Patents by Inventor Martha A. O'Brien

Martha A. O'Brien 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: 9951372
    Abstract: The present invention provides compounds and methods for assaying redox state of metabolically active cells and methods for assaying enzyme activity and/or metabolite level by coupling to redox defining co-factor NAD(P)/NAD(P)H measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: PROMEGA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wenhui Zhou, Jolanta Vidugiriene, Helene A. Benink, James J. Cali, Sarah Duellman, Dieter Klaubert, Donna Leippe, Martha O'Brien, John Shultz, Mary Sobol
  • Patent number: 9631225
    Abstract: A method and kit are provided for enhancing the tolerance of an assay reagent to compounds in an assay sample, the assay reagent including a luciferase enzyme. The method includes contacting the luciferase with a tolerance enhancement agent in an amount sufficient to substantially protect luciferase enzyme activity from interference of the compound and minimize interference by at least about 10% relative to an assay not having tolerance enhancement agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: PROMEGA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Erika Hawkins, James J. Cali, Samuel Kin Sang Ho, Martha A. O'Brien, Richard Somberg, Robert F. Bulleit, Keith V. Wood
  • Patent number: 9273343
    Abstract: The present invention provides compounds and methods for assaying redox state of metabolically active cells and methods for assaying enzyme activity and/or metabolite level by coupling to redox defining co-factor NAD(P)/NAD(P)H measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: PROMEGA CORPORATION
    Inventors: James J. Cali, Sarah Duellman, Dieter Klaubert, Donna Leippe, Martha O'Brien, John Shultz, Jolanta Vidugiriene, Wenhui Zhou, Mary Sobol
  • Publication number: 20150337359
    Abstract: A method and kit are provided for enhancing the tolerance of an assay reagent to compounds in an assay sample, the assay reagent including a luciferase enzyme. The method includes contacting the luciferase with a tolerance enhancement agent in an amount sufficient to substantially protect luciferase enzyme activity from interference of the compound and minimize interference by at least about 10% relative to an assay not having tolerance enhancement agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Erika Hawkins, James J. Cali, Samuel Kin Sang Ho, Martha A. O'Brien, Richard Somberg, Robert F. Bulleit, Keith V. Wood
  • Patent number: 8962266
    Abstract: The present invention provides compounds and methods for assaying activities of enzymes such as histone deacetylases and histone acetyltransferases. In some embodiments, the methods may be performed in one step. The compounds described herein features peptide-based compounds having at least one blocked lysine or arginine residue which are coupled to reporter moieties. The methods described herein involve reacting a compound described herein with an enzyme, such as a histone deacetylase enzyme or a histone acetyltransferase enzyme, and an endopeptidase that recognizes basic amino acids to release the reporter moiety which may be subsequently detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Promega Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Kirkland, Andrew L. Niles, Martha O'Brien, Carolyn Woodroofe Hitko
  • Patent number: 8859220
    Abstract: A method and kit are provided for enhancing the tolerance of an assay reagent to compounds in an assay sample, the assay reagent including a luciferase enzyme. The method includes contacting the luciferase with a tolerance enhancement agent in an amount sufficient to substantially protect luciferase enzyme activity from interference of the compound and minimize interference by at least about 10% relative to an assay not having tolerance enhancement agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Promega Corporation
    Inventors: Erika Hawkins, James J. Cali, Samuel Kin Sang Ho, Martha A. O'Brien, Richard Somberg, Robert F. Bulleit, Keith V. Wood
  • Publication number: 20140099655
    Abstract: The present invention provides compounds and methods for assaying activities of enzymes such as histone deacetylases and histone acetyltransferases. In some embodiments, the methods may be performed in one step. The compounds described herein features peptide-based compounds having at least one blocked lysine or arginine residue which are coupled to reporter moieties. The methods described herein involve reacting a compound described herein with an enzyme, such as a histone deacetylase enzyme or a histone acetyltransferase enzyme, and an endopeptidase that recognizes basic amino acids to release the reporter moiety which may be subsequently detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Promega Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Kirkland, Andrew L. Niles, Martha O'Brien, Carolyn Woodroofe Hitko
  • Publication number: 20140093894
    Abstract: The present invention provides compounds and methods for assaying redox state of metabolically active cells and methods for assaying enzyme activity and/or metabolite level by coupling to redox defining co-factor NAD(P)/NAD(P)H measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: PROMEGA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Helene A. BENINK, James J. CALI, Sarah DUELLMAN, Dieter KLAUBERT, Donna LEIPPE, Martha O'BRIEN, John SHULTZ, Jolanta VIDUGIRIENE, Wenhui ZHOU, Mary SOBOL
  • Patent number: 8603767
    Abstract: A method and kit are provided for enhancing the tolerance of an assay reagent to compounds in an assay sample, the assay reagent including a luciferase enzyme. The method includes contacting the luciferase with a tolerance enhancement agent in an amount sufficient to substantially protect luciferase enzyme activity from interference of the compound and minimize interference by at least about 10% relative to an assay not having tolerance enhancement agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Promega Corporation
