Patents by Inventor Robert Donald Fallon
Robert Donald Fallon 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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Patent number: 6368804Abstract: A method for preserving immobilized or unimmobilized microbial cells having nitrilase activity and for stabilizing the nitrilase activity of unimmobilized or immobilized microbial cells has been developed. The unimmobilized or immobilized microbial cells are stored in an aqueous solution containing from about 0.10 M to the saturation concentration of an inorganic salt of bicarbonate or carbonate, including ammonium, sodium and potassium salts of bicarbonate or carbonate. Aqueous suspensions containing at least 100 mM bicarbonate or carbonate limit microbial contamination of the stored enzyme catalyst, as well as stabilize the desired nitrilase activity of the uninmmobilized or immobilized cells. Microorganisms which are characterized by an nitrilase activity and are stabilized and preserved by this method include Acidovorax facilis 72-PF-15 (ATCC 55747), Acidovorax facilis 72-PF-17 (ATCC 55745), Acidovorax facilis 72W (ATCC 55746), and transformed microbial cells having nitrilase activity, preferably E.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2000Date of Patent: April 9, 2002Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours & CompanyInventors: Arie Ben-Bassat, Robert Dicosimo, Robert Donald Fallon
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Patent number: 6251650Abstract: The present invention provides a nitrile hydratase nucleic acid fragment isolated from Pseudomonas putida which encodes a nitrile hydratase activity capable of catalyzing the hydrolysis of certain racemic nitriles to the corresponding R- or S-amides. Also provided are transformed microorganisms capable of the active expression of said nitrile hydratase activity. Additionally, the invention provides a transformant harboring the nitrile hydratase gene in conjunction with an amidase gene, both of which may be co-expressed producing active nitrile hydratase and amidase enzymes respectively. Methods for the production of such enantiomeric materials are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2000Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and CompanyInventors: Robert Donald Fallon, Mark James Nelson, Mark Scott Payne
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Patent number: 6133421Abstract: 350 The present invention provides a nitrile hydratase nucleic acid fragment isolated from Pseudomonas putida which encodes a nitrile hydratase activity capable of catalyzing the hydrolysis of certain racemic nitriles to the corresponding R- or S-amides. Also provided are transformed microorganisms capable of the active expression of said nitrile hydratase activity. Additionally, the invention provides a transformant harboring the nitrile hydratase gene in conjunction with an amidase gene, both of which may be co-expressed producing active nitrile hydratase and amidase enzymes respectively. Methods for the production of such enantiomeric materials are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 1998Date of Patent: October 17, 2000Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours & CompanyInventors: Robert Donald Fallon, Mark James Nelson, Mark Scott Payne
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Patent number: 6077955Abstract: A process for the preparation of five-membered or six-membered ring lactams from aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitriles has been developed. In the process an aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitrile is first converted to an ammonium salt of an .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid in aqueous solution using a catalyst having an aliphatic nitrilase (EC 3.5.5.7) activity, or a combination of nitrile hydratase (EC 4.2.1.84) and amidase (EC 3.5.1.4) activities. The ammonium salt of the .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid is then converted directly to the corresponding lactam by hydrogenation in aqueous solution, without isolation of the intermediate .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid or .omega.-aminocarboxylic acid. When the aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitrile is also unsymmetrically substituted at the .alpha.-carbon atom, the nitrilase produces the .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid ammonium salt resulting from hydrolysis of the .omega.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1998Date of Patent: June 20, 2000Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and CompanyInventors: Robert Di Cosimo, Robert Donald Fallon, John Edward Gavagan, Frank Edward Herkes
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Patent number: 6066490Abstract: A process for the preparation of five-membered or six-membered ring lactams from aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitriles has been developed. In the process an aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitrile is first converted to an ammonium salt of an .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid in aqueous solution using a catalyst having an aliphatic nitrilase (EC 3.5.5.7) activity, or a combination of nitrile hydratase (EC 4.2.1.84) and amidase (EC 3.5.1.4) activities. The ammonium salt of the .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid is then converted directly to the corresponding lactam by hydrogenation in aqueous solution, without isolation of the intermediate .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid or .omega.-aminocarboxylic acid. When the aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitrile is also unsymmetrically substituted at the .alpha.-carbon atom, the nitrilase produces the .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid ammonium salt resulting from hydrolysis of the .omega.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 1997Date of Patent: May 23, 2000Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours & CompanyInventors: Robert Di Cosimo, Robert Donald Fallon, John Edward Gavagan, Frank Edward Herkes
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Patent number: 5936114Abstract: A process for the preparation of five-membered or six-membered ring lactams from aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitriles has been developed. In the process an aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitrile is first converted to an ammonium salt of an .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid in aqueous solution using a catalyst having an aliphatic nitrilase (EC 3.5.5.7) activity, or a combination of nitrile hydratase (EC 4.2.1.84) and amidase (EC 3.5.1.4) activities. The ammonium salt of the .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid is then converted directly to the corresponding lactam by hydrogenation in aqueous solution, without isolation of the intermediate .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid or .omega.-aminocarboxylic acid. When the aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitrile is also unsymmetrically substituted at the .alpha.-carbon atom, the nitrilase produces the .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid ammonium salt resulting from hydrolysis of the .omega.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1998Date of Patent: August 10, 1999Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and CompanyInventors: Robert Di Cosimo, Robert Donald Fallon, John Edward Gavagan, Frank Edward Herkes
