Patents by Inventor Michel Schalk

Michel Schalk 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: 11932894
    Abstract: Described herein is a method of producing a drimane sesquiterpene such as albicanol, drimenol and/or derivatives thereof by contacting at least one polypeptide with farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) with a polypeptide including a Haloacid dehalogenase (HAD)-like hydrolase domain and having bifunctional terpene synthase activity. The method may be performed in vitro or in vivo. Also described herein are amino acid sequences of polypeptides useful in the methods and nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides described. The described method further provides host cells or organisms genetically modified to express the polypeptides and useful to produce a drimane sesquiterpene such as albicanol, drimenol and/or derivatives thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: FIRMENICH SA
    Inventors: Michel Schalk, Pauline Anziani, Christian Goerner, Daniel Solis Escalante
  • Publication number: 20230183761
    Abstract: Described herein are biocatalytic methods of producing terpene degradation products useful as starting material for the production of perfumery ingredients, such as, for example, ambrox. In particular novel terpene degrading polypeptides (enal-cleaving polypeptides) and novel peptides converting terpenes compounds to oxygenated derivatives (oxygenases) and mutants and variants derived therefrom are described which may be applied in novel types of fully enzymatic multistep degradation pathways allowing the controlled, stepwise conversion and degradation of linear or cyclic terpene substrates. Said novel biosynthetic strategies allow the fully biochemical synthesis of valuable terpene-derived compounds, like for example manooloxy or gamma ambrol. Also described herein are recombinant host organisms carrying the required set of genetic information for the functional expression of the set of enzymes necessary for catalyzing the combination of enzymatic conversion and degradation steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Michel Schalk, Fabienne Deguerry, Daniel Solis Escalante, Pauline Anziani, Sabine Beccucci
  • Publication number: 20230151393
    Abstract: Described herein are the nucleic acid and the amino acid sequences of a cytochrome P450 capable of oxidizing terpene molecules. Also described herein are methods of oxidizing terpene molecules including contacting the cytochrome P450 with the terpene molecule intended to be oxidized. In particular, the method may be carried out in vitro or in vivo to produce oxidized terpene molecules, which may be used in different technical fields such as for example perfumery and flavoring. Also described herein is an expression vector containing the nucleic acid. A non-human host organism or a cell transformed with the nucleic acid is also an object of the disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Michel Schalk, Letizia Rocci, Fabienne Deguerry
  • Publication number: 20230148463
    Abstract: Described herein is a method of producing a drimane sesquiterpene such as albicanol, drimenol and/or derivatives thereof by contacting at least one polypeptide with farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) with a polypeptide including a Haloacid dehalogenase (HAD)-like hydrolase domain and having bifunctional terpene synthase activity. The method may be performed in vitro or in vivo. Also described herein are amino acid sequences of polypeptides useful in the methods and nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides described. The described method further provides host cells or organisms genetically modified to express the polypeptides and useful to produce a drimane sesquiterpene such as albicanol, drimenol and/or derivatives thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Michel Schalk, Pauline Anziani, Christian Goerner, Daniel Solis Escalante
  • Publication number: 20220186265
    Abstract: Described herein is a method of producing a drimane sesquiterpene such as albicanol, drimenol and/or derivatives thereof by contacting at least one polypeptide with farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) with a polypeptide including a Haloacid dehalogenase (HAD)-like hydrolase domain and having bifunctional terpene synthase activity. The method may be performed in vitro or in vivo. Also described herein are amino acid sequences of polypeptides useful in the methods and nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides described. The described method further provides host cells or organisms genetically modified to express the polypeptides and useful to produce a drimane sesquiterpene such as albicanol, drimenol and/or derivatives thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Michel Schalk, Pauline Anziani, Christian Goerner, Daniel Solis Escalante
  • Patent number: 11293037
    Abstract: Described herein is a method of producing a drimane sesquiterpene such as albicanol, drimenol and/or derivatives thereof by contacting at least one polypeptide with farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) with a polypeptide comprising a Haloacid dehalogenase (HAD)-like hydrolase domain and having bifunctional terpene synthase activity. The method may be performed in vitro or in vivo. Also described herein are amino acid sequences of polypeptides useful in the methods and nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides described. The described method further provides host cells or organisms genetically modified to express the polypeptides and useful to produce a drimane sesquiterpene such as albicanol, drimenol and/or derivatives thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: FIRMENICH SA
    Inventors: Michel Schalk, Pauline Anziani, Christian Goerner, Daniel Solis Escalante
  • Patent number: 11293040
    Abstract: Provided is a method of producing one or more sesquiterpene compounds comprising: contacting an acyclic FPP precursor with a polypeptide having terpene synthase activity, wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence that has at least 55% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1, to produce one or more terpenes selected from the group consisting of isovalencene, spirovetiva-1(10),7(11)-diene and valencene or derivatives thereof, or mixture of sesquiterpenes comprising one or more of isovalencene, spirovetiva-1(10),7(11)-diene and/or valencene; and optionally isolating the one or more terpenes or the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: FIRMENICH SA
    Inventors: Michel Schalk, Letizia Rocci
  • Publication number: 20220056485
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to methods and compositions for producing a sesquiterpene alcohol comprising contacting a sesquiterpene with a P450 polypeptide with monooxygenase activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Laurent Daviet, Letizia Rocci, Michel Schalk
  • Patent number: 11214775
    Abstract: Provided herein are biocatalytic methods of producing terpene compounds by applying a novel type of phosphatase enzyme. The method allows the fully biochemical synthesis of terpene compounds, like for example copalol and labdendiol, and derivatives thereof, which serve as valuable intermediates for the production of perfumery ingredients, such as, for example, ambrox. Also provided are novel fully biochemical multistep processes for the production of such compounds as well as novel phosphatase enzymes and mutants and variants derived therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Inventors: Michel Schalk, Letizia Rocci, Daniel Solis Escalante
