Patents by Inventor Peter Heifetz

Peter Heifetz 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: 20110151515
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are disclosed to engineer plastids comprising heterologous genes encoding immuno-activating domains fused to an extracellular domain (ECD) of a receptor or surface glycoprotein, a growth factor or an enzyme and produced within a subcellular organelle, such as a chloroplast. The immuno-activating domains may include those regions of a protein capable of modulating the interaction between immune effector cells via proteins containing stereoselective binding domains and specific ligands, such as the Fc regions of antibodies. The present disclosure also demonstrates the utility of plants, including green algae, for the production of complex multi-domain fusion proteins as soluble bioactive therapeutic agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: SAPPHIRE ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: PETER HEIFETZ, Scott Franklin
  • Publication number: 20080078005
    Abstract: The instant disclosure describes the application of genetic engineering techniques to produce cellulase in plants. Cellulase coding sequences operably linked to promoters active in plants may be transformed into the nuclear genome and/or the plastid genome of a plant. As cellulases may be toxic to plants, chemically-inducible or wound-inducible promoters may be employed. Additionally, the expressed cellulases may be targeted to vacuoles or other cellular organelles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Edouard Lebel, Peter Heifetz, Eric Ward, Scott Uknes
  • Publication number: 20080022425
    Abstract: The instant disclosure describes the application of genetic engineering techniques to produce cellulase in plants. Cellulase coding sequences operably linked to promoters active in plants may be transformed into the nuclear genome and/or the plastid genome of a plant. As cellulases may be toxic to plants, chemically-inducible or wound-inducible promoters may be employed. Additionally, the expressed cellulases may be targeted to vacuoles or other cellular organelles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Edouard Lebel, Peter Heifetz, Eric Ward, Scott Uknes
  • Publication number: 20070243198
    Abstract: A fusion protein that is expressed in a recombinant protein body-like assembly (RPBLA) in host eukaryotic cells and organisms is disclosed. More particularly, a biologically active polypeptide fused to a protein sequence that mediates the induction of RPBLA formation is expressed and accumulated in host cells after transformation with an appropriate vector. The eukaryotic host cell does not produce protein bodies in the absence of the fusion protein. Methods for preparing and using the RPBLAs and the fusion protein are also disclosed, as are nucleic acid molecules that encode the fusion proteins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventors: Peter Heifetz, Blanca Royo, Pablo Luna, Miriam Virgili, Ma Ludevid Mugica, Margarita Torrent Quelglas, Kevin O'Connor, Roser Bergwerf, Ma Ilop Tous
  • Patent number: 7235711
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of plastid transformation. The invention provides transformation vectors and methods to obtain transplastomic plants or algae having a transformed plastid comprising the steps of introducing into plastids a recombinant nucleic acid molecule or vector, and two phases of selection with first selection phase using a non-lethal compound and a second selection phase using a lethal compound. Alternatively, the dual selection method is conducted simultaneously using a lower concentration of the lethal compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Syngenta Participations AG
    Inventors: Eric Boudreau, Weining Gu, Anic Deframond, Peter Heifetz
  • Publication number: 20060179514
    Abstract: Improved methods for the production of multimeric-protein-complexes, such as redox proteins and immunoglobulins, in association with oil bodies are described. The redox protein is enzymatically active when prepared in association with the oil bodies. Also provided are related nucleic acids, proteins, cells, plants, and compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Inventors: Gijs Rooijen, Steven Zaplachinski, Peter Heifetz, Steven Briggs, Bipin Dalmia, Greg Val
  • Publication number: 20060149482
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a variety of methods for generating functional thioredoxin reductase variants in which at least one physical, chemical or biological property of the variant is altered in a specific and desired manner when compared to the wild-type protein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: Bipin Dalmia, Steven Briggs, Greg del Val, John Desjarlais, Peter Heifetz, Peter Luginbuhl, Umesh Muchhal
  • Patent number: 7071307
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a variety of methods for generating functional thioredoxin reductase variants in which at least one physical, chemical or biological property of the variant is altered in a specific and desired manner when compared to the wild-type protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignees: Syngenta Participations AG, Xencor, Inc.
    Inventors: Bipin K. Dalmia, Steven P. Briggs, Greg del Val, John R. Desjarlais, Peter Heifetz, Peter Luginbuhl, Umesh Muchhal
  • Publication number: 20050081259
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel DNA sequences coding for protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox) enzymes from soybean, wheat, cotton, sugar beet, oilseed rape, rice, sorghum, and sugar cane. In addition, the present invention teaches modified forms of protox enzymes that are herbicide tolerant. Plants expressing herbicide tolerant protox enzymes taught herein are also provided. These plants may be engineered for resistance to protox inhibitors via mutation of the native protox gene to a resistant form or they may be transformed with a gene encoding an herbicide tolerant form of a plant protox enzyme. The present invention further provides shuffled DNA molecules encoding protox enzymes having enhanced tolerance to a herbicide that inhibits the protox activity encoded by a template DNA molecule from which the shuffled DNA molecule is derived.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Inventors: Peter Heifetz, Sandra Volrath, Marie Johnson, Eric Ward
  • Publication number: 20040133937
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of plastid transformation. The invention provides transformation vectors and methods to obtain transplastomic plants or algae having a transformed plastid comprising the steps of introducing into plastids a recombinant nucleic acid molecule or vector, and two phases of selection with first selection phase using a non-lethal compound and a second selection phase using a lethal compound . Alternatively, the dual selection method is conducted simultaneously using a lower concentration of the lethal compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Applicant: Syngenta Participations AG
    Inventors: Eric Boudreau, Weining Gu, Anic DeFramond, Peter Heifetz
  • Publication number: 20030211511
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a variety of methods for generating functional thioredoxin reductase variants in which at least one physical, chemical or biological property of the variant is altered in a specific and desired manner when compared to the wild-type protein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventors: Steven P. Briggs, Bipin K. Dalmia, Greg del Val, John R. Desjarlais, Peter Heifetz, Peter Luginbuhl, Umesh Muchhal
  • Publication number: 20030100743
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a variety of methods for generating functional thioredoxin reductase variants in which at least one physical, chemical or biological property of the variant is altered in a specific and desired manner when compared to the wild-type protein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventors: Bipin K. Dalmia, Steven P. Briggs, Greg del Val, John R. Desjarlais, Peter Heifetz, Peter Luginbuhl, Umesh Muchhal