Patents by Inventor Toshihiko Ashikari

Toshihiko Ashikari 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: 7670828
    Abstract: Provided herein are a method for selecting a gene participating in the desired brewing character and compiling a database of the whole genome sequence of industrial yeast; identifying a gene participating in a brewing characteristic from the database; functional analysis of the gene; and a DNA array of the whole genome sequences of an industrial yeast. Also provided are a method for yeast breeding; a method of producing an alcoholic beverage with improved quality; and a screening method to identify genes that increase productivity and/or improve flavor in the production of an alcohol or an alcoholic beverage by (A) analyzing a whole industrial yeast genome sequence, (B) comparing the genome sequence with the genome sequence of S. cerevisiae, (C) selecting a gene of the industrial yeast encoding having 70 to 97% identity to an amino acid sequence of S. cerevisiae; and (D) analyzing the selected gene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Suntory Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Nakao, Norihisa Nakamura, Yukiko Kodama, Tomoko Fujimura, Toshihiko Ashikari
  • Publication number: 20080220503
    Abstract: Provided herein are a method for selecting a gene participating in the desire brewing character and compiling a database of the whole genome sequence of industrial yeast; identifying a gene participating in a brewing characteristic from the database; functional analysis of the gene; and a DNA array of the whole genome sequences of an industrial yeast. Also provided are a method for yeast breeding; a method of producing an alcoholic beverage with improved quality; and a screening method to identify genes that increase productivity and/or improve flavor in the production of an alcohol or an alcoholic beverage by (A) analyzing a whole industrial yeast genome sequence, (B) comparing the genome sequence with the genome sequence of S. cerevisiae, (C) selecting a gene of the industrial yeast encoding having 70 to 97% identity to an amino acid sequence of S. cerevisiae; and (D) analyzing the selected gene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Nakao, Norihisa Nakamura, Yukiko Kodama, Tomoko Fujimura, Toshihiko Ashikari
  • Patent number: 7365164
    Abstract: Provided herein are a method for selecting a gene participating in the desired brewing character and compiling a database of the whole genome sequence of industrial yeast; identifying a gene participating in a brewing characteristic from the database; functional analysis of the gene; and a DNA array of the whole genome sequences of an industrial yeast. Also provided are a method for yeast breeding; a method of producing an alcoholic beverage with improved quality; and a screening method to identify genes that increase productivity and/or improve flavor in the production of an alcohol or an alcoholic beverage by (A) analyzing a whole industrial yeast genome sequence, (B) comparing the genome sequence with the genome sequence of S. cerevisiae, (C) selecting a gene of the industrial yeast encoding having 70 to 97% identity to an amino acid sequence of S. cerevisiae; and (D) analyzing the selected gene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Suntory Limited
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Nakao, Norihisa Nakamura, Yukiko Kodama, Tomoko Fujimura, Toshihiko Ashikari
  • Publication number: 20070042410
    Abstract: Provided herein are a method for selecting a gene participating in the desired brewing character and compiling a database of the whole genome sequence of industrial yeast; identifying a gene participating in a brewing characteristic from the database; functional analysis of the gene; and a DNA array of the whole genome sequences of an industrial yeast. Also provided are a method for yeast breeding; a method of producing an alcoholic beverage with improved quality; and a screening method to identify genes that increase productivity and/or improve flavor in the production of an alcohol or an alcoholic beverage by (A) analyzing a whole industrial yeast genome sequence, (B) comparing the genome sequence with the genome sequence of S. cerevisiae, (C) selecting a gene of the industrial yeast encoding having 70 to 97% identity to an amino acid sequence of S. cerevisiae; and (D) analyzing the selected gene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Nakao, Norihisa Nakamura, Yukiko Kodama, Tomoko Fujimura, Toshihiko Ashikari
  • Patent number: 7105719
    Abstract: The invention relates to isolated polynucleotides encoding a protein having aromatic acyltransferase activity, vectors comprising aromatic acyltransferase polynucleotides, and methods of transforming plants with anthocyanin acyltransferase polynucleotides to alter flower colors. The invention also relates to transformed host cells, plants, and flower cuts expressing proteins having anthocyanin acyltransferase activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Suntory Limited
    Inventors: Toshihiko Ashikari, Yoshikazu Tanaka, Hiroyuki Fujiwara, Masahiro Nakao, Yuko Fukui, Keiko Sakakibara, Masako Mizutani, Takaaki Kusumi
  • Publication number: 20060099612
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for analyzing gene of an industrial yeast. The method of the present invention comprises (a) analyzing the genome sequence of the industrial yeast; and (c-1) selecting a gene of the industrial yeast encoding an amino acid sequence having 70 to 97% identity to an amino acid sequence encoded by the gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or (c-2) selecting a gene of the industrial yeast consisting of a nucleotide sequence having 60 to 94% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Nakao, Norihisa Nakamura, Yukiko Kodama, Tomoko Fujimura, Toshihiko Ashikari
