Patents by Inventor Yat-Chen Chou

Yat-Chen Chou 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: 11091782
    Abstract: Non-naturally occurring Zymomonas strains useful for the production of 2,3-butanediol are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Min Zhang, Yat-Chen Chou, Mary Ann Franden, Michael E. Himmel
  • Publication number: 20190153483
    Abstract: Non-naturally occurring Zymomonas strains useful for the production of 2,3-butanediol are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Min ZHANG, Yat-Chen CHOU, Mary Ann FRANDEN, Michael E. HIMMEL
  • Publication number: 20170306363
    Abstract: Presented herein are biocatalysts and methods for the production of succinic acid from carbon sources. The biocatalysts include microbial cells that have been engineered to overexpress exogenously added genes that encode enzymes active in the reductive branch of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Michael T. GUARNIERI, Yat-Chen CHOU, Gregg Tyler BECKHAM, Davinia SALVACHÚA RODRÍGUEZ
  • Patent number: 8465961
    Abstract: Strains of xylose utilizing Zymomonas with improved xylose utilization and ethanol production during fermentation in stress conditions were obtained using an adaptation method. The adaptation involved continuously growing xylose utilizing Zymomonas in media containing high sugars, acetic acid, ammonia, and ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignees: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Perry G Caimi, Mark Emptage, Xu Li, Paul V Viitanen, Yat-Chen Chou, Mary Ann Franden, Min Zhang
  • Publication number: 20120276607
    Abstract: Strains of xylose utilizing Zymomonas with improved xylose utilization and ethanol production during fermentation in stress conditions were obtained using an adaptation method. The adaptation involved continuously growing xylose utilizing Zymomonas in media containing high sugars, acetic acid, ammonia, and ethanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY & ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY LLC
    Inventors: PERRY G. CAIMI, MARK EMPTAGE, XU LI, PAUL V. VIITANEN, YAT-CHEN CHOU, MARY ANN FRANDEN, MIN ZHANG
  • Patent number: 8283150
    Abstract: Purified cellobiohydrolase I (glycosyl hydrolase family 7 (Cel7A)) enzymes from Penicillium funiculosum demonstrate a high level of specific performance in comparison to other Cel7 family member enzymes when formulated with purified EIcd endoglucanase from A. cellulolyticus and tested on pretreated corn stover. This result is true of the purified native enzyme, as well as recombinantly expressed enzyme, for example, that enzyme expressed in a non-native Aspergillus host. In a specific example, the specific performance of the formulation using purified recombinant Cel7A from Penicillium funiculosum expressed in A. awamori is increased by more than 200% when compared to a formulation using purified Cel7A from Trichoderma reesei.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: William S. Adney, John O. Baker, Stephen R. Decker, Yat-Chen Chou, Michael E. Himmel, Shi-You Ding
  • Patent number: 8247208
    Abstract: Strains of xylose utilizing Zymomonas with improved xylose utilization and ethanol production during fermentation in stress conditions were obtained using an adaptation method. The adaptation involved continuously growing xylose utilizing Zymomonas in media containing high sugars, acetic acid, ammonia, and ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignees: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Perry G. Caimi, Mark Emptage, Xu Li, Paul V. Viitanen, Yat-Chen Chou, Mary Ann Franden, Min Zhang
  • Patent number: 7998722
    Abstract: Strains of Zymomonas were engineered by introducing a chimeric xylose isomerase gene that contains a mutant promoter of the Z. mobilis glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene. The promoter directs increased expression of xylose isomerase, and when the strain is in addition engineered for expression of xylulokinase, transaldolase and transketolase, improved utilization of xylose is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignees: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Alliance for Sustainable Energy LLC
    Inventors: Paul V. Viitanen, Luan Tao, Yuying Zhang, Perry G. Caimi, Carol M. McCutchen, Laura McCole, Min Zhang, Yat-Chen Chou, Mary Ann Franden
  • Patent number: 7989206
    Abstract: Identified are mutants of the promoter of the Z. mobilis glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene, which direct improved expression levels of operably linked heterologous nucleic acids. These are high expression promoters useful for expression of chimeric genes in Zymomonas, Zymobacter, and other related bacteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company Alliance for Sustainable Energy LLC
    Inventors: Paul V. Viitanen, Luan Tao, Yuying Zhang, Perry G. Caimi, Laura McCole, Min Zhang, Yat-Chen Chou, Carol M. McCutchen, Mary Ann Franden
  • Patent number: 7897396
