Patents by Inventor Sharon L. Potter

Sharon L. Potter 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: 6808904
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel DNA sequences coding for protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox) enzymes from soybean, wheat, cotton, sugar beet, oilseed rape, rice, sorghum, and sugar cane. In addition, the present invention teaches modified forms of protox enzymes that are herbicide tolerant. Plants expressing herbicide tolerant protox enzymes taught herein are also provided. These plants may be engineered for resistance to protox inhibitors via mutation of the native protox gene to a resistant form or they may be transformed with a gene encoding an herbicide tolerant form of a plant protox enzyme. The present invention further provides shuffled DNA molecules encoding protox enzymes having enhanced tolerance to a herbicide that inhibits the protox activity encoded by a template DNA molecule from which the shuffled DNA molecule is derived.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Syngenta Participations AG
    Inventors: Eric R. Ward, Sandra L. Volrath, Marie A. Johnson, Sharon L. Potter
  • Publication number: 20020197696
    Abstract: The invention relates to genes isolated from Arabidopsis that code for proteins essential for seedling growth. The invention also includes the methods of using these proteins to discover new herbicides, based on the essentiality of the genes for normal growth and development. The invention can also be used in a screening assay to identify inhibitors that are potential herbicides. The invention is also applied to the development of herbicide tolerant plants, plant tissues, plant seeds, and plant cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Joshua Z. Levin, Gregory J. Budziszewski, Sharon L. Potter, Lynette M. Wegrich
  • Patent number: 6387637
    Abstract: The invention relates to genes isolated from Arabidopsis that code for proteins essential for seedling growth. The invention also includes the methods of using these proteins to discover new herbicides, based on the essentiality of the genes for normal growth and development. The invention can also be used in a screening assay to identify inhibitors that are potential herbicides. The invention is also applied to the development of herbicide tolerant plants, plant tissues, plant seeds, and plant cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Syngenta Participations AG
    Inventors: Joshua Z. Levin, Gregory J. Budziszewski, Sharon L. Potter, Lynette M. Wegrich
  • Publication number: 20010016956
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel DNA sequences coding for protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox) enzymes from soybean, wheat, cotton, sugar beet, oilseed rape, rice, sorghum, and sugar cane. In addition, the present invention teaches modified forms of protox enzymes that are herbicide tolerant . Plants expressing herbicide tolerant protox enzymes taught herein are also provided. These plants may be engineered for resistance to protox inhibitors via mutation of the native protox gene to a resistant form or they may be transformed with a gene encoding an herbicide tolerant form of a plant protox enzyme. The present invention further provides shuffled DNA molecules encoding protox enzymes having enhanced tolerance to a herbicide that inhibits the protox activity encoded by a template DNA molecule from which the shuffled DNA molecule is derived.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Inventors: Eric R. Ward, Sandra L. Volrath, Marie A. Johnson, Sharon L. Potter
  • Patent number: 6023012
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel DNA sequences isolated from soybean, wheat, cotton, sugar beet, rape, rice, sorghum, and sugar cane that coding for enzymes having protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox) activity. In addition, the present invention teaches modified forms of protox enzymes that are herbicide tolerant. Plants expressing herbicide tolerant protox enzymes taught herein are also provided. These plants may be engineered for resistance to protox inhibitors via mutation of the native protox gene to a resistant form or they may be transformed with a gene encoding an inhibitor-resistant from of a plant protox enzyme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Novartis Finance Corporation
    Inventors: Sandra L. Volrath, Marie A. Johnson, Sharon L. Potter, Eric R. Ward, Peter B. Heifetz
  • Patent number: 5981844
