Patents by Inventor Nicholas John Roberts
Nicholas John Roberts 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: 20220290174Abstract: The invention provides a method for reducing water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) in a photosynthetic cells and plants, the method comprising the step of genetically modifying the photosynthetic cells and plants to express a modified oleosin including at least one artificially introduced cysteine to reduce WSC. The applicants have shown that in such cells and plants, there is a strong correlation between between reduced WSC and elevated photosynthesis and low. In addition WSC is significantly simpler to measure that than the other typically measured characteristics when selecting cells or plants with the most favourable characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2020Publication date: September 15, 2022Inventors: NICHOLAS JOHN ROBERTS, SOMRUTAI WINICHAYAKUL, ZACHARIA D'ARCY BEECHEY-GRADWELL, LUKE JAMES COONEY
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Patent number: 11312971Abstract: The invention provides modified DGAT1 proteins that are modified in the N-terminal region upstream of the acyl-Co A binding site. The modified DGAT proteins show enhanced activity, without reduced protein accumulation when expressed in cells. The modified DGAT1 proteins of the invention can be expressed in cells to increase cellular lipid accumulation and/or modify the cellular lipid profile. The invention also provides polynucleotides encoding the modified DGAT1 proteins, cells and compositions comprising the polynucleotides or modified DGAT proteins, and methods using the modified DGAT1 proteins to produce oil.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2013Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: Agresearch LimitedInventors: Nicholas John Roberts, Amy Christina Curran, Somrutai Winichayakul, Marissa Roldan, Richard William Scott
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Patent number: 10487337Abstract: The invention provides methods and materials for increasing at least one of root biomass and above-ground biomass and in a Poaceae plant by expressing a PEAPOD protein, or fragment thereof, in the Poaceae plant. The invention also provides methods and materials producing a Poaceae plant with at least one of increased root biomass and increased above-ground biomass, by expressing a PEAPOD protein, or fragment thereof, in the Poaceae plant.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2015Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: AgResearch LimitedInventors: Nicholas John Roberts, Kim Archer Richardson, Derek William Richard White
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Patent number: 10337022Abstract: The invention provides methods and materials for increasing root biomass in a plant, by increasing the expression of at least one PEAPOD protein, or fragment thereof, in the plant. The invention also provides methods and materials for producing a plant increased root biomass, the method comprising the step of increasing the expression of at least one PEAPOD protein, or fragment thereof, in the plant.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2015Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: AgResearch LimitedInventors: Nicholas John Roberts, Kim Archer Richardson, Derek William Richard White
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Patent number: 9957519Abstract: The invention provides a novel DGAT1 protein with improved properties over known DGAT proteins, particularly known DGAT1 proteins from plants. The novel DGAT1 protein of the invention can be expressed in cells to increase cellular lipid accumulation. Expression of the DGAT1 protein of the invention in cells results in a higher level of lipid than any of several other plant DGAT1 proteins tested by the applicants. The invention provides polynucleotides encoding the novel DGAT1 protein of SEQ ID NO:39, constructs, cells, plant, plant parts and progeny comprising the polynucleotides, and methods of use of the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2013Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Agresearch LimitedInventors: Nicholas John Roberts, Amy Christina Curran, Somrutai Winichayakul, Marissa Roldan, Richard William Scott
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Publication number: 20180094275Abstract: The invention provides methods and materials for increasing root biomass in a plant, by increasing the expression of at least one PEAPOD protein, or fragment thereof, in the plant. The invention also provides methods and materials for producing a plant increased root biomass, the method comprising the step of increasing the expression of at least one PEAPOD protein, or fragment thereof, in the plant.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2015Publication date: April 5, 2018Applicant: Agresearch LimitedInventors: Nicholas John ROBERTS, Kim Archer RICHARDSON, Derek William Richard WHITE
