Patents by Inventor Wayne S. Kontur

Wayne S. Kontur 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: 11447754
    Abstract: Enzymes for depolymerizing lignin. The enzymes include dehydrogenases, ?-etherases, and glutathione lyases. The dehydrogenases can comprise one or more or LigD, LigO, LigN, and LigL. The ?-etherases can comprise one or more of LigE, LigF, LigP, and BaeA. The glutathione lyases can comprise any one or more of LigG and a number of non-stereospecific, optionally recombinant glutathione lyases derived from Sphingobium sp. SYK-6, Novosphingobium aromaticivorans, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus sanguinis, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, and other microorganisms. The enzymes can be combined in compositions and/or used in methods of processing lignin or other aromatic compounds in vitro.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Timothy James Donohue, Daniel Leo Gall, Wayne S. Kontur, Hoon Kim, John Ralph, Daniel R. Noguera, Brian Fox, Craig Bingman
  • Publication number: 20210261993
    Abstract: Recombinant microorganisms configured for enhanced production of compounds such as 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (PDC) and methods of using the recombinant microorganisms for the production of these compounds. The recombinant microorganisms include one or more modifications that reduce 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (PDC) hydrolase activity, 4-carboxy-2-hydroxy-6-methoxy-6-oxohexa-2,4-dienoate (CHMOD) cis-trans isomerase activity, 4-carboxy-2-hydroxy-6-methoxy-6-oxohexa-2,4-dienoate (CHMOD) methyl esterase activity, and/or vanillate/3-O-methylgallate O-demethylase activity. The recombinant microorganisms can be used to generate PDC from media comprising plant-derived phenolics, such as syringyl phenolics, guaiacyl phenolics, and p-hydroxyphenyl phenolics. The plant-derived phenolics can be derived from pretreated lignin, including depolymerized lignin or other chemically altered lignin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Daniel R. Noguera, Timothy James Donohue, Jose Perez, Wayne S. Kontur, German Eduardo Umana Chapeton
  • Patent number: 11028418
    Abstract: Recombinant microorganisms configured for enhanced production of compounds such as 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (PDC) and methods of using the recombinant microorganisms for the production of these compounds. The recombinant microorganisms include one or more modifications that reduce 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (PDC) hydrolase activity, 4-carboxy-2-hydroxy-6-methoxy-6-oxohexa-2,4-dienoate (CHMOD) cis-trans isomerase activity, 4-carboxy-2-hydroxy-6-methoxy-6-oxohexa-2,4-dienoate (CHMOD) methyl esterase activity, and/or vanillate/3-O-methylgallate O-demethylase activity. The recombinant microorganisms can be used to generate PDC from media comprising plant-derived phenolics, such as syringyl phenolics, guaiacyl phenolics, and p-hydroxyphenyl phenolics. The plant-derived phenolics can be derived from pretreated lignin, including depolymerized lignin or other chemically altered lignin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Daniel R. Noguera, Timothy James Donohue, Jose Perez, Wayne S. Kontur, German Eduardo Umana Chapeton
  • Publication number: 20210095265
    Abstract: Enzymes for depolymerizing lignin. The enzymes include dehydrogenases, ?-etherases, and glutathione lyases. The dehydrogenases can comprise one or more or LigD, LigO, LigN, and LigL. The ?-etherases can comprise one or more of LigE, LigF, LigP, and BaeA. The glutathione lyases can comprise any one or more of LigG and a number of non-stereospecific, optionally recombinant glutathione lyases derived from Sphingobium sp. SYK-6, Novosphingobium aromaticivorans, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus sanguinis, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, and other microorganisms. The enzymes can be combined in compositions and/or used in methods of processing lignin or other aromatic compounds in vitro.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Timothy James Donohue, Daniel Leo Gall, Wayne S. Kontur, Hoon Kim, John Ralph, Daniel R. Noguera, Brian Fox, Craig Bingman
  • Patent number: 10829745
    Abstract: Enzymes for depolymerizing lignin. The enzymes include dehydrogenases, ?-etherases, and glutathione lyases. The dehydrogenases can comprise one or more or LigD, LigO, LigN, and LigL. The ?-etherases can comprise one or more of LigE, LigF, LigP, and BaeA. The glutathione lyases can comprise any one or more of LigG and a number of non-stereospecific, optionally recombinant glutathione lyases derived from Sphingobium sp. SYK-6, Novosphingobium aromaticivorans, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus sanguinis, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, and other microorganisms. The enzymes can be combined in compositions and/or used in methods of processing lignin or other aromatic compounds in vitro.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Timothy James Donohue, Daniel Leo Gall, Wayne S. Kontur, Hoon Kim, John Ralph, Daniel R. Noguera, Brian Fox, Craig Bingman
  • Publication number: 20200263215
    Abstract: Recombinant microorganisms configured for enhanced production of compounds such as 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (PDC) and methods of using the recombinant microorganisms for the production of these compounds. The recombinant microorganisms include one or more modifications that reduce 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (PDC) hydrolase activity, 4-carboxy-2-hydroxy-6-methoxy-6-oxohexa-2,4-dienoate (CHMOD) cis-trans isomerase activity, 4-carboxy-2-hydroxy-6-methoxy-6-oxohexa-2,4-dienoate (CHMOD) methyl esterase activity, and/or vanillate/3-O-methylgallate O-demethylase activity. The recombinant microorganisms can be used to generate PDC from media comprising plant-derived phenolics, such as syringyl phenolics, guaiacyl phenolics, and p-hydroxyphenyl phenolics. The plant-derived phenolics can be derived from pretreated lignin, including depolymerized lignin or other chemically altered lignin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Daniel R. Noguera, Timothy James Donohue, Jose Perez, Wayne S. Kontur, German Eduardo Umana Chapeton
  • Publication number: 20190048329
    Abstract: Enzymes for depolymerizing lignin. The enzymes include dehydrogenases, ?-etherases, and glutathione lyases. The dehydrogenases can comprise one or more or LigD, LigO, LigN, and LigL. The ?-etherases can comprise one or more of LigE, LigF, LigP, and BaeA. The glutathione lyases can comprise any one or more of LigG and a number of non-stereospecific, optionally recombinant glutathione lyases derived from Sphingobium sp. SYK-6, Novosphingobium aromaticivorans, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus sanguinis, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, and other microorganisms. The enzymes can be combined in compositions and/or used in methods of processing lignin or other aromatic compounds in vitro.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Timothy James Donohue, Daniel Leo Gall, Wayne S. Kontur, Hoon Kim, John Ralph, Daniel R. Noguera, Brian Fox, Craig Bingman