Patents by Inventor Qun Zhu

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).

  • Patent number: 8865429
    Abstract: Transgenic oleaginous yeast having increased oil content comprising increased Yap1 transcription factor activity, wherein the increased oil content is compared to the oil content of a non-transgenic oleaginous yeast, are described herein. The increased Yap1 transcription factor activity results from overexpressing a Yap1 transcription factor, by increasing the interaction between the transcription factor and a protein that is capable of activating the transcription factor, or by a combination thereof. Methods of using these yeast strains are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Seung-Pyo Hong, Zhixiong Xue, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Patent number: 8859849
    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) using these delta-8 desaturases in plants and oleaginous yeast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Howard Glenn Damude, Zhixiong Xue, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Patent number: 8846374
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Pamela L. Sharpe, Rick W. Ye, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Patent number: 8828690
    Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding multizymes (i.e., single polypeptides having at least two independent and separable enzymatic activities) along with a method of making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) using these multizymes in plants and oleaginous yeast are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Howard G. Damude, Anthony J. Kinney, Kevin G. Ripp, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Patent number: 8822185
    Abstract: Methods of increasing the amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the total lipid fraction and in the oil fraction of PUFA-producing, oleaginous eukaryotes, accomplished by modifying the activity of peroxisome biogenesis factor (Pex) proteins, are disclosed. Disruptions of a chromosomal Pex3 gene, Pex10p gene or Pex16p gene in a PUFA-producing, oleaginous eukaryotic strain resulted in an increased amount of PUFAs, as a percent of total fatty acids and as a percent of dry cell weight, in the total lipid fraction and in the oil fraction of the strain, as compared to the parental strain whose native Pex protein was not disrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Seung-Pyo Hong, Pamela L Sharpe, Zhixiong Xue, Narendra S Yadav, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Patent number: 8815566
    Abstract: Engineered strains of the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica capable of producing greater than 25% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, an ?-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid) in the total oil fraction are described. These strains comprise various chimeric genes expressing heterologous desaturases, elongases and acyltransferases and optionally comprise various native desaturase and acyltransferase knockouts to enable synthesis and high accumulation of EPA. Production host cells are claimed, as are methods for producing EPA within said host cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Howard Glenn Damude, Peter John Gillies, Daniel Joseph Macool, Stephen K Picataggio, Dana M. Walters Pollak, James John Ragghianti, Zhixiong Xue, Narendra S Yadav, Hongxiang Zhang, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Publication number: 20140220645
    Abstract: Recombinant microbial cells are disclosed herein that comprise (i) a down-regulation of an endogenous polynucleotide sequence encoding Sou2 sorbitol utilization protein, and (ii) a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) biosynthetic pathway. The down-regulation of the polynucleotide sequence encoding Sou2 sorbitol utilization protein can increase the lipid content of the microbial cells and/or decrease the total amount of sugar alcohols produced by the microbial cells. Also disclosed are methods of using the recombinant microbial cells to produce oil containing omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as EPA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Quinn Qun Zhu, Seung-Pyo Hong, Dongming Xie, Zhixiong Xue, Hyeryoung Yoon, Michael Dauner
  • Patent number: 8785164
    Abstract: Recombinant oleaginous microorganisms having increased oil content due to the expression of a caleosin polypeptide are described. A recombinant oleaginous microorganism of the disclosed invention produces at least 25% of its dry cell weight as oil, and comprises a functional polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) biosynthetic pathway and at least one genetic construct encoding a caleosin polypeptide. A method for increasing the amount of oil in a recombinant oleaginous microorganism is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Seung-Pyo Hong, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Publication number: 20140186906
    Abstract: Recombinant microbial cells are disclosed herein that produce an oil comprising at least 28 percent eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) measured as a weight percent of dry cell weight. These cells may comprise a polynucleotide sequence encoding an active acyl-CoA:lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase (LPCAT) comprising at least one amino acid mutation in a membrane-bound O-acyltransferase motif. In addition, the cells may comprise a down-regulation of an endogenous polynucleotide sequence encoding Sou2 sorbitol utilization protein, and/or one or more polynucleotides encoding phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (PDAT), delta-12 desaturase, a dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) synthase multizyme, delta-8 desaturase, malonyl-CoA synthetase (MCS), or acyl-CoA:lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAAT). Also disclosed are methods of using the recombinant microbial cells to produce oil containing omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as EPA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Quinn Qun Zhu, Seung-Pyo Hong, Pamela L. Sharpe, Narendra S. Yadav, Xiaochun Fan, Michael Dauner