  • Patent number: 11130972
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to methods and compositions for producing a sesquiterpene alcohol comprising contacting a sesquiterpene with a P450 polypeptide with monooxygenase activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Firmenich SA
    Inventors: Laurent Daviet, Letizia Rocci, Michel Schalk
  • Publication number: 20210222138
    Abstract: Provided herein are biocatalytic methods of producing terpene compounds by applying a novel type of phosphatase enzyme. The method allows the fully biochemical synthesis of terpene compounds, like for example copalol and labdendiol, and derivatives thereof, which serve as valuable intermediates for the production of perfumery ingredients, such as, for example, ambrox. Also provided are novel fully biochemical multistep processes for the production of such compounds as well as novel phosphatase enzymes and mutants and variants derived therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Michel Schalk, Letizia Rocci, Daniel Solis Escalante
  • Publication number: 20210010035
    Abstract: Described herein are methods of producing (+)-manool, the methods including: contacting geranylgeranyl diphosphate with a copalyl diphosphate (CPP) synthase to form a (9S, 10S)-copalyl diphosphate and contacting the CPP with a sclareol synthase enzyme to form (+)-manool and derivatives thereof. Also described herein are nucleic acids encoding CPP synthases and sclareol synthases for use in the methods. Further described herein are expression vectors and non-human host organisms and cells including nucleic acids encoding a CPP synthase and a sclareol synthase as described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Michel Schalk, Laurent Daviet, Letizia Rocci, Daniel Solis Escalante
  • Publication number: 20200308612
    Abstract: Provided is a method of producing one or more sesquiterpene compounds comprising: contacting an acyclic FPP precursor with a polypeptide having terpene synthase activity, wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence that has at least 55% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1, to produce one or more terpenes selected from the group consisting of isovalencene, spirovetiva-1(10),7(11)-diene and valencene or derivatives thereof, or mixture of sesquiterpenes comprising one or more of isovalencene, spirovetiva-1(10),7(11)-diene and/or valencene; and optionally isolating the one or more terpenes or the mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: Firmenich SA
    Inventors: Michel SCHALK, Letizia ROCCI
  • Patent number: 10752922
    Abstract: Described herein are methods of producing (+)-manool, the methods including: contacting geranylgeranyl diphosphate with a copalyl diphosphate (CPP) synthase to form a (9S, 10S)-copalyl diphosphate and contacting the CPP with a sclareol synthase enzyme to form (+)-manool and derivatives thereof. Also described herein are nucleic acids encoding CPP synthases and sclareol synthases for use in the methods. Further described herein are expression vectors and non-human host organisms and cells including nucleic acids encoding a CPP synthase and a sclareol synthase as described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Firmenich SA
    Inventors: Michel Schalk, Laurent Daviet, Letizia Rocci, Daniel Solis Escalante
  • Publication number: 20200172936
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to methods and compositions for producing a sesquiterpene alcohol comprising contacting a sesquiterpene with a P450 polypeptide with monooxygenase activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Laurent Daviet, Letizia Rocci, Michel Schalk
  • Publication number: 20200140898
    Abstract: Described herein is a method of producing a drimane sesquiterpene such as albicanol, drimenol and/or derivatives thereof by contacting at least one polypeptide with farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) with a polypeptide comprising a Haloacid dehalogenase (HAD)-like hydrolase domain and having bifunctional terpene synthase activity. The method may be performed in vitro or in vivo. Also described herein are amino acid sequences of polypeptides useful in the methods and nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides described. The described method further provides host cells or organisms genetically modified to express the polypeptides and useful to produce a drimane sesquiterpene such as albicanol, drimenol and/or derivatives thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Michel Schalk, Pauline Anziani, Christian Goerner, Daniel Solis Escalante
  • Patent number: 10570420
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to methods and compositions for producing a sesquiterpene alcohol comprising contacting a sesquiterpene with a P450 polypeptide with monooxygenase activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Firmenich SA
    Inventors: Laurent Daviet, Letizia Rocci, Michel Schalk
  • Publication number: 20190352673
    Abstract: Described herein are methods of producing (+)-manool, the methods including: contacting geranylgeranyl diphosphate with a copalyl diphosphate (CPP) synthase to form a (9S, 10S)-copalyl diphosphate and contacting the CPP with a sclareol synthase enzyme to form (+)-manool and derivatives thereof. Also described herein are nucleic acids encoding CPP synthases and sclareol synthases for use in the methods. Further described herein are expression vectors and non-human host organisms and cells including nucleic acids encoding a CPP synthase and a sclareol synthase as described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Michel Schalk, Laurent Daviet, Letizia Rocci, Daniel Solis Escalante
  • Patent number: 10385363
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing drimenol and/or drimenol derivatives by contacting at least one polypeptide with farnesyl diphosphate. The method may be performed in vitro or in vivo. The present invention also provides amino acid sequences of polypeptides useful in the method of the invention and nucleic acid encoding the polypeptides of the invention. The method further provides host cells or organisms genetically modified to express the polypeptides of the invention and useful to produce drimenol and/or drimenol derivatives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Firmenich SA
    Inventors: Yu-Hua Zhang, Michel Schalk, Olivier Haefliger, Xiu-Feng He, Fabienne Deguerry
  • Patent number: 10385361
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of producing (+)-manool comprising: contacting geranylgeranyl diphosphate with an copalyl diphosphate (CPP) synthase to form a (9S, 10S)-copalyl diphosphate wherein the CPP synthase comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% and 100% sequence identity to a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO:2; and contacting the CPP with a sclareol synthase enzyme to form (+)-manool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Firmenich SA
    Inventors: Michel Schalk, Letizia Rocci