Patents by Inventor Mervyn L. de Souza
Mervyn L. de Souza 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).
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Publication number: 20160090585Abstract: This invention relates generally to enzymes, polynucleotides encoding the enzymes, the use of such polynucleotides and polypeptides and more specifically to enzymes having isomerase activity, e.g., racemase activity, e.g., amino acid racemase activity, alanine racemase activity, and/or epimerase activity, and/or catalyze the re-arrangement of atoms within a molecule, catalyze the conversion of one isomer into another, catalyze the conversion of an optically active substrate into a raceme, which is optically inactive, catalyze the interconversion of substrate enantiomers, catalyze the stereochemical inversion around the asymmetric carbon atom in a substrate having only one center of asymmetry, catalyze the stereochemical inversion of the configuration around an asymmetric carbon atom in a substrate having more than one asymmetric center, and/or catalyze the racemization of amino acids.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2015Publication date: March 31, 2016Inventors: David P. WEINER, Ellen G. BURKE, Peter LUGINBUHL, Analia BUENO, Joslin M. CUENCA, Mervyn L. DE SOUZA, Sherry KOLLMANN
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Patent number: 9169478Abstract: This invention relates generally to enzymes, polynucleotides encoding the enzymes having isomerase activity, e.g., racemase activity, e.g., amino acid racemase activity, alanine racemase activity, and/or epimerase activity, and/or catalyze the re-arrangement of atoms within a molecule, catalyze the conversion of one isomer into another, catalyze the conversion of an optically active substrate into a raceme, which is optically inactive, catalyze the interconversion of substrate enantiomers, catalyze the stereochemical inversion around the asymmetric carbon atom in a substrate having only one center of asymmetry, catalyze the stereochemical inversion of the configuration around an asymmetric carbon atom in a substrate having more than one asymmetric center, and/or catalyze the racemization of amino acids.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2013Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: BASF Enzymes LLCInventors: David P. Weiner, Ellen G. Burke, Peter Luginbuhl, Analia Bueno, Joslin M. Cuenca, Mervyn L. De Souza, Sherry Kollmann
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Patent number: 8975046Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 2, 2011Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Cargill, IncorporatedInventors: Brian J. Brazeau, Mervyn L. De Souza, Steven J. Gort, Paula M. Hicks, Sherry R. Kollmann, Jose M. Laplaza, Sara C. McFarlan, Fernando A. Sanchez-Riera, Christopher Solheid
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Patent number: 8785162Abstract: The invention provides for aminotransferase and oxidoreductase polypeptides and nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides. Also provided are methods of using such aminotransferase and oxidoreductase nucleic acids and polypeptides.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2008Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Cargill, IncorporatedInventors: Mervyn L. De Souza, Paula M. Hicks, Sherry R. Kollmann, Jose Laplaza, Joshua M. Lundorff, Sara C. McFarlan, Erin Marasco, Wei Niu, Fernando A. Sanchez-Riera, Christopher Solheid, David P. Weiner, Peter Luginbuhl, Analia Bueno, Joslin Cuenca
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Publication number: 20140141491Abstract: This invention relates generally to enzymes, polynucleotides encoding the enzymes having isomerase activity, e.g., racemase activity, e.g., amino acid racemase activity, alanine racemase activity, and/or epimerase activity, and/or catalyze the re-arrangement of atoms within a molecule, catalyze the conversion of one isomer into another, catalyze the conversion of an optically active substrate into a raceme, which is optically inactive, catalyze the interconversion of substrate enantiomers, catalyze the stereochemical inversion around the asymmetric carbon atom in a substrate having only one center of asymmetry, catalyze the stereochemical inversion of the configuration around an asymmetric carbon atom in a substrate having more than one asymmetric center, and/or catalyze the racemization of amino acids.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2013Publication date: May 22, 2014Applicant: Verenium CorporationInventors: David P. WEINER, Ellen G. BURKE, Peter LUGINBUHL, Analia BUENO, Joslin M. CUENCA, Mervyn L. DE SOUZA, Sherry KOLLMANN
