Patents by Inventor Merja Penttilä

Merja Penttilä 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).

  • Publication number: 20110287505
    Abstract: Yeast cells are transformed with an exogenous xylose isomerase gene. Additional genetic modifications enhance the ability of the transformed cells to ferment xylose to ethanol or other desired fermentation products. Those modifications include deletion of non-specific or specific aldose reductase gene(s), deletion of xylitol dehydrogenase gene(s) and/or overexpression of xylulokinase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Vineet Rajgarhia, Kari Koivuranta, Merja Penttilä, Marja Ilmen, Pirkko Suominen, Aristos Aristidou, Christopher Kenneth Miller, Stacey Olson, Laura Ruohonen
  • Publication number: 20110287506
    Abstract: Yeastcells are transformed with an exogenous xylose isomerase gene. Additional genetic modifications enhance the ability of the transformed cells to ferment xylose to ethanol or other desired fermentation products. Those modifications include deletion of non-specific or specific aldose reductase gene(s), deletion of xylitol dehydrogenase gene(s) and/or overexpression of xylulokinase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Vineet Rajgarhia, Kari Koivuranta, Merja Penttilä, Marja Ilmen, Pirkko Suominen, Aristos Aristidou, Christopher Kenneth Miller, Stacey Olson, Laura Ruohonen
  • Patent number: 7943366
    Abstract: Yeast cells are transformed with an exogenous xylose isomerase gene. Additional genetic modifications enhance the ability of the transformed cells to ferment xylose to ethanol or other desired fermentation products. Those modifications', include deletion of non-specific or specific aldose reductase gene(s), deletion of xylitol dehydrogenase gene(s) and/or overexpression of xylulokinase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Cargill Inc.
    Inventors: Vineet Rajgarhia, Kari Koivuranta, Merja Penttilä, Marja Ilmen, Pirkko Suominen, Aristos Aristidou, Christopher Kenneth Miller, Stacey Olson, Laura Ruohonen
  • Patent number: 7754456
    Abstract: A process for producing ethanol from a fibrous lignocellulosic raw material. After pre-treatment of the raw material, the fibrous fraction is first hydrolysed at high consistency and then the modified material is subjected simultaneously to continued hydrolysis with a cellulase and to ethanol fermentation in a fermentation mixture. Fermentation is continued to convert an essential portion of the available cellulose into ethanol, then a liquid fraction containing solubilized hemicelluloses is added to the fermentation mixture and fermentation continued. By means of the invention, high fermentation rates, high ethanol concentrations and low ethanol production costs can be attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventors: Merja Penttilä, Matti Siika-Aho, Jaana Uusitalo, Liisa Viikari
  • Patent number: 7527951
    Abstract: A fungal microorganism can be engineered by means of genetic engineering to utilise L-arabinose. The genes of the L-arabinose pathway, which were unknown, i.e. L-arabinitol 4-dehydrogenase and L-xylulose reductase, were identified. These genes, together with the known genes of the L-arabinose pathway, form a functional pathway. This pathway can be introduced to a fungus, which is completely or partially lacking this pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventors: John Londesborough, Merja Penttilä, Peter Richard
  • Patent number: 7338779
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for decreasing the foam formation during cultivation of a microorganism and to a method for producing an enhanced amount of a product of interest. The method comprises that the microorganism is modified in such a way that the microorganism does not produce an essential amount of at least one of the proteins, polypeptides or peptides associated with foam formation during cultivation of the unmodified microorganism. In particular the method comprises that the microorganism is modified not to produce an essential amount of amphipathic or hydrophobic proteins, polypeptides or peptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventors: Tiina Nakari-Setälä, Merja Penttilä, Michael Bailey, Maija Tenkanen
  • Patent number: 7335492
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolation and purification of protein in aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS). Specifically, the invention provides processes for partitioning of proteins of interest in ATPS by fusing said proteins to targeting proteins which have the ability of carrying said protein into one of the phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventors: Merja Penttilä, Tiina Nakari-Setälä, Richard Fagerström, Klaus Selber, Maria-Regina Kula, Markus Linder, Folke Tjerneld
  • Patent number: 7141410
    Abstract: The present invention relates to biocatalysts that are cells, optimally of the Crabtree-negative phenotype, comprising expression vectors encoding genes heterologous to the cell that enable increased production of organic products. More specifically, the invention relates to genetically modified Candida cells, methods for making the Candida cells, and their use in production of organic products, particularly lactic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Natureworks LLC
    Inventors: Vineet Rajgarhia, Merja Penttilä, Laura Ruohonen, Marja Ilmén, Kari Koivuranta, Pirkko Suominen
  • Publication number: 20060234364
