Patents by Inventor Quinn Qun Zhu

Quinn Qun Zhu 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).

  • ?8 desaturases and their use in making polyunsaturated fatty acids
    Patent number: 8318463
    Abstract: The present invention relates to ?8 desaturase genes, which have the ability to convert eicosadienoic acid (EDA; 20:2 ?-6) to dihomo-?-linolenic acid (DGLA; 20:3 ?-6) and/or eicosatrienoic acid (ETrA; 20:3 ?-3) to eicosatetraenoic acid (ETA; (20:3 ?-3). Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant DNA constructs comprising such fragments encoding ?8 desaturases along with a method of making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) using these ?8 desaturases in oleaginous yeast are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Howard Glenn Damude, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Production of polyunsaturated fatty acids in oleaginous yeasts
    Patent number: 8313911
    Abstract: Methods for the production of omega-3 and/or omega-6 fatty acids in oleaginous yeasts grown on a fermentable carbon source selected from the group consisting of invert sucrose, glucose, fructose and combinations of these, provided that glucose is used in combination with invert sucrose and/or fructose. Specifically, methods are provided for production of linoleic acid, eicosadienoic acid, gamma-linolenic acid, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, n-6 docosapentaenoic acid, ?-linolenic acid, stearidonic acid, eicosatrienoic acid, eicosatetraenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Ethel Noland Jackson, David Richard Short, Dongming Xie, Zhixiong Xue, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • OPTIMIZED STRAINS OF YARROWIA LIPOLYTICA FOR HIGH EICOSAPENTAENOIC ACID PRODUCTION
    Publication number: 20120289600
    Abstract: Engineered strains of the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica capable of producing greater than 50 weight percent of eicosapentaenoic acid [“EPA”], an ?-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, in the total oil fraction are described. These strains over-express heterologous ?9 elongases, ?8 desaturases, ?5 desaturases, ?17 desaturases, ?12 desaturases and C16/18 elongases, and optionally over-express diacylglycerol cholinephosphotransferases. Preferred gene knockouts are also described. Production host cells, methods for producing EPA within said host cells, and products comprising EPA from the optimized Yarrowia lipolytica strains are claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Zhixiong Xue, Narendra S. Yadav, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • ?-9 elongases and their use in making polyunsaturated fatty acids
    Patent number: 8298797
    Abstract: The present invention relates to ?9 elongases, which have the ability to convert linoleic acid (LA; 18:2 ?-6) to eicosadienoic acid (EDA; 20:2 ?-6) and/or ?-linolenic acid (ALA; 18:3 ?-3) to eicosatrienoic acid (ETrA; 20:3 ?-3). Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding ?9 elongases along with a method of making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) using these ?9 elongases in oleaginous yeast are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Howard Glenn Damude, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Polynucleotides encoding proteins involved in plant metabolism
    Patent number: 8288616
    Abstract: The invention provides isolated pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase nucleic acids and their encoded polypeptides. The present invention provides methods and compositions relating to altering pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase levels in plants. The invention further provides recombinant expression cassettes, host cells, transgenic plants, and antibody compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Edgar Benjamin Cahoon, Rebecca E. Cahoon, Saverio Carl Falco, Yiwen Fang, Sabine S. Hantke, Anthony J. Kinney, Jian-Ming Lee, Zhongsen Li, Guo-Hua Miao, Michele Morgante, Xiping Niu, Joan T. Odell, J. Antoni Rafalski, Hajime Sakai, Peizhong Zheng, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • YARROWIA DIACYLGLYCEROL ACYLTRANSFERASE PROMOTER REGIONS FOR GENE EXPRESSION IN YEAST
    Publication number: 20120252079
    Abstract: Promoter regions associated with the Yarrowia lipolytica diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (dgat2) gene are disclosed and have been found to be particularly effective for the expression of heterologous genes in yeast. These promoter regions will be useful for driving high-level expression of genes involved in the production of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: E I Du Pont De Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Quinn Qun Zhu, Zhixiong Xue
  • YARROWIA ESTERASE/LIPASE PROMOTER REGIONS FOR GENE EXPRESSION IN YEAST
    Publication number: 20120252093
    Abstract: Promoter regions associated with the Yarrowia lipolytica esterase/lipase (EL1) gene are disclosed and have been found to be particularly effective for the expression of heterologous genes in yeast. These promoter regions will be useful for driving high-level expression of genes involved in the production of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: E I Du Pont De Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Mutant ?5 desaturases mutated in the heme-binding motif (HPGG) and their use in making polyunsaturated fatty acids
    Patent number: 8268598
    Abstract: The present invention relates to mutant ?5 desaturases, which have the ability to convert dihomo-?-linolenic acid [DGLA; 20:3 ?-6] to arachidonic acid [ARA; 20:4 ?-6] and/or eicosatetraenoic acid [ETA; 20:4 ?-3] to eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA; 20:5 ?-3] and which possess at least one mutation within the HPGG motif of the cytochrome b5-like domain. Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding ?5 desaturases, along with a method of making long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids [“PUFAs”] using these mutant ?5 desaturases in oleaginous yeast, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Quinn Qun Zhu, Dana M. Walters Pollak
  • MUTANT DELTA-9 ELONGASES AND THEIR USE IN MAKING POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS
    Publication number: 20120226062
    Abstract: Mutant delta-9 elongases having the ability to convert linoleic acid [18:2, LA] to eicosadienoic acid [20:2, EDA] and/or ?-linolenic [18:3, ALA] to eicosatrienoic acid [20:3, ETrA] are disclosed herein. Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding mutant delta-9 elongases, along with a method of making long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids [“PUFAs”] using these mutant delta-9 elongases in oleaginous yeast are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael W. Bostick, Hongxian He, Yougen Li, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • ?17 desaturase and its use in making polyunsaturated fatty acids