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Patent number: 8541220Abstract: This invention relates generally to enzymes, polynucleotides encoding the enzymes, the use of such polynucleotides and polypeptides and more specifically to enzymes having isomerase activity, e.g., racemase activity, e.g., amino acid racemase activity, alanine racemase activity, and/or epimerase activity, and/or catalyze the re-arrangement of atoms within a molecule, catalyze the conversion of one isomer into another, catalyze the conversion of an optically active substrate into a raceme, which is optically inactive, catalyze the interconversion of substrate enantiomers, catalyze the stereochemical inversion around the asymmetric carbon atom in a substrate having only one center of asymmetry, catalyze the stereochemical inversion of the configuration around an asymmetric carbon atom in a substrate having more than one asymmetric center, and/or catalyze the racemization of amino acids.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2008Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Verenium CorporationInventors: David P. Weiner, Ellen G. Burke, Peter Luginbuhl, Analia Bueno, Joslin M. Cuenca, Mervyn L. De Souza, Sherry Kollmann
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Publication number: 20120164697Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2011Publication date: June 28, 2012Applicant: CARGILL, INCORPORATEDInventors: Brian J. BRAZEAU, Mervyn L. DE SOUZA, Steven J. GORT, Paula M. HICKS, Sherry R. KOLLMANN, Jose M. LAPLAZA, Sara C. MCFARLAN, Fernando A. SANCHEZ-RIERA, Christopher SOLHEID
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Patent number: 8076108Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 6, 2007Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Cargill, IncorporatedInventors: Brian J. Brazeau, Mervyn L. De Souza, Steven J. Gort, Paula M. Hicks, Sherry R. Kollmann, Jose M. Laplaza, Sara C. McFarlan, Fernando A. Sanchez-Riera, Christopher Solheid
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Patent number: 7960599Abstract: A process for producing industrially important chemicals from renewable resources is disclosed. This “biobased” process employs readily available, renewable resources comprising fatty acids rather than exploiting fossil sources, such as coal and petroleum. In one embodiment of the process 1-octene, along with methyl-9-decenoate and butadiene, is produced from linoleic acid via an enzymemediated isomerization reaction, followed by a metathesis reaction with ethylene. Linoleic acid can be isolated from vegetable oils, such as soybean oil.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2004Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Elevance Renewable Sciences, Inc.Inventors: James R. Millis, Michael J. Tupy, Timothy W. Abraham, Mervyn L. De Souza
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Publication number: 20110053245Abstract: This invention relates generally to enzymes, polynucleotides encoding the enzymes, the use of such polynucleotides and polypeptides and more specifically to enzymes having isomerase activity, e.g., racemase activity, e.g., amino acid racemase activity, alanine racemase activity, and/or epimerase activity, and/or catalyze the re-, arrangement of atoms within a molecule, catalyze the conversion of one isomer into another, catalyze the conversion of an optically active substrate into a raceme, which is optically inactive, catalyze the interconversion of substrate enantiomers, catalyze the stereochemical inversion around the asymmetric carbon atom in a substrate having only one center of asymmetry, catalyze the stereochemical inversion of the configuration around an asymmetric carbon atom in a substrate having more than one asymmetric center, and/or catalyze the racemization of amino acids.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2008Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: VERENIUM CORPORATIONInventors: David P. Weiner, Peter Luginbuhl, Analia Bueno, Joslin M. Cuenca, Mervyn L. De Souza, Sherry Kollmann
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Publication number: 20110045547Abstract: The invention provides for isomerase (e.g., racemase) and epimerase polypeptides and nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides. Also provided are methods of using such isomerase (e.g., racemase) and epimerase nucleic acids and polypeptides.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2010Publication date: February 24, 2011Inventors: Mervyn L. de Souza, Wei Niu, Jose Laplaza, Christopher Solheid, Sherry R. Kollmann, Joshua M. Lundorff, Paula M. Hicks, Sara C. McFarlan, Fernando A. Sanchez-Riera, David P. Weiner, Ellen Burke, Peter Luginbuhl, Analia Bueno, Joslin Cuenca