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Patent number: 9896694Abstract: The invention provides chimeric DGAT1 proteins comprising: a) at their N-terminal ends, an N-terminal portion of a first DGAT1 protein, and b) at their C-terminal ends, a C-terminal portion of a second DGAT1 protein. The chimeric DGAT proteins show enhanced activity relative to at least one of the first DGAT1 protein and the second DGAT1 protein. The chimeric DGAT proteins of the invention can be expressed in cells to increase cellular lipid accumulation and/or modify the cellular lipid profile. The invention also provides polynucleotides encoding the chimeric DGAT1 proteins, cells and compositions comprising the polynucleotides or chimeric DGAT1 proteins, and methods using the chimeric DGAT1 proteins to produce oil.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2013Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignees: Agresearch Limited, National Research Council of CanadaInventors: Nicholas John Roberts, Amy Christina Curran, Somrutai Winichayakul, Marissa Roldan, Richard William Scott, David Charles Taylor, Elizabeth-France Marillia
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Publication number: 20170314036Abstract: The invention provides methods and materials for increasing at least one of root biomass and above-ground biomass and in a Poaceae plant by expressing a PEAPOD protein, or fragment thereof, in the Poaceae plant. The invention also provides methods and materials producing a Poaceae plant with at least one of increased root biomass and increased above-ground biomass, by expressing a PEAPOD protein, or fragment thereof, in the Poaceae plant.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2015Publication date: November 2, 2017Applicant: Agresearch LimitedInventors: Nicholas John ROBERTS, Kim Archer RICHARDSON, Derek William Richard WHITE
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Publication number: 20150284736Abstract: The invention provides chimeric DGAT1 proteins comprising: a) at their N-terminal ends, an N-terminal portion of a first DGAT1 protein, and b) at their C-terminal ends, a C-terminal portion of a second DGAT1 protein. The chimeric DGAT proteins show enhanced activity relative to at least one of the first DGAT1 protein and the second DGAT1 protein. The chimeric DGAT proteins of the invention can be expressed in cells to increase cellular lipid accumulation and/or modify the cellular lipid profile. The invention also provides polynucleotides encoding the chimeric DGAT1 proteins, cells and compositions comprising the polynucleotides or chimeric DGAT1 proteins, and methods using the chimeric DGAT1 proteins to produce oil.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2013Publication date: October 8, 2015Applicants: National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Agresearch LimitedInventors: Nicholas John Roberts, Amy Christina Curran, Somrutai Winichayakul, Marissa Roldan, Richard William Scott, David Charles Taylor, Elizabeth-France Marillia
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Publication number: 20150275223Abstract: The invention provides modified DGAT1 proteins that are modified in the N-terminal region upstream of the acyl-Co A binding site. The modified DGAT proteins show enhanced activity, without reduced protein accumulation when expressed in cells. The modified DGAT1 proteins of the invention can be expressed in cells to increase cellular lipid accumulation and/or modify the cellular lipid profile. The invention also provides polynucleotides encoding the modified DGAT1 proteins, cells and compositions comprising the polynucleotides or modified DGAT proteins, and methods using the modified DGAT1 proteins to produce oil.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2013Publication date: October 1, 2015Applicant: Agresearch LimitedInventors: Nicholas John Roberts, Amy Christina Curran, Somrutai Winichayakul, Marissa Roldan, Richard William Scott
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Publication number: 20150252378Abstract: The invention provides a novel DGAT1 protein with improved properties over known DGAT proteins, particularly known DGAT1 proteins from plants. The novel DGAT1 protein of the invention can be expressed in cells to increase cellular lipid accumulation. Expression of the DGAT1 protein of the invention in cells results in a higher level of lipid than any of several other plant DGAT1 proteins tested by the applicants. The invention provides polynucleotides encoding the novel DGAT1 protein of SEQ ID NO:39, constructs, cells, plant, plant parts and progeny comprising the polynucleotides, and methods of use of the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2013Publication date: September 10, 2015Applicant: AGRESEARCH LIMITEDInventors: Nicholas John Roberts, Amy Christina Curran, Somrutai Winichayakul, Marissa Roldan, Richard William Scott
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Patent number: 8987551Abstract: The invention provides modified oleosins, including at least one artificially introduced cysteine, and methods and compositions for producing the modified oleosins. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the modified oleosins, constructs and host cells comprising the polynucleotides, methods for producing oil bodies comprising the modified oleosins, in vivo and in vitro, and methods for producing oil in host cells and plants. The invention also provides methods for increasing the rate of CO2 assimilation in photosynthetic cells and plants, and involves reducing or preventing lipid recycling, and/or expressing modified oleosins with artificially introduced cysteine residues in the photosynthetic cells and plants. Also provided are methods for increasing oil production in plants, via expression of modified oleosins in the non-photosynthetic tissues/organs of plants.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2012Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Agresearch LimitedInventors: Nicholas John Roberts, Richard William Scott, Somrutai Winichayakul, Marissa Roldan
