Patents by Inventor Norimoto Murai

Norimoto Murai 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).

  • Mutant acetolactate synthase gene from Arabidopsis thaliana for conferring imidazolinone resistance to crop plants
    Patent number: 6225105
    Abstract: Acetolactate synthase (ALS), a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of valine, leucine and isoleucine in plants is inhibited by herbicides comprising imidazolinones. A mutant gene encoding imidazolinone-resistant ALS has been isolated from an imidazolinone-resistant Arabidopsis thaliana (GH-90) and stably maintained in a plasmid pKS1. When compared with the gene coding for imidazolinone-sensitive ALS, the imidazolinone-resistant ALS gene contains a point mutation, wherein adenosine is substituted for guanosine at nucleotide 1958, resulting in the substitution of asparagine for serine at amino acid residue 653. The mutant ALS gene can be used to impart imidazolinone resistance to a crop plant; thereby permitting the utilization of the imidazolinone or analogous herbicide as a single application at a concentration which ensures the complete or substantially complete killing of weeds, while leaving the transgenic crop plant essentially undamaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors a Governing body of Louisiana State University Agricultural and Mechancial College
    Inventors: Kanagasabapathi Sathasivan, Norimoto Murai
  • Mutant acetolactate synthase gene from Ararbidopsis thaliana for conferring imidazolinone resistance to crop plants
    Patent number: 5767366
    Abstract: Acetolactate synthase (ALS), a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of valine, leucine and isoleucine in plants is inhibited by herbicides comprising imidazolinones. A mutant gene encoding imidazolinone-resistant ALS has been isolated from an imidazolinone-resistant Arabidopsis thaliana (GH-90) and stably maintained in a plasmid pKS1. When compared with the gene coding for imidazolinone-sensitive ALS, the imidazolinone-resistant ALS gene contains a point mutation, wherein adenosine is substituted for guanosine at nucleotide 1958, resulting in the substitution of asparagine for serine at amino acid residue 653. The mutant ALS gene can be used to impart imidazolinone resistance to a crop plant; thereby permitting the utilization of the imidazolinone or analogous herbicide as a single application at a concentration which ensures the complete or substantially complete killing of weeds, while leaving the transgenic crop plant essentially undamaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors, a Governing Body of Louisiana State University Agricultural and Mechanical College
    Inventors: Kanagasabapathi Sathasivan, Norimoto Murai
  • Plant gene expression
    Patent number: 5504200
    Abstract: The phaseolin structural gene and promoter are disposed. Also disclosed are plasmids, bacteria, plant cells, plant tissue and plants containing the phaseolin promoter. The promoter finds use in the expression of heterologous plants genes, including the phaseolin gene, in transformed plant cells and plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Mycogen Plant Science, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Hall, John D. Kemp, Jerry L. Slightom, Dennis W. Sutton, Norimoto Murai