  • Publication number: 20060046253
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for analyzing gene of an industrial yeast. The method of the present invention comprises (a) determining the whole genome sequence of the industrial yeast; and (c-1) selecting a gene of the industrial yeast encoding an amino acid sequence having 70 to 97% identity to an amino acid sequence encoded by the gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or (c-2) selecting a gene of the industrial yeast consisting of a nucleotide sequence having 60 to 94% identity to the nucleotide sequence of the gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Applicant: SUNTORY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Nakao, Norihisa Nakamura, Yukiko Kodama, Tomoko Fujimura, Toshihiko Ashikari
  • Publication number: 20040265862
    Abstract: The present invention provides (A) a method for the selection of genes participating in the desired brewing character, which comprises preparing a database compiling the data of the whole genome sequence of industrial yeast, particularly a brewing yeast used for alcoholic beverages; selecting gene participating in a desired brewing character that the brewing yeast specifically possesses; and carrying out functional analysis of the gene by disruption or overexpression; (B) a DNA array in which oligonucleotide(s) selected based on the data base compiling the data of the whole genome sequences of an industrial yeast, (C) a breeding method for constructing improved cultures achieving the desired brewing character, (D) a method for producing an alcohol or an alcoholic beverage in which productivity and quality are improved using the yeast, (E) a gene which is specific to the improved brewing yeast, and (F) a peptide encoded by the gene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: SUNTORY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Nakao, Norihisa Nakamura, Yukiko Kodama, Tomoko Fujimura, Toshihiko Ashikari
  • Patent number: 6723562
    Abstract: A DNA construct comprising: (1) a selective marker gene, (2) a galactose-inducible growth inhibition sequence, (3) a pair of FRT sequences in the same orientation flanking (1) and (2), and (4) a DNA fragment capable of recombining with a yeast chromosomal DNA located at each end of (3), wherein said FRT sequences contain the following sequence: 5′-GAAGTTCCTATAC TTTCTAGA GAATAGGAACTTC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 1) inverted spacer inverted repeat (1) sequence repeat (2) or a sequence substantially identical to said sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Suntory Limited
    Inventors: Toshihiko Ashikari, Misa Ochiai
  • Patent number: 6066484
    Abstract: Novel purine nucleosidase derived from Ochrobactrum anthropi microorganisms, a gene system coding therefor, uses therefor and particularly its use in the production of beer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Suntory Limited
    Inventors: Haruyo Hatanaka, Toshihiko Ashikari, Jun Ogawa, Sakayu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5965444
    Abstract: A DNA construct wherein a DNA fragment which is recombinable in yeast chromosomal DNA is directly or indirectly linked at both ends of a DNA fragment which comprises a pair of R sensitive sequences oriented in the same direction and flaking both an R gene placed under the control of an inducible promoter and an expressible selective marker gene, which is a DNA construct designed with the R sensitive sequences non-symmetrically shortened, so that no functionable R sensitive sequence remains after the R sensitive sequence recombination has occurred by expression of the R gene and the selective marker has been removed. Since no functionable R sensitive sequence remains after removal of the selective marker, recombination does not occur again, and thus the same selective marker may be used for multiple insertions of foreign genes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Suntory Limited
    Inventors: Toshihiko Ashikari, Hiroto Kondo, Keiko Sakakibara, Hiroyuki Araki, Yasuji Oshima
  • Patent number: 5286638
    Abstract: A peroxidase gene derived from Arthromyse ramosus and its cloning and expression in E. coli and yeast is disclosed. The peroxidase encoded by this gene is not-specific and does not contain isozymes and hence is suitable as a diagnostic reagent or as a marker enzyme in enzyme innunoassays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Suntory Limited of 1-40, Dojimahama
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Tanaka, Toshihiko Ashikari, Haruyo Hatanaka, Yuji Shibano, Teruo Amachi, Toru Nakayama, Motoo Sumida
  • Patent number: 5084385
    Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing ethanol from a starchy material, wherein the starchy material is simultaneously subjected to saccharification and subsequent fermentation by use of a yeast host which has been transformed by an expressible recombinant vector comprising a glucoamylase gene derived from a fungus of the genus Rhizopus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: Suntory Limited
    Inventors: Toshihiko Ashikari, Norihisa Nakamura, Yoshikazu Tanaka, Yuji Shibano, Hajime Yoshizumi
  • Patent number: 4863864
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the Rhizopus derived glucoamylase gene, a novel recombinant vector comprising said gene, and a microorganism transformed by said vector, as well as a process for reproducing Rhizopus glucoamylase by cultivating the transformed microorganism, especially yeast, in a liquid medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Suntory Limited
    Inventors: Toshihiko Ashikari, Norihisa Nakamura, Yoshikazu Tanaka, Yuji Shibano, Hajime Yoshizumi