    Abstract: Novel plant proteins (SAFPs) which synergize the activity of antifungal antibiotics are identified. SAFPs are demonstrated to synergize antifungal antibiotics, such as nikkomycins, polyoxins and amphotericins. SAFPs alone also display antifungal activity against several species of fungi, including strains of Candida, Trichoderma, Neurospora and strains of the plant pathogens Fusarium, Rhizoctonia and Chaetomium. Synergistic antifungal compositions containing SAFP and antifungal antibiotics are provided. In particular, synergistic compositions of corn-SAFP (zeamatin), sorghum-SAFP (sormatin) or oat-SAFP (avematin) and nikkomycin are found to be effective as antifungal compositions, especially against the opportunistic human pathogen Candida albicans. Method for employing SAFPs and synergistic compositions containing them for the inhibition of fungi are provided. In addition, a method for purifying SAFP from grain meal is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignees: Novartis Finance Corporation, University Research Corporation
    Inventors: Walden K. Roberts, Claude P. Selitrennikoff, Bridget E. Laue, Sharon L. Potter
  • Patent number: 5703044
    Abstract: Novel plant proteins (SAFPs) which synergize the activity of antifungal antibiotics are identified. SAFPs are demonstrated to synergize antifungal antibiotics, such as nikkomycins, polyoxins and amphotericins. SAFPs alone also display antifungal activity against several species of fungi, including strains of Candida, Trichoderma, Neurospora and strains of the plant pathogens Fusarium, Rhizoctonia and Chaetomium. Synergistic antifungal compositions containing SAFP and antifungal antibiotics are provided. In particular, synergistic compositions of corn-SAFP (zeamatin), sorghum-SAFP (sormatin) or oat-SAFP (avematin) and nikkomycin are found to be effective as antifungal compositions, especially against the opportunistic human pathogen Candida albicans. Method for employing SAFPs and synergistic compositions containing them for the inhibition of fungi are provided. In addition, a method for purifying SAFP from grain meal is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Novartis Finance Corporation
    Inventors: Walden K. Roberts, Claude P. Selitrennikoff, Bridget E. Laue, Sharon L. Potter
  • Patent number: 5559034
    Abstract: Novel plant proteins (SAFPs) which synergize the activity of antifungal antibiotics are identified. SAFPs are demonstrated to synergize antifungal antibiotics, such as nikkomycins, polyoxins and amphotericins. SAFPs alone also display antifungal activity against several species of fungi, including strains of Candida, Trichoderma, Neurospora and strains of the plant pathogens Fusarium, Rhizoctonia and Chaetomium. Synergistic antifungal compositions containing SAFP and antifungal antibiotics are provided. In particular, synergistic compositions of corn-SAFP (zeamatin), sorghum-SAFP (sormatin) or oat-SAFP (avematin) and nikkomycin are found to be effective as antifungal compositions, especially against the opportunistic human pathogen Candida albicans. Method for employing SAFPs and synergistic compositions containing them for the inhibition of fungi are provided. In addition, a method for purifying SAFP from grain meal is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Walden K. Roberts, Claude P. Selitrennikoff, Bridget E. Laue, Sharon L. Potter
  • Patent number: 5521153
    Abstract: Novel plant proteins (SAFPs) which synergize the activity of antifungal antibiotics are identified. SAFPs are demonstrated to synergize antifungal antibiotics, such as nikkomycins, polyoxins and amphotericins. SAFPs alone also display antifungal activity against several species of fungi, including strains of Candida, Trichoderma, Neurospora and strains of the plant pathogens Fusarium, Rhizoctonia and Chaetomium. Synergistic antifungal compositions containing SAFP and antifungal antibiotics are provided. In particular, synergistic compositions of corn-SAFP (zeamatin), sorghum-SAFP (sormatin) or oat-SAFP (avematin) and nikkomycin are found to be effective as antifungal compositions, especially against the opportunistic human pathogen Candida albicans. Method for employing SAFPs and synergistic compositions containing them for the inhibition of fungi are provided. In addition, a method for purifying SAFP from grain meal is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Walden K. Roberts, Claude P. Selitrennikoff, Bridget E. Laue, Sharon L. Potter
  • Patent number: 5519125
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel plant DNA sequences coding for native adenylosuccinate synthetase (ADSS). Methods for using the complete or partial ADSS coding sequence as a probe for diagnostic, mapping and other purposes are taught. Generation of transformed host cells capable of expressing ADSS is also taught. Methods of using the transformed host cells are taught, including methods for recombinant production of ADSS enzymes. A method for using the plant ADSS enzyme to screen for inhibitors of ADSS activity is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Sharon L. Potter, Eric R. Ward