Patents by Inventor Mark J. Burk

Mark J. Burk 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: 8865439
    Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid pathway. The microbial organism contains at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme in a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid pathway. The invention additionally provides a method for producing 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid. The method can include culturing a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid producing microbial organism expressing at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid pathway enzyme in a sufficient amount and culturing under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Genomatica, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony P. Burgard, Mark J. Burk, Robin E. Osterhout, Priti Pharkya
  • Publication number: 20140302573
    Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a muconate pathway having at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a muconate pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce muconate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Mark J. Burk, Robin E. Osterhout, Jun Sun
  • Publication number: 20140295511
    Abstract: A non-naturally occurring microbial organism includes a microbial organism having a 1,3-butanediol (1,3-BDO) pathway having at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a 1,3-BDO pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce 1,3-BDO.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Genomatica, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony P. Burgard, Mark J. Burk, Robin E. Osterhout, Priti Pharkya
  • Patent number: 8753850
    Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a 6-aminocaproic acid, caprolactam, hexametheylenediamine or levulinic acid pathway. The microbial organism contains at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme in the respective 6-aminocaproic acid, caprolactam, hexametheylenediamine or levulinic acid pathway. The invention additionally provides a method for producing 6-aminocaproic acid, caprolactam, hexametheylenediamine or levulinic acid. The method can include culturing a 6-aminocaproic acid, caprolactam or hexametheylenediamine producing microbial organism, where the microbial organism expresses at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a 6-aminocaproic acid, caprolactam, hexametheylenediamine or levulinic acid pathway enzyme in a sufficient amount to produce the respective product, under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce 6-aminocaproic acid, caprolactam, hexametheylenediamine or levulinic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Genomatica, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Burk, Anthony P. Burgard, Robin E. Osterhout, Priti Pharkya
  • Publication number: 20140162327
    Abstract: The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms comprising 1,4-butanediol (14-BDO) and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) pathways comprising at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a 14-BDO and GBL pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce 14-BDO and GBL. The invention additionally provides methods of using such microbial organisms to produce 14-BDO and GBL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: JUN SUN, MARK J. BURK, ANTHONY P. BURGARD, ROBIN E. OSTERHOUT, WEI NIU, JOHN D. TRAWICK, ROBERT HASELBECK
  • Publication number: 20140155567
    Abstract: The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms having a butadiene pathway. The invention additionally provides methods of using such organisms to produce butadiene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Genomatica, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Burk, Anthony P. Burgard, Jun Sun, Robin E. Osterhout, Priti Pharkya
  • Publication number: 20140147900
    Abstract: A non-naturally occurring microbial organism having an isopropanol, 4-hydroxybutryate, or 1,4-butanediol pathway includes at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an isopropanol, 4-hydroxybutryate, or 1,4-butanediol pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce isopropanol, 4-hydroxybutryate, or 1,4-butanediol. The aforementioned organisms are cultured to produce isopropanol, 4-hydroxybutryate, or 1,4-butanediol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Genomatica, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Trawick, Mark J. Burk, Anthony P. Burgard
  • Patent number: 8715957
    Abstract: The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms having a toluene, benzene, p-toluate, terephthalate, (2-hydroxy-3-methyl-4-oxobutoxy)phosphonate, (2-hydroxy-4-oxobutoxy)phosphonate, benzoate, styrene, 2,4-pentadienoate, 3-butene-1ol or 1,3-butadiene pathway. The invention additionally provides methods of using such organisms to produce toluene, benzene, p-toluate, terephthalate, (2-hydroxy-3-methyl-4-oxobutoxy)phosphonate, (2-hydroxy-4-oxobutoxy)phosphonate, benzoate, styrene, 2,4-pentadienoate, 3-butene-1ol or 1,3-butadiene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Genomatica, Inc.
