Patents by Inventor Seymour Benzer

Seymour Benzer 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).

  • Methods and compositions associated with nociceptive pain
    Patent number: 7018617
    Abstract: Provided are methods and compositions corresponding to a genetic locus associated with nociceptive pain. In addition, method of identifying or modulating nociceptive pain and associated disorders is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: William Daniel Tracey, Jr., Seymour Benzer
  • Methuselah gene, compositions and methods of use
    Patent number: 6906181
    Abstract: Disclosed are polypeptides and polynucleotides having stress and life span modulating activity. The polypeptides and polynucleotides are useful in identifying and modulating stress-associated disorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Yi-Jyun Lin, Seymour Benzer
  • Animal model of polyglutamine toxicity, methods of use, and modulators of polyglutamine toxicity
    Patent number: 6815575
    Abstract: The present invention is based on an in vivo animal model that mimics human cellular and tissue degenerative disorders. The animal model exhibits cellular toxicity in response to expanded polyglutamine repeat sequences. The animal model is therefore useful for identifying genes or other compounds that modulate cellular and tissue degeneration and cell survival, for example, in neural, muscle, mesoderm, kidney and other tissues associated with frontotemporal dementia, prion diseases, polyglutamine disorders and protein aggregation disorders, Genes that suppress degeneration identified using the animal model include HDJ1, TPR2 and MLF. These genes, and their human homologues, functional fragments and probes are therefore useful in treating such disorders and for diagnostic purposes. Accordingly, methods for identifying nucleic acids and other compounds that modulate frontotemporal dementia, prion diseases, polyglutamine disorders and protein aggregation disorders is therefore provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Parsa Kazemi-Esfarjani, Seymour Benzer
  • Methods and compositions for modulating neurodegeneration
    Publication number: 20040077581
    Abstract: Disclosed are polypeptides and polynucleotides having very long chain fatty acid coA synthetase activity. The polypeptides and polynucleotides are useful in identifying and modulating neurodegeneration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology, a California corporation
    Inventors: Kyung-Tai Min, Seymour Benzer
  • Methods and compositions for modulating neurodegeneration
    Patent number: 6664039
    Abstract: Disclosed are polypeptides and polynucleotides having very long chain fatty acid coA synthetase activity. The polypeptides and polynucleotides are useful in identifying and modulating neurodegeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Seymour Benzer, Kyung-Tai Min
  • Animal model of polyglutamine toxicity, methods of use, and modulators of polyglutamine toxicity
    Publication number: 20030204859
    Abstract: The present invention is based on an in vivo animal model that mimics human cellular and tissue degenerative disorders. The animal model exhibits cellular toxicity in response to expanded polyglutamine repeat sequences. The animal model is therefore useful for identifying genes or other compounds that modulate cellular and tissue degeneration and cell survival, for example, in neural, muscle, mesoderm, kidney and other tissues associated with frontotemporal dementia, prion diseases, polyglutamine disorders and protein aggregation disorders. Genes that suppress degeneration identified using the animal model include HDJ1, TPR2 and MLF. These genes, and their human homologues, functional fragments and probes are therefore useful in treating such disorders and for diagnostic purposes. Accordingly, methods for identifying nucleic acids and other compounds that modulate frontotemporal dementia, prion diseases, polyglutamine disorders and protein aggregation disorders is therefore provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology, a California corporation
    Inventors: Parsa Kazemi-Esfarfani, Seymour Benzer
  • Programmed cell death antagonist protein
    Patent number: 6623937
    Abstract: Programmed cell death antagonist proteins and nucleic acids are provided, as well as expression vectors and host cells which contain the nucleic acids encoding the programmed cell death antagonist proteins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Nancy M. Bonini, Seymour Benzer, William M. Leiserson
  • Life extension of drosophila by a drug treatment
    Publication number: 20020120008
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for extending the life span of a subject and methods for inducing molecular changes within a whole organism that are responsible for the extended life span of the organism; therefore, providing a whole organism system to identify molecules involved in the ageing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Seymour Benzer, Kyung-Tai Min
  • Methuselah gene, compositions and methods of use
    Publication number: 20020052015
    Abstract: Disclosed are polypeptides and polynucleotides having stress and life span modulating activity. The polypeptides and polynucleotides are useful in identifying and modulating stress-associated disorders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Yi-Jyun Lin, Seymour Benzer
  • PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH ANTAGONIST PROTEIN
    Publication number: 20020004221
    Abstract: Programmed cell death antagonist proteins and nucleic acids are provided, as well as expression vectors and host cells which contain the nucleic acids encoding the programmed cell death antagonist proteins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Inventors: NANCY M. BONINI, SEYMOUR BENZER, WILLIAM M. LEISERSON
  • Methuselah gene, compositions and methods of use
    Patent number: 6303768
    Abstract: Disclosed are polypeptides and polynucleotides having stress and life span modulating activity. The polypeptides and polynucleotides are useful in identifying and modulating stress-associated disorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Yi-Jyun Lin, Seymour Benzer
  • Programmed cell death antagonist protein
    Patent number: 5679541
    Abstract: Programmed cell death antagonist proteins and nucleic acids are provided, as well as expression vectors and host cells which contain the nucleic acids encoding the programmed cell death antagonist proteins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Nancy M. Bonini, Seymour Benzer, William M. Leiserson