Patents by Inventor Michael M. Neff

Michael M. Neff 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).

  • Gene for a Dof transcription factor capable of altering the size and stature of a plant
    Patent number: 7265264
    Abstract: A transgenic plant transformed by a Dof transcription factor, OBP3, coding nucleic acid, wherein expression of the nucleic acid sequence in the plant results in an alteration in the size of the resulting plant as compared to a corresponding wild-type variety of plant. Also provided are agricultural products, including seeds, produced by the transgenic plants. Further provided are isolated OBP3's, isolated nucleic acid coding OBP3's, and vectors and host cells containing the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Washington University
    Inventor: Michael M. Neff
  • Genetically modified plants having modulated brassinosteroid signaling
    Patent number: 7034205
    Abstract: Disclosed are plants and methods of making plants that have a dwarf stature in comparison to wildtype plants. By transforming a wildtype plant with a “bas1” gene, or functional homolog thereof, the plant grows to have a dwarf stature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
    Inventors: Michael M. Neff, Joanne Chory
  • Gene for a Dof transcription factor capable of altering the size and stature of a plant
    Publication number: 20040045055
    Abstract: A transgenic plant transformed by a Dof transcription factor, OBP3, coding nucleic acid, wherein expression of the nucleic acid sequence in the plant results in an alteration in the size of the resulting plant as compared to a corresponding wild-type variety of plant. Also provided are agricultural products, including seeds, produced by the transgenic plants. Further provided are isolated OBP3's, isolated nucleic acid coding OBP3's, and vectors and host cells containing the latter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: Washington University
    Inventor: Michael M. Neff
  • Genetically modified plants having modulated brassinosteroid signaling
    Patent number: 6534313
    Abstract: The present invention provides cytochrome P450s useful in for producing genetically modified plants characterized as having the phenotypic trait of modulated brassinolide synthesis or signaling, for example, resulting in insect resistance, dwarfism and darker-green foliage compared with wild type plants. Such plants can be modified, for example, using “bas1”, or functional homologues thereof, a polypeptide encoded by bas1 that modulates brassinolide synthesis and/or signaling in plants. The invention also provides methods for modulating ecdysteroid activity in a plant and for assaying brassinosteroid function in a plant. The latter method can be used to create a gain-of-function allelic series of plants characterized by increasing levels of overexpression of a cytochrome P450 to screen for brassinolide activity in a plant species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
    Inventors: Michael M. Neff, Joanne Chory
  • Genetically modified plants having modulated brassinosteroid signaling
    Publication number: 20020073446
    Abstract: Disclosed are plants and methods of making plants that have a dwarf stature in comparison to wildtype plants. By transforming a wildtype plant with a “bas1” gene, or functional homolog thereof, the plant grows to have a dwarf stature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Michael M. Neff, Joanne Chory