    Inventors: Robin E. Osterhout, Anthony P. Burgard, Priti Pharkya, Mark J. Burk
  • Patent number: 8715971
    Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having n-propanol and isopropanol pathways, 1,4-butanediol (14-BDO) and isopropanol pathways, 1,3-butanediol (13-BDO) and isopropanol pathways or methylacrylic acid (MAA) and isopropanolpathways. The microbial organism contains at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme in each of the respective n-propanol, 14-BDO, 13-BDO or MAA and isopropanol pathways. The invention additionally provides a method for co-producing n-propanol and isopropanol, 14-BDO and isopropanol, 13-BDO and isopropanol or MAA and isopropanol. The method can include culturing an n-propanol and an isopropanol co-producing microbial organism, where the microbial organism expresses at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an n-propanol, an isopropanol, a 14-BDO, a 13-BDO and/or a MAA pathway enzyme in a sufficient amount to produce each of the respective products, under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce each of the respective products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Genomatica, Inc.
    Inventors: Priti Pharkya, Anthony P. Burgard, Robin E. Osterhout, Mark J. Burk, Jun Sun
  • Patent number: 8697421
    Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having an acetyl-CoA pathway and the capability of utilizing syngas or syngas and methanol. In one embodiment, the invention provides a non-naturally occurring microorganism, comprising one or more exogenous proteins conferring to the microorganism a pathway to convert CO, CO2 and/or H2 to acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA), methyl tetrahydrofolate (methyl-THF) or other desired products, wherein the microorganism lacks the ability to convert CO or CO2 and H2 to acetyl-CoA or methyl-THF in the absence of the one or more exogenous proteins. The invention additionally provides a method for producing acetyl-CoA, for example, by culturing an acetyl-CoA producing microbial organism, where the microbial organism expresses at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an acetyl-CoA pathway enzyme or protein in a sufficient amount to produce acetyl-CoA, under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce acetyl-CoA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Genomatica, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Burk, Christophe H. Schilling, Anthony P. Burgard, John D. Trawick
  • Patent number: 8691553
    Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having an acetyl-CoA pathway and the capability of utilizing syngas or syngas and methanol. In one embodiment, the invention provides a non-naturally occurring microorganism, comprising one or more exogenous proteins conferring to the microorganism a pathway to convert CO, CO2 and/or H2 to acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA), methyl tetrahydrofolate (methyl-THF) or other desired products, wherein the microorganism lacks the ability to convert CO or CO2 and H2 to acetyl-CoA or methyl-THF in the absence of the one or more exogenous proteins. For example, the microbial organism can contain at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme or protein in an acetyl-CoA pathway. The microbial organism is capable of utilizing synthesis gases comprising CO, CO2 and/or H2, alone or in combination with methanol, to produce acetyl-CoA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Genomatica, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Burk, Christophe H. Schilling, Anthony P. Burgard, John D. Trawick
  • Patent number: 8663957
    Abstract: A non-naturally occurring microbial organism has cyclohexanone pathways that include at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a cyclohexanone pathway enzyme. A pathway includes a 2-ketocyclohexane-1-carboxyl-CoA hydrolase (acting on C—C bond), a 2-ketocyclohexane-1-carboxylate decarboxylase and an enzyme selected from a 2-ketocyclohexane-1-carboxyl-CoA hydrolase (acting on thioester), a 2-ketocyclohexane-1-carboxyl-CoA transferase, and a 2-ketocyclohexane-1-carboxyl-CoA synthetase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Genomatica, Inc.
    Inventors: Robin E. Osterhout, Anthony P. Burgard, Mark J. Burk, Priti Pharkya
  • Publication number: 20140030779
    Abstract: The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms having a 4-hydroxybutyrate pathway and being capable of producing 4-hydroxybutyrate, wherein the microbial organism comprises one or more genetic modifications. The invention additionally provides methods of producing 4-hydroxybutyrate or related products using the microbial organisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: GENOMATICA, INC.