    Patent number: 8241884
    Abstract: The present invention relates to ?17 desaturases, which have the ability to convert ?-6 fatty acids into their ?-3 counterparts (i.e., conversion of arachidonic acid [20:4, ARA] to eicosapentaenoic acid [20:5, EPA]). Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding ?17 desaturases along with a method of making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) using these ?17 desaturases in oleaginous yeast are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Narendra S. Yadav, Zhixiong Xue, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • DELTA-8 DESATURASES AND THEIR USE IN MAKING POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS
    Publication number: 20120196347
    Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding delta-8 desaturases along with a method of making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and using these delta-8 desaturases in plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: HOWARD GLENN DAMUDE, QUINN QUN ZHU
  • USE OF SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE SUC2 GENE IN YARROWIA LIPOLYTICA FOR SUCROSE UTILIZATION
    Publication number: 20120171719
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are transformed Yarrowia lipolytica comprising an exogenous polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having sucrose invertase activity. Also disclosed are methods of using the transformed Y. lipolytica.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Seung-Pyo Hong, John E. Seip, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • CAROTENOID PRODUCTION IN A RECOMBINANT OLEAGINOUS YEAST
    Publication number: 20120142082
    Abstract: Engineered strains of the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica capable of producing carotenoids (e.g., ?-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin, astaxanthin) are provided. The strains may also be engineered to co-produce at least one ?-3/?-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid and/or at least one additional antioxidant. Methods of using the carotenoid products obtained (e.g., biomass and/or pigmented oils) in food and feed applications are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Pamela L. Sharpe, Rick W. Ye, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Delta-8 desaturases and their use in making polyunsaturated fatty acids
    Patent number: 8188338
    Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding delta-8 desaturases along with a method of making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and using these delta-8 desaturases in plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Howard G. Damude, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • DELTA-9 ELONGASES AND THEIR USE IN MAKING POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS
    Publication number: 20120100595
    Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding delta-9 elongases along with a method of making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and using these delta-9 elongases in plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Howard Glenn DAMUDE, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • ?6 desaturases and their use in making polyunsaturated fatty acids
    Patent number: 8148121
    Abstract: The present invention relates to ?6 desaturases, which have the ability to convert linoleic acid [“LA”; 18:2 ?-6] to ?-linolenic acid [“GLA”; 18:3 ?-6] and/or ?-linolenic acid [“ALA”; 18:3 ?-3] to stearidonic acid [“STA”; 18:4 ?-3]. Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding ?6 desaturases, along with methods of making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids [“PUFAs”] using these ?6 desaturases in oleaginous yeast, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Narendra S. Yadav, Zhixiong Xue, Quinn Qun Zhu, Hongxiang Zhang
  • DELTA-5 DESATURASE AND ITS USE IN MAKING POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS
    Publication number: 20120076894
    Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding delta-5 desaturase along with a method of making long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) using this delta-5 desaturase in plants and oleaginous yeast are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Howard Glenn Damude, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • RECOMBINANT MICROBIAL HOST CELLS FOR HIGH EICOSAPENTAENOIC ACID PRODUCTION
    Publication number: 20120052537
    Abstract: Engineered strains of the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica are disclosed herein that are capable of producing microbial oil comprising greater than 25 weight percent of eicosapentaenoic acid [“EPA”], an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, measured as a weight percent of dry cell weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Seung-Pyo Hong, Pamela L. Sharpe, Zhixiong Xue, Narendra S. Yadav, Hongxiang Zhang, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • MUTANT HPGG MOTIF AND HDASH MOTIF DELTA-5 DESATURASES AND THEIR USE IN MAKING POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS
    Publication number: 20120052549
    Abstract: Mutant delta-5 desaturases, having the ability to convert dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid [DGLA; 20:3 omega-6] to arachidonic acid [ARA; 20:4 omega-6] and/or eicosatetraenoic acid [ETA; 20:4 omega-3] to eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA; 20:5 omega-3] and possessing at least one mutation within the HPGG (SEQ ID NO:7) motif of the cytochome b5-like domain and at least one mutation within the HDASH (SEQ ID NO:8) motif are disclosed. Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding delta-5 desaturases, along with a method of making long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids [“PUFAs”], are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Melissa D. Bosak, Michael W. Bostick, Hongxian He, Seung-Pyo Hong, Dana M. Walters Pollak, Pamela L. Sharpe, Yehong Jamie Wang, Zhixiong Xue, Narendra S. Yadav, Hongxiang Zhang, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Delta-9 elongases and their use in making polyunsaturated fatty acids
    Patent number: 8119860
    Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding delta-9 elongases along with a method of making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and using these delta-9 elongases in plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Howard G. Damude, Quinn Qun Zhu