  • Patent number: 8735108
    Abstract: Engineered strains of the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica capable of producing greater than 50 weight percent of eicosapentaenoic 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. Gene knockouts are also described, as are methods for producing EPA within host cells, and products comprising EPA from the optimized Yarrowia lipolytica strains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Zhixiong Xue, Narendra S Yadav, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Patent number: 8735094
    Abstract: Promoter regions associated with the Yarrowia lipolytica n-alkane-hydroxylating cytochrome P450 (ALK2) 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: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Patent number: 8735137
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Seung-Pyo Hong, John E. Seip, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Publication number: 20140130206
    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: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicants: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL INC, E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: EDGAR B. 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
  • Patent number: 8703473
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 8685682
    Abstract: An engineered strain of the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica capable of producing greater than 5.6% docosahexaenoic acid acid (DHA, an w-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid) in the total oil fraction is described. This strain comprises various chimeric genes expressing heterologous desaturases, elongases and acyltransferases and optionally comprises various native desaturase and acyltransferase knockouts to enable synthesis and high accumulation of DHA. Production host cells are claimed, as are methods for producing DHA within said host cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Howard Glenn Damude, Peter John Gillies, Daniel Joseph Macool, Stephen K Picataggio, James John Ragghianti, John E Seip, Zhixiong Xue, Narendra S Yadav, Hongxiang Zhang, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Patent number: 8658413
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20140030772
    Abstract: Engineered strains of the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica capable of producing greater than 25% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, an ?-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid) in the total oil fraction are described. These strains comprise various chimeric genes expressing heterologous desaturases, elongases and acyltransferases and optionally comprise various native desaturase and acyltransferase knockouts to enable synthesis and high accumulation of EPA. Production host cells are claimed, as are methods for producing EPA within said host cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Howard Glenn Damude, Peter John Gillies, Daniel Joseph Macool, Stephen K. Picataggio, Dana M. Walters Pollak, James John Ragghianti, Zhixiong Xue, Narendra S. Yadav, Hongxiang Zhang, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Publication number: 20140031572
    Abstract: Methods for increasing C18 to C20 elongation conversion efficiency and/or ?4 desaturation conversion efficiency in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid [“LC-PUFA”]-producing recombinant oleaginous microbial host cells are provided herein, based on over-expression of acyl-CoA:lysophospholipid acyltransferases [“LPLATs”] (e.g., Ale1, LPAAT, LPCAT). Production host cells and oils produced by the methods of the invention are also claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: E I Du Pont De Nemours And Company
    Inventors: Narendra S. Yadav, Hongxiang Zhang, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Patent number: 8637298
    Abstract: Described are engineered strains of the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica capable of producing an oil comprising greater than 50 weight percent of eicosapentaenoic acid [“EPA”], an ?-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, measured as a weight percent of total fatty acids [“% TFAs”] and having a ratio of at least 3.1 of EPA % TFAs, to linoleic acid, measured as % TFAs. These strains over-express at least one ?9 elongase/?8 desaturase multizyme, in addition to other heterologous ?9 elongases, ?8 desaturases, ?5 desaturases, ?17 desaturases, ?12 desaturases, C16/18 elongases, and optionally over-express diacylglycerol cholinephosphotransferases, malonyl CoA synthetases and/or acyl-CoA lysophospholipid acyltransferases. The expression of at least one peroxisome biogenesis factor protein is down-regulated. Methods for producing EPA within said host cells, oils obtained from the cells, and products therefrom are claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Seung-Pyo Hong, Pamela L. Sharpe, Zhixiong Xue, Narendra S. Yadav, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Patent number: 8614075
    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 cytochome 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: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Quinn Qun Zhu, Dana M. Walters Pollak