Patents by Inventor Mark L. Johnston

Mark L. Johnston 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).

  • Use of DNA encoding plastid pyruvate dehydrogenase and branched chain oxoacid dehydrogenase components to enhance polyhydroxyalkanoate biosynthesis in plants
    Patent number: 6773917
    Abstract: Provided are nucleic acid coding sequences and methods utilizing these sequences for optimizing levels of substrates employed in the biosynthesis of copolymers of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and 3-hydroxy-valerate (3HV) in plants via manipulation of normal metabolic pathways using recombinant techniques. This optimization 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. These enzymes are used in conjunction with the E1&agr;, E1&bgr;, E2, and E3 subunits of plastid pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes and branched chain oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes or mitochondrial dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase E3 components to enhance the levels of threonine, 2-oxobutyrate (&agr;-keto-butyrate), propionate, propionyl-CoA, &bgr;-ketovaleryl-CoA, and &bgr;-hydroxyvaleryl-CoA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: The Curators of the University of Missouri
    Inventors: Douglas D. Randall, Brian P. Mooney, Mark L. Johnston, Michael H. Luethy, Jan A. Miernyk
  • DNA encoding plastid pyruvate dehydrogenase and branched chain oxoacid dehydrogenase components
    Patent number: 6143561
    Abstract: Provided are nucleic acid sequences encoding E1.alpha., E1.beta., and E2 subunits of plastid pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes and branched chain oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: The Curators of the University of Missouri
    Inventors: Douglas D. Randall, Brian P. Mooney, Mark L. Johnston, Michael H. Luethy, Jan A. Miernyk
  • Scalable processing architecture (SPARC) computer motherboard
    Patent number: D374866
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Cycle Computer Corp.
    Inventor: Mark L. Johnston
  • Scalable processing architecture (SPARC) computer motherboard
    Patent number: D412887
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Cycle Computer Corporation
    Inventor: Mark L. Johnston