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Publication number: 20110020882Abstract: The invention provides for aminotransferase and oxidoreductase polypeptides and nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides. Also provided are methods of using such aminotransferase and oxidoreductase nucleic acids and polypeptides.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2008Publication date: January 27, 2011Inventors: Mervyn L. de Souza, Paula M. Hicks, Sherry R. Kollmann, Jose Laplaza, Joshua M. Lundorff, Sara C. McFarlan, Erin Marasco, Wei Niu, Fernando A. Sanchez-Riera, Christopher Solheid, David P. Weiner, Ellen Burke, Peter Luginbuhl, Analia Bueno, Joslin Cuenca
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Patent number: 6825001Abstract: This invention relates to the identification of homologs of atrazine chlorohydrolase and the use of these homologs to degrade s-triazine-containing compounds. In particular, this invention includes the identification of homologs of atrazine chlorohydrolase encoded by a DNA fragment having at least 95% homology to the sequence from the nucleic acid sequence beginning at position 236 and ending at position 1655 of SEQ ID NO:1, where the DNA fragment is capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions to SEQ ID NO:1 and has altered catalytic activity as compared with wild-type atrazine chlorohydrolase.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2001Date of Patent: November 30, 2004Assignees: Regents of the University of Minnesota, Maxygen Inc.Inventors: Lawrence P. Wackett, Michael J. Sadowsky, Mervyn L. de Souza, Jeremy S. Minshull
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Publication number: 20020045236Abstract: This invention relates to the identification of homologs of atrazine chlorohydrolase and the use of these homologs to degrade s-triazine-containing compounds. In particular, this invention includes the identification of homologs of atrazine chlorohydrolase encoded by a DNA fragment having at least 95% homology to the sequence from the nucleic acid sequence beginning at position 236 and ending at position 1655 of SEQ ID NO:1, where the DNA fragment is capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions to SEQ ID NO:1 and has altered catalytic activity as compared with wild-type atrazine chlorohydrolase.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2001Publication date: April 18, 2002Applicant: Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Lawrence P. Wackett, Michael J. Sadowsky, Mervyn L. De Souza, Jeremy S. Minshull
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Publication number: 20020039778Abstract: Abstract of the Disclosure An isolated and purified DNA molecule, and an isolated and purified protein, that are involved in the degradation of s-triazine compounds (e.g., atrazine) are provided. A method for the purification of this protein is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2001Publication date: April 4, 2002Applicant: Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Lawrence P. Wackett, Michael J. Sadowsky, Mervyn L. de Souza
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Patent number: 6284522Abstract: An isolated and purified DNA molecule, and an isolated and purified protein, that are involved in the degradation of s-triazine compounds (e.g., atrazine) are provided. A method for the purification of this protein is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 1995Date of Patent: September 4, 2001Assignee: Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Lawrence P. Wackett, Michael J. Sadowsky, Mervyn L. de Souza
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Patent number: 6265201Abstract: This invention relates to the identification of homologs of atrazine chlorohydrolase and the use of these homologs to degrade s-triazine-containing compounds. In particular, this invention includes the identification of homologs of atrazine chlorohydrolase encoded by a DNA fragment having at least 95% homology to the sequence from the nucleic acid sequence beginning at position 236 and ending at position 1655 of SEQ ID NO:1, where the DNA fragment is capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions to SEQ ID NO:1 and has altered catalytic activity as compared with wild-type atrazine chlorohydrolase.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 1998Date of Patent: July 24, 2001Assignees: Regents of the University of Minnesota, Maxygen Inc.Inventors: Lawrence P. Wackett, Michael J. Sadowsky, Mervyn L. de Souza, Jeremy S. Minshull