    Abstract: Yeast cells are transformed with an exogenous xylose isomerase gene. Additional genetic modifications enhance the ability of the transformed cells to ferment xylose to ethanol or other desired fermentation products. Those modifications', include deletion of non-specific or specific aldose reductase gene(s), deletion of xylitol dehydrogenase gene(s) and/or overexpression of xylulokinase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2004
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Inventors: Vineet Rajgarhia, Kari Koivuranta, Merja Penttilä, Marja Ilmen, Pirkko Suominen, Aristos Aristidou, Christopher Miller, Stacey Olson, Laura Ruohonen
  • Patent number: 7109010
    Abstract: This invention provides biocatalysts that are recombinant yeast cells comprising recombinant expression vectors encoding heterologous lactate dehydrogenase genes for producing lactate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Nature Works LLC
    Inventors: Vineet Rajgarhia, Merja Penttilä, Laura Ruohonen, Marja Ilmén, Kari Koivuranta
  • Patent number: 7091014
    Abstract: The present invention relates to genetic engineering of production microorganisms used in biotechnology to improve their properties so that they produce useful products more efficiently. The microorganisms express at least one enzyme that causes the functional coupling of the oxidation and reduction of substrates by two pyridine nucleotide-linked dehydrogenase reactions with different specificities for the NAD/NADH and NADP/NADPH coenzyme couples and so facilitates the transfer of electrons between the two coenzyme couples through the said substrates. In particular the invention relates to increasing the yields of products such as ethanol or amino acids from carbon and nitrogen sources such as biomass comprising hexoes, pentoses or their polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventors: Aristos Aristidou, John Londesborough, Merja Penttilä, Peter Richard, Laura Ruohonen, Hans Söderlund, Anita Teleman, Mervi Toivari
  • Patent number: 7060669
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolation and purification of proteins in aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS). Specifically the invention provides processes for partitioning of proteins of interest in ATPS by fusing said proteins to targeting proteins which have the ability of carrying said protein into one of the phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventors: Merja Penttilä, Tiina Nakari-Setälä, Richard Fagerström, Klaus Selber, Maria-Regina Kula, Markus Linder, Folke Tjerneld
  • Patent number: 7041464
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a gushing factor for a beverage, in which method the quantity of hydrophobin is determined from the raw material of the beverage and/or from the beverage. The hydrophobin determination is performed immunologically using an immunological reaction between a hydrophobin antigen and an antibody.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Panimolaboratorio-Bryggerilaboratorium
    Inventors: Auli Haikara, Tuija Kleemola, Tiina Nakari-Setälä, Merja Penttilä
  • Patent number: 6967246
    Abstract: A novel microbial protein is described which appears to have significant homology to plant expansin proteins and has the ability to weaken filter paper and swell cellulose. A DNA is described which encodes the novel protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Genencor International, Inc.
    Inventors: Barbara A. Swanson, Michael Ward, Merja Penttilä , Jaakko Pere, Markku Saloheimo
  • Patent number: 6582944
    Abstract: This invention relates to recombinant-DNA-technology. Specifically this invention relates to new recombinant yeast strains transformed with xylose reductase and/or xylitol dehydrogenase enzyme genes. A yeast strain transformed with the xylose reductase gene is capable of reducing xylose to xylitol and consequently of producing xylitol in vivo. If both of these genes are transformed into a yeast strain, the resultant strain is capable of producing ethanol on xylose containing medium during fermentation. Further, the said new yeast strains are capable of expressing the said two enzymes. Xylose reductase produced by these strains can be used in an enzymatic process for the production of xylitol in vitro.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Xyrofin Oy
    Inventors: Johan Hallborn, Merja Penttilä, Heikki Ojamo, Mats Walfridsson, Ulla Airaksinen, Sirkka Keränen, Bärbel Hahn-Hägerdal
  • Patent number: 6458928
    Abstract: A novel microbial protein is described which appears to have significant homology to plant expansin proteins and has the ability to weaken filter paper and swell cellulose. A DNA is described which encodes the novel protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Genecor International, Inc.
    Inventors: Barbara A. Swanson, Michael Ward, Merja Penttilä, Jaakko Pere, Markku Saloheimo
  • Patent number: 6326477
    Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant-DNA-technology, and particularly to genes involved in the control of basic metabolic processes in fungi. The invention specifically provides a mutated form of the native glucose repressor gene cre of filamentous fungi, wherein the mutation is situated in the C-terminal domain, the N-terminal first zinc finger being intact and the C-terminal region including the second zinc finger being mutated so that the viability of a strain carrying said mutated gene is maintained and the glucose repression is relieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventors: Marja Ilmén, Hans Söderlund, Merja Penttilä