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Patent number: 8809624Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acids or nucleic acid fragments encoding amino acid sequences for fatty acid biosynthesis enzymes in plants, and the use thereof for the modification of, for example, fatty acid biosynthesis in plants. In particular, the present invention relates to nucleic acids or nucleic acid fragments encoding amino acid sequences of diacylglycerol acyltransferase enzymes.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2011Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignees: AgResearch Limited, Agriculture Victoria Services Pty LtdInventors: Gregory Thomas Bryan, Margaret Fiona Burling, Nicholas John Roberts, Alana Jean Trollope, Derek Ross Woodfield
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Patent number: 8309794Abstract: The present invention relates to constructs including one or more nucleic acids encoding two or more oleosin repeat units, and methods of use thereof. The present invention also relates to recombinant polypeptides including two or more oleosin repeat units, and methods of use thereof.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2006Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignees: Agriculture Victoria Services Pty Ltd, AgResearch LimitedInventors: Richard William Scott, Vickery Laurence Arcus, Nicholas John Roberts
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Publication number: 20120278951Abstract: The invention provides modified oleosins, including at least one artificially introduced cysteine, and methods and compositions for producing the modified oleosins. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the modified oleosins, constructs and host cells comprising the polynucleotides, methods for producing oil bodies comprising the modified oleosins, in vivo and in vitro, and methods for producing oil in host cells and plants. The invention also provides methods for increasing the rate of CO2 assimilation in photosynthetic cells and plants, and involves reducing or preventing lipid recycling, and/or expressing modified oleosins with artificially introduced cysteine residues in the photosynthetic cells and plants. Also provided are methods for increasing oil production in plants, via expression of modified oleosins in the non-photosynthetic tissues/organs of plants.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2012Publication date: November 1, 2012Applicant: AGRESEARCH LIMITEDInventors: Nicholas John Roberts, Richard William Scott, Somrutai Winichayakul, Marissa Roldan
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Publication number: 20110191905Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acids or nucleic acid fragments encoding amino acid sequences for fatty acid biosynthesis enzymes in plants, and the use thereof for the modification of, for example, fatty acid biosynthesis in plants. In particular, the present invention relates to nucleic acids or nucleic acid fragments encoding amino acid sequences of diacylglycerol acyltransferase enzymes.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2011Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicants: AGRICULTURE VICTORIA SERVICES PTY LTD, AGRESEARCH LIMITEDInventors: Gregory Thomas Bryan, Margaret Fiona Burling, Nicholas John Roberts, Alana Jean Trollope, Derek Ross Woodfield
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Patent number: 7906325Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acids or nucleic acid fragments encoding amino acid sequences for fatty acid biosynthesis enzymes in plants, and the use thereof for the modification of, for example, fatty acid biosynthesis in plants. In particular, the present invention relates to nucleic acids or nucleic acid fragments encoding amino acid sequences of diacylglycerol acyltransferase enzymes.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2004Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignees: Agriculture Victoria Services Pty Ltd, AgResearch LimitedInventors: Gregory Thomas Bryan, Margaret Fiona Burling, Nicholas John Roberts, Alana Jean Trollope, Derek Ross Woodfield
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Publication number: 20090133160Abstract: The present invention relates to constructs including one or more nucleic acids encoding two or more oleosin repeat units, and methods of use thereof. The present invention also relates to recombinant polypeptides including two or more oleosin repeat units, and methods of use thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2006Publication date: May 21, 2009Applicants: AGRICULTURE VICTORIA SERVICES PTY LTD, AGRESEARCH LIMITEDInventors: Richard William Scott, Vickery Laurence Arcus, Nicholas John Roberts