    Inventors: Priti PHARKYA, Anthony P. BURGARD, Stephen J. VAN DIEN, Robin E. OSTERHOUT, Mark J. BURK, John D. TRAWICK, Michael P. KUCHINSKAS, Brian STEER
  • Publication number: 20140030780
    Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microorganism comprising one or more gene disruptions, the one or more gene disruptions occurring in genes encoding an enzyme obligatory to coupling 1,4-butanediol production to growth of the microorganism when the gene disruption reduces an activity of the enzyme, whereby the one or more gene disruptions confers stable growth-coupled production of 1,4-butanediol onto the non-naturally occurring microorganism. The microorganism can further comprise a gene encoding an enzyme in a 1,4-butanediol (BDO) biosynthetic pathway. The invention additionally relates to methods of using microorganisms to produce BDO.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Genomatica, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony P. BURGARD, Stephen J. Van Dien, Mark J. Burk
  • Patent number: 8617862
    Abstract: The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms having a propylene pathway. The invention additionally provides methods of using such organisms to produce propylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Genomatica, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony P. Burgard, Robin E. Osterhout, Jun Sun, Priti Pharkya, Mark J. Burk
  • Patent number: 8597918
    Abstract: A process of isolating 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BDO) from a fermentation broth includes separating a liquid fraction enriched in 1,4-BDO from a solid fraction comprising cells, removing water from said liquid fraction, removing salts from said liquid fraction, and purifying 1,4-BDO. A process for producing 1,4-BDO includes culturing a 1,4-BDO-producing microorganism in a fermentor for a sufficient period of time to produce 1,4-BDO. The 1,4-BDO-producing microorganism includes a microorganism having a 1,4-BDO pathway having one or more exogenous genes encoding a 1,4-BDO pathway enzyme and/or one or more gene disruptions. The process for producing 1,4-BDO further includes isolating 1,4-BDO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Genomatica, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren Clark, Michael Japs, Mark J. Burk
  • Publication number: 20130303723
    Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a 6-aminocaproic acid, caprolactam, hexametheylenediamine or levulinic acid pathway. The microbial organism contains at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme in the respective 6-aminocaproic acid, caprolactam, hexametheylenediamine or levulinic acid pathway. The invention additionally provides a method for producing 6-aminocaproic acid, caprolactam, hexametheylenediamine or levulinic acid. The method can include culturing a 6-aminocaproic acid, caprolactam or hexametheylenediamine producing microbial organism, where the microbial organism expresses at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a 6-aminocaproic acid, caprolactam, hexametheylenediamine or levulinic acid pathway enzyme in a sufficient amount to produce the respective product, under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce 6-aminocaproic acid, caprolactam, hexametheylenediamine or levulinic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Mark J. Burk, Anthony P. Burgard, Robin E. Osterhout, Priti Pharkya
  • Patent number: 8580543
    Abstract: The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms having a butadiene pathway. The invention additionally provides methods of using such organisms to produce butadiene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Genomatica, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Burk, Anthony P. Burgard, Jun Sun, Robin E. Osterhout, Priti Pharkya
  • Patent number: 8530210
    Abstract: The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms comprising 1,4-butanediol (14-BDO) and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) pathways comprising at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a 14-BDO and GBL pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce 14-BDO and GBL. The invention additionally provides methods of using such microbial organisms to produce 14-BDO and GBL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Genomatica, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Sun, Mark J. Burk, Anthony P. Burgard, Robin E. Osterhout, Wei Niu, John D. Trawick, Robert Haselbeck
  • Publication number: 20130196397
    Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial biocatalyst including a microbial organism having a 4-hydroxybutanoic acid (4-HB) biosynthetic pathway having at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding 4-hydroxybutanoate dehydrogenase, succinyl-CoA synthetase, CoA-dependent succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, or ?-ketoglutarate decarboxylase, wherein the exogenous nucleic acid is expressed in sufficient amounts to produce monomeric 4-hydroxybutanoic acid (4-HB).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Genomatica, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. BURK, Stephen J. VAN DIEN, Anthony P. BURGARD, Wei NIU