    Inventors: Erika Hawkins, James J. Cali, Samuel Kin Sang Ho, Martha A. O'Brien, Richard Somberg, Robert F. Bulleit, Keith V. Wood
  • Publication number: 20130130289
    Abstract: The present invention provides compounds and methods for assaying redox state of metabolically active cells and methods for assaying enzyme activity and/or metabolite level by coupling to redox defining co-factor NAD(P)/NAD(P)H measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: PROMEGA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Helene A. BENINK, James J. CALI, Sarah DUELLMAN, Dieter KLAUBERT, Donna LEIPPE, Martha O'BRIEN, John SHULTZ, Jolanta VIDUGIRIENE, Wenhui ZHOU, Mary SOBOL
  • Patent number: 8361739
    Abstract: A method and kit are provided for enhancing the tolerance of an assay reagent to compounds in an assay sample, the assay reagent including a luciferase enzyme. The method includes contacting the luciferase with a tolerance enhancement agent in an amount sufficient to substantially protect luciferase enzyme activity from interference of the compound and minimize interference by at least about 10% relative to an assay not having tolerance enhancement agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Promega Corporation
    Inventors: Erika Hawkins, James J. Cali, Samuel Kin Sang Ho, Martha A. O'Brien, Richard Somberg, Robert F. Bulleit, Keith V. Wood
  • Publication number: 20120064554
    Abstract: The present invention provides compounds and methods for assaying activities of enzymes such as histone deacetylases and histone acetyltransferases. In some embodiments, the methods may be performed in one step. The compounds described herein features peptide-based compounds having at least one blocked lysine or arginine residue which are coupled to reporter moieties. The methods described herein involve reacting a compound described herein with an enzyme, such as a histone deacetylase enzyme or a histone acetyltransferase enzyme, and an endopeptidase that recognizes basic amino acids to release the reporter moiety which may be subsequently detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: PROMEGA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Kirkland, Andrew L. Niles, Martha O'Brien, Carolyn Woodroofe Hitko
  • Patent number: 8071328
    Abstract: A sensitive bioluminescent assay to detect proteases including caspases, trypsin and tryptase is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Promega Corporation
    Inventors: Martha O'Brien, Keith V. Wood, Dieter Klaubert, William Daily
  • Publication number: 20110081670
    Abstract: A method and kit are provided for enhancing the tolerance of an assay reagent to compounds in an assay sample, the assay reagent including a luciferase enzyme. The method includes contacting the luciferase with a tolerance enhancement agent in an amount sufficient to substantially protect luciferase enzyme activity from interference of the compound and minimize interference by at least about 10% relative to an assay not having tolerance enhancement agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: PROMEGA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Erika Hawkins, James J. Cali, Samuel Kin Sang Ho, Martha A. O'Brien, Richard Somberg, Robert F. Bulleit, Keith V. Wood
  • Publication number: 20100249427
    Abstract: A sensitive bioluminescent assay to detect proteases including caspases, trypsin and tryptase is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: PROMEGA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martha O'Brien, Keith V. Wood, Dieter Klaubert, William Daily
  • Patent number: 7741067
    Abstract: A method and kit is provided for enhancing the tolerance of an assay reagent to compounds in an assay sample, the assay reagent including a luciferase enzyme. The method includes contacting the luciferase with a tolerance enhancement agent in an amount sufficient to substantially protect luciferase enzyme activity from interference of the compound and minimize interference by at least about 10% relative to an assay not having tolerance enhancement agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Promega Corporation
    Inventors: Erika Hawkins, James J. Cali, Samuel Kin Sang Ho, Martha A. O'Brien, Richard Somberg, Robert F. Bulleit, Keith V. Wood
  • Patent number: 7666987
    Abstract: A sensitive bioluminescent assay to detect proteases including caspases is provided which employs an aminoluciferin or a carboxy-terminal protected derivative thereof covalently linked via a peptide bond to a substrate for a caspase or an aminoluciferin or a carboxy-terminal protected derivative thereof covalently linked via a peptide bond to a peptide substrate comprising aspartate that is specifically cleaved by a protease specific for the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Promega Corporation
    Inventors: Martha O'Brien, Keith V. Wood, Dieter Klaubert, William Daily
  • Patent number: 7384758
    Abstract: A sensitive bioluminescent assay to detect proteases, including caspases and proteases that specifically cleave a peptide substrate having aspartate, is provided. In one embodiment, the assay employs an aminoluciferin or a carboxy-terminal protected derivative thereof covalently linked via a peptide bond to a substrate for a caspase or an aminoluciferin or a carboxy-terminal protected derivative thereof covalently linked via a peptide bond to a peptide substrate comprising aspartate that is specifically cleaved by a protease specific for the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Promeaga Corporation
    Inventors: Martha O'Brien, Keith V. Wood, Dieter Klaubert, William Daily
  • Patent number: 7148030
    Abstract: A sensitive bioluminescent assay to detect proteases including caspases, trypsin and tryptase is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Promega Corporation
    Inventors: Martha O'Brien, Keith V. Wood, Dieter Klaubert, William Daily
  • Publication number: 20060183177
    Abstract: A sensitive bioluminescent assay to detect proteases including caspases, trypsin and tryptase is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Inventors: Martha O'Brien, Keith Wood, Dieter Klaubert, William Daily