Patents by Inventor Ronald R. Breaker

Ronald R. Breaker 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: 9744191
    Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for antimicrobial use. The compositions contain a small antimicrobial agent and a permeabilizing agent. The antimicrobial compositions can be antifungal or antibacterial compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Yale University
    Inventors: Ronald R. Breaker, Sanshu Li
  • Publication number: 20150030701
    Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for antimicrobial use. The compositions contain a small antimicrobial agent and a permeabilizing agent. The antimicrobial compositions can be antifungal or antibacterial compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Yale University
    Inventors: Ronald R. Breaker, Sanshu Li
  • Publication number: 20130143955
    Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods involving cyclic di-GMP—responsive Riboswitches and cyclic di-GMP-II motifs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: YALE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ronald R. Breaker, Jenny Baker, Elaine Lee, Narasimhan Sudarsan, Zasha Weinberg
  • Patent number: 8440810
    Abstract: It has been discovered that certain natural mRNAs serve as metabolite-sensitive genetic switches wherein the RNA directly binds a small organic molecule. This binding process changes the conformation of the mRNA, which causes a change in gene expression by a variety of different mechanisms. Modified versions of these natural “riboswitches” (created by using various nucleic acid engineering strategies) can be employed as designer genetic switches that are controlled by specific effector compounds. Such effector compounds that activate a riboswitch are referred to herein as trigger molecules. The natural switches are targets for antibiotics and other small molecule therapies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Yale University
    Inventors: Ronald R. Breaker, Ali Nahvi, Narasimhan Sudarsan, Margaret S. Ebert, Wade Winkler, Jeffrey E. Barrick, John K. Wickiser
  • Publication number: 20130029342
    Abstract: Riboswitches are structural elements in mRNA that change state when bound by a trigger molecule, and are thus able to regulate gene expression. They can be dissected into two separate domains: one that selectively binds the target (aptamer domain) and another that influences genetic control (expression platform domain). Bacterial glycine riboswitches consist of two tandem aptamer domains which cooperatively bind glycine to regulate the expression of downstream genes. These natural switches are targets for antibiotics and other small molecule therapies. Modified versions of these natural riboswitches can be employed as designer genetic switches that are controlled by specific effector compounds. Disclosed are isolated and recombinant riboswitches, and compositions and methods for selecting and identifying compounds that can activate, inactivate, or block a riboswitch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Ronald R. Breaker, Jeffrey Barrick, Maumita Mandal
  • Publication number: 20130012527
    Abstract: The preQ1 riboswitch is a target for antibiotics and other small molecule therapies. The preQ1 riboswitch and portions thereof can be used to regulate the expression or function of RNA molecules and other elements and molecules. The preQ1 riboswitch and portions thereof can be used in a variety of other methods to, for example, identify or detect compounds. Compounds can be used to stimulate, active, inhibit and/or inactivate the preQ1 riboswitch. The preQ1 riboswitch and portions thereof, both alone and in combination with other nucleic acids, can be used in a variety of constructs and RNA molecules and can be encoded by nucleic acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: YALE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ronald R. Breaker, Jeffrey E. Barrick, Adam Roth, Wade Winkler
  • Publication number: 20120321647
    Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods involing riboswitches and RNA motifs. For example, disclosed are compositions and methods involving glutamine-responsive riboswitches, S-adenosylmethionine-repsonsive riboswitches, S-adenosylhomocysteine-repsonsive riboswitches, glutamine riboswitches, SAM/SAH riboswitches, glnA riboswitches, Downstream-peptide riboswitches, crcB riboswitches, pfl riboswitches, yjdF riboswitches, manA riboswitches, wcaG riboswitches, epsC riboswitches, ykkC-III riboswitches, psaA riboswitches, psbA riboswitches, PhotoRC-I riboswitches, PhotoRC-II riboswitches, and psbNH riboswitches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Ronald R. Breaker, Zasha Weinberg
  • Patent number: 8313901
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and compositions related to the detection of conformational changes and interactions with trigger molecules in riboswitches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Yale University
    Inventors: Ronald R. Breaker, Kenneth F. Blount, Izabela J. Puskarz, John K. Wickiser
  • Publication number: 20120107331
    Abstract: Disclosed is the crystal structure of a GEMM riboswitch from V. cholerae bound to c-di-GMP. The crystal structures show that the RNA binds the ligand within a three helix junction that involves base pairing and extensive base stacking. The symmetric c-di-GMP is recognized asymmetrically with respect to the both the bases and the backbone. Also disclosed are methods of identifying and using compounds and compositions that modulate GEMM riboswitches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Scott Allen Strobel, Ronald R. Breaker, Kathryn E. Smith
  • Publication number: 20110288826
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, processes, and computer programs related to the design of ribozymes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Ronald R. Breaker, Robert Penchovsky
  • Publication number: 20110151471
    Abstract: It has been discovered that certain natural mRNAs serve as metabolite-sensitive genetic switches wherein the RNA directly binds a small organic molecule. This binding process changes the conformation of the mRNA, which causes a change in gene expression by a variety of different mechanisms. Modified versions of these natural “riboswitches” (created by using various nucleic acid engineering strategies) can be employed as designer genetic switches that are controlled by specific effector compounds. Such effector compounds that activate a riboswitch are referred to herein as trigger molecules. The natural switches are targets for antibiotics and other small molecule therapies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Ronald R. Breaker, Ali Nahvi, Narasimhan Sudarsan, Margaret S. Ebert, Wade Winkler, Jeffrey E. Barrick, John K. Wickiser
