 2-hydroxy 2-(indol-3-ylmethyl)-4-keto glutaric acid intermediates. Compositions provided include nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides, chemical structures, and cells. Methods include in vitro and in vivo processes, and the in vitro methods include chemical reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: Paula M. Hicks, Sara C. McFarlan, Timothy W. Abraham, Douglas C. Cameron, James R. Millis, John Rosazza, Lishan Zhao, David Paul Weiner
  • Publication number: 20090130285
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel beverage compositions comprising monatin and methods for making such compositions. The present invention also relates to beverage compositions comprising specific monatin stereoisomers, specific blends of monatin stereoisomers, and/or monatin produced via a biosynthetic pathway in vivo (e.g., inside cells) or in vitro.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Timothy W. Abraham, Douglas C. Cameron, Melanie J. Goulson, Paula M. Hicks, Michael G. Lindley, Sara C. McFarlan, James R. Millis, John Rosazza, Lishan Zhao, David P. Weiner
  • Publication number: 20090117625
    Abstract: Methods and compositions that can be used to make monatin from glucose, tryptophan, indole-3-lactic acid, indole-3-pyruvate, and 2-hydroxy 2-(indol-3-ylmethyl)-4-keto glutaric acid, are provided. Methods are also disclosed for producing the indole-3-pyruvate and 2-hydroxy 2-(indol-3-ylmethyl)-4-keto glutaric acid intermediates. Compositions provided include nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides, chemical structures, and cells. Methods include in vitro and in vivo processes, and the in vitro methods include chemical reactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: Timothy W. Abraham, Douglas C. Cameron, Paula M. Hicks, Sara C. McFarlan, Jim Millis, John Rosazza, Lishan Zhao, David P. Weiner
  • Publication number: 20080020435
    Abstract: This invention relates to polypeptides having aldolase activity, including pyruvate activity such as, without limitation, HMG and/or KHG aldolase activity, polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides, and methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. In some embodiments, the invention is directed to polypeptides having aldolase activity, including pyruvate activity such as, without limitation, HMG and/or KHG aldolase activity, including thermostable and thermotolerant activity, and polynucleotides encoding these enzymes, and making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. The polypeptides in accordance with the invention can be used in a variety of pharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial contexts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: Ellen Burke, Steven Gort, Paula Hicks, Peter Luginbuhl, Sara McFarlan, Toby Richardson, Christopher Solheid, David Weiner, Lishan Zhao
  • Publication number: 20060252135
    Abstract: Monatin and certain stereoisomers of monatin, such as R,R monatin and S,R monatin, as well as salts thereof, are produced using polypeptides and biosynthetic pathways. These polypeptides and biosynthetic pathways are also useful in the production of R-2-hydroxy-2-(indoly-3-ylmethyl)-4-keto glutaric acid, an intermediate that is formed in certain monatin synthesis pathways, including some biosynthetic pathways.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Applicant: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian Brazeau, Ellen Burke, Mervyn DeSouza, Steven Gort, Paula Hicks, Sherry Kollmann, Peter Luginbuhl, Sara McFarlan, Toby Richardson, Fernando Sanchez-Riera, Christopher Solheid, David Weiner, Lishan Zhao