Patents by Inventor Yasuhiro Mihara

Yasuhiro Mihara 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).

  • Publication number: 20020151023
    Abstract: A protein which has a GMP synthetase activity, a DNA which codes for the protein and a transformant which is introduced with the DNA in a form that allows expression of the protein encoded by the DNA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Applicant: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Hisashi Kawasaki, Yoshihiro Usuda, Yasuhiro Mihara, Osamu Kurahashi
  • Publication number: 20020061561
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there are provided microorganisms having an ability to producing xylitol or D-xylulose by fermentation, and a method for producing xylitol or D-xylulose using the microorganisms. Osmophilic microorganisms were collected from soil, and the obtained microorganisms were searched for a bacterium having an ability to produce xylitol or D-xylulose from glucose. Xylitol or D-xylulose is produced by culturing an isolated bacterium in a suitable medium to accumulate xylitol or D-xylulose in the medium, and collecting xylitol or D-xylulose from the medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Applicant: AJINOMOTO CO., INC.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Mihara, Sonoko Takeuchi, Yasuko Jojima, Naoto Tonouchi, Ryosuke Fudou, Kenzo Yokozeki
  • Patent number: 6355472
    Abstract: A method for producing nucleoside-5′-phosphate esters inexpensively and in high yields by phosphorylating a nucleoside with a phosphate group donor using an acid phosphatase having an increased affinity for the nucleoside and/or an increased temperature stability at a pH of pH 3.0 to 5.5, to produce a nucleoside-5′-phosphate ester. Mutant acid phosphatases having increased affinity for nucleosides and/or an enhanced temperature stability are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Mihara, Takashi Utagawa, Hideaki Yamada, Yasuhisa Asano
  • Patent number: 6340582
    Abstract: A method for producing xylitol by allowing a microorganism belonging to the Gluconobacter oxydans or Acetobacter xylinum and having a D-arabitol dehydrogenase activity and a D-xylulose reductase (xylitol dehydrogenase) activity and an ability to convert D-arabitol to xylitol is acted on D-arabitol in a reaction mixture containing a carbon source to produce xylitol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Shunichi Suzuki, Masakazu Sugiyama, Maiko Mori, Yasuhiro Mihara, Kenzo Yokozeki
  • Publication number: 20020004590
    Abstract: A method for producing nucleoside-5′-phosphate esters inexpensively and in high yields by phosphorylating a nucleoside with a phospahte group donor using an acid phosphatase having an increased affinity for the nucleoside and/or an increased temperature stability at a pH of pH 3.0 to 5.5, to produce a nucleoside-5′-phosphate ester. Mutant acid phosphatases having increased affinty for nucleosides and/or an enhanced temperature stability are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Mihara, Takashi Utagawa, Hideaki Yamada, Yasuhisa Asano
  • Patent number: 6335177
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there are provided microorganisms having an ability to producing xylitol or D-xylulose by fermentation, and a method for producing xylitol or D-xylulose using the microorganisms. Osmophilic microorganisms were collected from soil, and the obtained microorganisms were searched for a bacterium having an ability to produce xylitol or D-xylulose from glucose. Xylitol or D-xylulose is produced by culturing an isolated bacterium in a suitable medium to accumulate xylitol or D-xylulose in the medium, and collecting xylitol or D-xylulose from the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Mihara, Sonoko Takeuchi, Yasuko Jojima, Naoto Tonouchi, Ryosuke Fudou, Kenzo Yokozeki
  • Patent number: 6303353
    Abstract: Xylitol is produced by contacting D-arabitol with a microorganism that belongs to the genus Gluconobacter, Acetobacter, Achromobacter, Agrobacterium, Arthrobacter, Azotobacter, Brevibacterium, Corynebacterium, Erwinia, Flavobacterium, Micrococcus, Nocardia, Planococcus, Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus, Morganella, Actinomadura, Actinomyces, or Streptomyces and is capable of converting D-arabitol to xylitol, and recovering xylitol thus produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Masakazu Sugiyama, Shunichi Suzuki, Yasuhiro Mihara, Kenichi Hashiguchi, Kenzo Yokozeki
  • Patent number: 6210951
    Abstract: A protein which has a GMP synthetase activity, a DNA which codes for the protein and a transformant which is introduced with the DNA in a form that allows expression of the protein encoded by the DNA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Hisashi Kawasaki, Yoshihiro Usuda, Yasuhiro Mihara, Osamu Kurahashi
  • Patent number: 6207435
    Abstract: A method for producing nucleoside-5′-phosphate esters inexpensively and in high yields by phosphorylating a nucleoside with a phospahte group donor using an acid phosphatase having an increased affinity for the nucleoside and/or an increased temperature stability at a pH of pH 3.0 to 5.5, to produce a nucleoside-5′-phosphate ester. Mutant acid phosphatases having increased affinity for nucleosides and/or an enhanced temperature stability are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Mihara, Takashi Utagawa, Hideaki Yamada, Yasuhisa Asano
  • Patent number: 6015697
    Abstract: A method for producing nucleoside-5'-phosphate esters inexpensively and in high yields by phosphorylating a nucleoside with a phospahte group donor using an acid phosphatase having an increased affinity for the nucleoside and/or an increased temperature stability at a pH of pH 3.0 to 5.5, to produce a nucleoside-5'-phosphate ester. Mutant acid phosphatases having increased affinity for nucleosides and/or an enhanced temperature stability are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Mihara, Takashi Utagawa, Hideaki Yamada, Yasuhisa Asano
  • Patent number: 6010851
    Abstract: Nucleoside-5'-phosphate ester is produced inexpensively and efficiently by allowing an acid phosphatase, especially an acid phosphatase having a lowered phosphomonoesterase activity to act under a condition of pH 3.0 to 5.5 on a nucleoside and a phosphate group donor selected from the group consisting of polyphosphoric acid or a salt thereof, phenylphosphoric acid or a salt thereof, and carbamyl phosphate or a salt thereof to produce nucleoside-5'-phosphate ester, and collecting it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Mihara, Takashi Utagawa, Hideaki Yamada, Yasuhisa Asano