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Patent number: 5922589Abstract: A process for the preparation of five-membered or six-membered ring lactams from aliphatic .alpha., .omega.-dinitriles has been developed. In the process an aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitrile is first converted to an ammonium salt of an .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid in aqueous solution using a catalyst having an aliphatic nitrilase (EC 3.5.5.7) activity, or a combination of nitrile hydratase (EC 4.2.1.84) and amidase (EC 3.5.1.4) activities. The ammonium salt of the .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid is then converted directly to the corresponding lactam by hydrogenation in aqueous solution, without isolation of the intermediate .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid or .omega.-aminocarboxylic acid. When the aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitrile is also unsymmetrically substituted at the .alpha.-carbon atom, the nitrilase produces the .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid ammonium salt resulting from hydrolysis of the .omega.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1998Date of Patent: July 13, 1999Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and CompanyInventors: Robert Di Cosimo, Robert Donald Fallon, John Edward Gavagan, Frank Edward Herkes
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Patent number: 5908954Abstract: A process for the preparation of five-membered or six-membered ring lactams from aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitriles has been developed. In the process an aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitrile is first converted to an ammonium salt of an .omega.-nitrile-carboxylic acid in aqueous solution using a catalyst having an aliphatic nitrilase (EC 3.5.5.7) activity, or a combination of nitrile hydratase (EC 4.2.1.84) and arnidase (EC 3.5.1.4) activities. The ammonium salt of the .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid is then converted directly to the corresponding lactam by hydrogenation in aqueous solution, without isolation of the intermediate .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid or .omega.-aminocarboxylic acid. When the aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitrile is also unsymmetrically substituted at the .alpha.-carbon atom, the nitrilase produces the .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid ammonium salt resulting from hydrolysis of the .omega.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1998Date of Patent: June 1, 1999Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and CompanyInventors: Robert Di Cosimo, Robert Donald Fallon, John Edward Gavagan, Frank Edward Herkes
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Patent number: 5888785Abstract: The present invention provides a nitrile hydratase nucleic acid fragment isolated from Pseudomonas putida which encodes a nitrile hydratase activity capable of catalyzing the hydrolysis of certain racemic nitrites to the corresponding R- or S-amides. Also provided are transformed microorganisms capable of the active expression of said nitrile hydratase activity. Additionally, the invention provides a transformant harboring the nitrile hydratase gene in conjunction with an amidase gene, both of which may be co-expressed producing active nitrile hydratase and amidase enzymes respectively. Methods for the production of such enantiomeric materials are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 1998Date of Patent: March 30, 1999Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and CompanyInventors: Robert Donald Fallon, Mark James Nelson, Mark Scott Payne
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Patent number: 5858736Abstract: A process for the preparation of five-membered or six-membered ring lactams from aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitriles has been developed. In the process an aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitrile is first converted to an ammonium salt of an .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid in aqueous solution using a catalyst having an aliphatic nitrilase (EC 3.5.5.7) activity, or a combination of nitrile hydratase (EC 4.2.1.84) and amidase (EC 3.5.1.4) activities. The aimnonium salt of the .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid is then converted directly to the corresponding lactam by hydrogenation in aqueous solution, without isolation of the intermediate .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid or .omega.-monocarboxylic acid. When the aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitrile is also unsymmetrically substituted at the .alpha.-carbon atom, the nitrilase produces the .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid ammonium salt resulting from hydrolysis of the .omega.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 1996Date of Patent: January 12, 1999Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and CompanyInventors: Robert Di Cosimo, Robert Donald Fallon, John Edward Gavagan, Frank Edward Herkes
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Patent number: 5814508Abstract: A process for the preparation of five-membered or six-membered ring lactams from aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitriles has been developed. In the process an aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitrile is first converted to an ammonium salt of an .omega.-nitrile-carboxylic acid in aqueous solution using a catalyst having an aliphatic nitrilase (EC 3.5.5.7) activity, or a combination of nitrile hydratase (EC 4.2.1.84) and amidase (EC 3.5.1.4) activities. The ammonium salt of the .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid is then converted directly to the corresponding lactam by hydrogenation in aqueous solution, without isolation of the intermediate .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid or .omega.-aminocarboxylic acid. When the aliphatic .alpha.,.omega.-dinitrile is also unsymmetrically substituted at the .alpha.-carbon atom, the nitrilase produces the .omega.-nitrilecarboxylic acid ammonium salt resulting from hydrolysis of the .omega.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 1997Date of Patent: September 29, 1998Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and CompanyInventors: Robert Di Cosimo, Robert Donald Fallon, John Edward Gavagan, Frank Edward Herkes
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Patent number: 5811286Abstract: The present invention provides a nitrile hydratase nucleic acid fragment isolated from Pseudomonas putida which encodes a nitrile hydratase activity capable of catalyzing the hydrolysis of certain racemic nitriles to the corresponding R- or S-amides. Also provided are transformed microorganisms capable of the active expression of said nitrile hydratase activity. Additionally, the invention provides a transformant harboring the nitrile hydratase gene in conjunction with an amidase gene, both of which may be co-expressed producing active nitrile hydratase and amidase enzymes respectively. Methods for the production of such enantiomeric materials are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 1996Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and CompanyInventors: Robert Donald Fallon, Mark James Nelson, Mark Scott Payne
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Patent number: 5656489Abstract: In contaminated media, transformation of organoleads, especially tetraethyllead, into inorganic form is achieved by stimulation of indigenous microbial populations. Complex biological extracts and other nutrient amendments promote microbial activity under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. Under anaerobic conditions, sulfide production by sulfate reducing bacteria is especially promoted. Transformation to the inorganic form reduces lead toxicity and mobility in ground water supplies.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 1996Date of Patent: August 12, 1997Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and CompanyInventor: Robert Donald Fallon