Patents by Inventor Sirkka Keranen

Sirkka Keranen 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).

  • Production of ethanol from xylose
    Patent number: 6582944
    Abstract: This invention relates to recombinant-DNA-technology. Specifically this invention relates to new recombinant yeast strains transformed with xylose reductase and/or xylitol dehydrogenase enzyme genes. A yeast strain transformed with the xylose reductase gene is capable of reducing xylose to xylitol and consequently of producing xylitol in vivo. If both of these genes are transformed into a yeast strain, the resultant strain is capable of producing ethanol on xylose containing medium during fermentation. Further, the said new yeast strains are capable of expressing the said two enzymes. Xylose reductase produced by these strains can be used in an enzymatic process for the production of xylitol in vitro.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Xyrofin Oy
    Inventors: Johan Hallborn, Merja Penttilä, Heikki Ojamo, Mats Walfridsson, Ulla Airaksinen, Sirkka Keränen, Bärbel Hahn-Hägerdal
  • Increased production of secreted proteins by recombinant yeast cells
    Patent number: 6344341
    Abstract: This invention relates to recombinant-DNA-technology. Specifically this invention relates to new recombinant yeast cells transformed with SEB1 gene. Yeast cells transformed with several copies of SEB1 gene, or overexpressing the Seb1 protein by some other means, have an increased capacity to produce secreted foreign or endogenous proteins. Further, said new recombinant cells, when transformed with genes expressing suitable hydrolytic enzymes can utilize appropriate macromolecular compounds more efficiently, which results in increased cell mass production and/or more versatile utilization of the compounds in relevant biotechnical applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Valtion teknillinen tetkimuskeskus
    Inventors: Sirkka Keränen, Jaana Toikkanen, Ville Tieaho, Hans Söderlund
  • Xylose utilization by recombinant yeasts
    Patent number: 5866382
    Abstract: This invention relates to recombinant-DNA-technology. Specifically, this invention relates to new recombinant yeast strains transformed with xylose reductase and/or xylitol dehydrogenase enzyme genes. A yeast strain transformed with the xylose reductase gene is capable of reducing xylose to xylitol and consequently of producing xylitol in vivo. If both of these genes are transformed into a yeast strain, the resultant strain is capable of producing ethanol on xylose containing medium during fermentation. Further, the said new yeast strains are capable of expressing the said two enzymes. Xylose reductase produced by these strains can be used in an enzymatic process for the production of xylitol in vitro.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Xyrofin Oy
    Inventors: Johan Hallborn, Merja Penttila, Heikki Ojamo, Mats Walfridsson, Ulla Airaksinen, Sirkka Keranen, Barbel Hahn-Hagerdal
  • Increased production of secreted proteins by recombinant eukaryotic cells
    Patent number: 5789193
    Abstract: The invention relates to recombinant DNA technology. Specifically this invention relates to new recombinant eukaryotic cells transformed with SSO genes. Eukaryotic cells transformed with several copies of SSO genes, or overexpressing the Sso protein by some other means, have an increased capacity to produce secreted foreign or endogenous proteins. Further, the said new recombinant cells, when transformed with genes expressing suitable hydrolytic enzymes can utilize appropriate macromolecular compounds more efficiently, which results in increased cell mass production and/or more versatile utilization of the compounds in relevant biotechnical applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventors: Sirkka Keranen, Markku Aalto, Mika Outola, Hans Ronne, Merja Penttila
  • Yeast strains producing cellulolytic enzymes and methods and means for constructing them
    Patent number: 5766915
    Abstract: Functional derivatives of endoglucanase I (EGI), and the cloning and recombinant expression thereof, are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Alko-Yhtiot Oy (Alko Group Ltd.)
    Inventors: Jonathan Knowles, Merja Penttila, Tuula Teeri, Helena Nevalainen, Paivi Lehtovaara-Helenius, Sirpa Aho, Sunee Nitisinprasert, Marja Paloheimo, Sirkka Keranen
  • Immunoglobulin production by trichoderma
    Patent number: 5610034
    Abstract: Methods for the production of recombinant immunoglobulins in a Trichoderma host are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Alko Group Ltd.
    Inventors: Eini Nyyssonen, Sirkka Keranen, Merja Penttila, Kristiina Takkinen, Jonathan K.C. Knowles
  • Yeast agglutination genes and yeast containing them
    Patent number: 5585271
    Abstract: An agglutination gene of 4.7.+-.0.2 kb in yeast which codes for a polypeptide which exhibits agglutinative activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignees: Sapporo Breweries Ltd., Oy Panimolaboratorio-Bryggerilaboratorium AB
    Inventors: Junji Watari, Yoshihiro Takata, Masahiro Ogawa, Merja Penttila, Maija-Leena Onnela, Sirkka Keranen