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).

  • Publication number: 20160090585
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: David P. WEINER, Ellen G. BURKE, Peter LUGINBUHL, Analia BUENO, Joslin M. CUENCA, Mervyn L. DE SOUZA, Sherry KOLLMANN
  • Patent number: 9169478
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: BASF Enzymes LLC
    Inventors: David P. Weiner, Ellen G. Burke, Peter Luginbuhl, Analia Bueno, Joslin M. Cuenca, Mervyn L. De Souza, Sherry Kollmann
  • Patent number: 8975046
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 8785162
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20140141491
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Verenium Corporation
    Inventors: David P. WEINER, Ellen G. BURKE, Peter LUGINBUHL, Analia BUENO, Joslin M. CUENCA, Mervyn L. DE SOUZA, Sherry KOLLMANN
  • Patent number: 8541220
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Verenium Corporation
    Inventors: David P. Weiner, Ellen G. Burke, Peter Luginbuhl, Analia Bueno, Joslin M. Cuenca, Mervyn L. De Souza, Sherry Kollmann
  • Publication number: 20120164697
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: CARGILL, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 8076108
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 7960599
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Elevance Renewable Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Millis, Michael J. Tupy, Timothy W. Abraham, Mervyn L. De Souza
  • Publication number: 20110053245
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: VERENIUM CORPORATION
    Inventors: David P. Weiner, Peter Luginbuhl, Analia Bueno, Joslin M. Cuenca, Mervyn L. De Souza, Sherry Kollmann
  • Publication number: 20110045547
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20110020882
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 6825001
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignees: Regents of the University of Minnesota, Maxygen Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence P. Wackett, Michael J. Sadowsky, Mervyn L. de Souza, Jeremy S. Minshull
  • Publication number: 20020045236
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Applicant: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Lawrence P. Wackett, Michael J. Sadowsky, Mervyn L. De Souza, Jeremy S. Minshull
  • Publication number: 20020039778
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Applicant: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Lawrence P. Wackett, Michael J. Sadowsky, Mervyn L. de Souza
  • Patent number: 6284522
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Lawrence P. Wackett, Michael J. Sadowsky, Mervyn L. de Souza
  • Patent number: 6265201
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignees: Regents of the University of Minnesota, Maxygen Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence P. Wackett, Michael J. Sadowsky, Mervyn L. de Souza, Jeremy S. Minshull