  • Publication number: 20110152215
    Abstract: It has been discovered that certain natural mRNAs serve as metabolite-sensitive genetic switches wherein the RNA directly binds a small organic molecule. This binding process changes the conformation of the mRNA, which causes a change in gene expression by a variety of different mechanisms. Modified versions of these natural “riboswitches” (created by using various nucleic acid engineering strategies) can be employed as designer genetic switches that are controlled by specific effector compounds. Such effector compounds that activate a riboswitch are referred to herein as trigger molecules. The natural switches are targets for antibiotics and other small molecule therapies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Ronald R. Breaker, Ali Nahvi, Narasimhan Sudarsan, Margaret S. Ebert, Wade Winkler, Jeffrey E. Barrick, John K. Wickiser
  • Publication number: 20110150854
    Abstract: It has been discovered that certain natural mRNAs serve as metabolite-sensitive genetic switches wherein the RNA directly binds a small organic molecule. This binding process changes the conformation of the mRNA, which causes a change in gene expression by a variety of different mechanisms. Modified versions of these natural “riboswitches” (created by using various nucleic acid engineering strategies) can be employed as designer genetic switches that are controlled by specific effector compounds. Such effector compounds that activate a riboswitch are referred to herein as trigger molecules. The natural switches are targets for antibiotics and other small molecule therapies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Ronald R. Breaker, Ali Nahvi, Narasimhan Sudarsan, Margaret S. Ebert, Wade Winkler, Jeffrey E. Barrick, John K. Wickiser
  • Publication number: 20110152213
    Abstract: It has been discovered that certain natural mRNAs serve as metabolite-sensitive genetic switches wherein the RNA directly binds a small organic molecule. This binding process changes the conformation of the mRNA, which causes a change in gene expression by a variety of different mechanisms. Modified versions of these natural “riboswitches” (created by using various nucleic acid engineering strategies) can be employed as designer genetic switches that are controlled by specific effector compounds. Such effector compounds that activate a riboswitch are referred to herein as trigger molecules. The natural switches are targets for antibiotics and other small molecule therapies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Ronald R. Breaker, Ali Nahvi, Narasimhan Sudarsan, Margaret S. Ebert, Wade Winkler, Jeffrey E. Barrick, John K. Wickiser
  • Publication number: 20100324123
    Abstract: The glmS riboswitch is a target for antibiotics and other small molecule therapies. Compounds can be used to stimulate, active, inhibit and/or inactivate the glmS riboswitch. The atomic structures of the glmS riboswitch can be used to design new compounds to stimulate, active, inhibit and/or inactivate riboswitches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: Yale University
    Inventors: Ronald R. Breaker, Jinsoo Lim, Scott A. Strobel, Jesse C. Cochrane
  • Publication number: 20100286082
    Abstract: Riboswitches are targets for antibiotics and other small molecule therapies. Riboswitches and portions thereof can be used to regulate the expression or function of RNA molecules and other elements and molecules. Riboswitches and portions thereof can be used in a variety of other methods to, for example, identify or detect compounds. Compounds can be used to stimulate, active, inhibit and/or inactivate the riboswitch. Riboswitches and portions thereof, both alone and in combination with other nucleic acids, can be used in a variety of constructs and RNA molecules and can be encoded by nucleic acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: Yale University
    Inventors: Ronald R. Breaker, Zasha Weinberg, Narasimhan Sudarsan, Joy Xin Wang, Michelle M. Meyer, Adam Roth, Elizabeth E. Regulski
  • Patent number: 7807817
    Abstract: The present invention discloses nucleic acid enzymes and deoxyribonucleic acid enzymes capable of cleaving nucleic acid sequences or molecules, particularly RNA, in a site-specific manner, as well as compositions including same. Methods of making and using the disclosed enzymes and compositions are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: The Scripps Research Institute
    Inventors: Gerald F. Joyce, Ronald R. Breaker
  • Patent number: 7794931
    Abstract: It has been discovered that certain natural mRNAs serve as metabolite-sensitive genetic switches wherein the RNA directly binds a small organic molecule. This binding process changes the conformation of the mRNA, which causes a change in gene expression by a variety of different mechanisms. Modified versions of these natural “riboswitches” (created by using various nucleic acid engineering strategies) can be employed as designer genetic switches that are controlled by specific effector compounds. Such effector compounds that activate a riboswitch are referred to herein as trigger molecules. The natural switches are targets for antibiotics and other small molecule therapies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Yale University
    Inventors: Ronald R. Breaker, Ali Nahvi, Narasimhan Sudarsan, Margaret S. Ebert, Wade Winkler, Jeffrey E. Barrick, John K. Wickiser
  • Publication number: 20100221821
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions related to riboswitches that control alternative splicing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: YALE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ronald R. Breaker, Andreas Wachter
  • Publication number: 20100190244
    Abstract: It has been discovered that certain natural mRNAs serve as metabolite-sensitive genetic switches wherein the RNA directly binds a small organic molecule. This binding process changes the conformation of the mRNA, which causes a change in gene expression by a variety of different mechanisms. Modified versions of these natural “riboswitches” (created by using various nucleic acid engineering strategies) can be employed as designer genetic switches that are controlled by specific effector compounds. Such effector compounds that activate a riboswitch are referred to herein as trigger molecules. The natural switches are targets for antibiotics and other small molecule therapies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: YALE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: RONALD R. BREAKER, ALI NAHVI, NARASIMHAN SUDARSAN, MARGARET S. EBERT, WADE WINKLER, JEFFREY E. BARRICK, JOHN K. WICKISER