    Abstract: Through screening of a Zymomonas mutant library the himA gene was found to be involved in the inhibitory effect of acetate on Zymomonas performance. Xylose-utilizing Zymomonas strains further engineered to reduce activity of the himA gene were found to have increased ethanol production in comparison to a parental strain, when cultured in mixed-sugars medium comprising xylose, and, in particular, in the presence of acetate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignees: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Perry G. Caimi, Yat-Chen Chou, Mary Ann Franden, Kyle Knoke, Luan Tao, Paul V. Viitanen, Min Zhang, Yuying Zhang
  • Publication number: 20110014670
    Abstract: Strains of xylose utilizing Zymomonas with improved xylose utilization and ethanol production during fermentation in stress conditions were obtained using an adaptation method. The adaptation involved continuously growing xylose utilizing Zymomonas in media containing high sugars, acetic acid, ammonia, and ethanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY & ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY LLC
    Inventors: PERRY G. CAIMI, Mark Emptage, Xu Li, Paul V. Viitanen, Yat-Chen Chou, Mary Ann Franden, Min Zhang
  • Patent number: 7803623
    Abstract: Through screening of a Zymomonas mutant library the himA gene was found to be involved in the inhibitory effect of acetate on Zymomonas performance. Xylose-utilizing Zymomonas further engineered to reduce activity of the himA gene were found to have increased ethanol production in comparison to a parental strain, when cultured in medium comprising xylose and acetate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignees: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Alliance for Sustainable Energy LLC
    Inventors: Perry G. Caimi, Yat-Chen Chou, Mary Ann Franden, Kyle Knoke, Luan Tao, Paul V. Viitanen, Min Zhang, Yuying Zhang
  • Patent number: 7741084
    Abstract: Production of ethanol using a strain of xylose-utilizing Zymomonas with a genetic modification of the glucose-fructose oxidoreductase gene was found to be improved due to greatly reduced production of xylitol, a detrimental by-product of xylose metabolism synthesized during fermentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignees: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Alliance for Sustainable Energy LLC
    Inventors: Paul V. Viitanen, Carol M. McCutchen, Mark Emptage, Perry G. Caimi, Min Zhang, Yat-Chen Chou
  • Patent number: 7741119
    Abstract: A strain of xylose-utilizing Zymomonas was engineered with a genetic modification to the glucose-fructose oxidoreductase gene resulting in reduced expression of GFOR enzyme activity. The engineered strain exhibits reduced production of xylitol, a detrimental by-product of xylose metabolism. It also consumes more xylose and produces more ethanol during mixed sugar fermentation under process-relevant conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignees: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Alliance for Sustainable Energy LLC
    Inventors: Paul V. Viitanen, Yat-Chen Chou, Carol M. McCutchen, Min Zhang
  • Patent number: 7629156
    Abstract: Xylose-utilizing Z. mobilis strains were found to have improved ethanol production when grown in medium containing mixed sugars including xylose if sorbitol or mannitol was included in the medium. The effect was seen in concentrations of mixed sugars where no growth lag period occurs, as well as in higher sugars concentrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignees: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Alliance For Sustainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Paul V. Viitanen, Carol M. Mc Cutchen, Xu Li, Mark Emptage, Perry G. Caimi, Min Zhang, Yat-Chen Chou, Mary Ann Franden
  • Publication number: 20090246846
    Abstract: Strains of Zymomonas were engineered by introducing a chimeric xylose isomerase gene that contains a mutant promoter of the Z. mobilis glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene. The promoter directs increased expression of xylose isomerase, and when the strain is in addition engineered for expression of xylulokinase, transaldolase and transketolase, improved utilization of xylose is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: PAUL V. VIITANEN, LUAN TAO, YUYING ZHANG, PERRY G. CAIMI, CAROL M. MCCUTCHEN, LAURA MCCOLE, MIN ZHANG, YAT-CHEN CHOU, MARY ANN FRANDEN
  • Publication number: 20090246876
    Abstract: Identified are mutants of the promoter of the Z. mobilis glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene, which direct improved expression levels of operably linked heterologous nucleic acids. These are high expression promoters useful for expression of chimeric genes in Zymomonas, Zymobacter, and other related bacteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: PAUL V. VIITANEN, LUAN TAO, YUYING ZHANG, PERRY G. CAIMI, LAURA MCCOLE, MIN ZHANG, YAT-CHEN CHOU, CAROL M. MCCUTCHEN, MARY ANN FRANDEN
  • Publication number: 20090221078
    Abstract: Through screening of a Zymomonas mutant library the himA gene was found to be involved in the inhibitory effect of acetate on Zymomonas performance. Xylose-utilizing Zymomonas further engineered to reduce activity of the himA gene were found to have increased ethanol production in comparison to a parental strain, when cultured in medium comprising xylose and acetate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Perry G. Caimi, Yat-Chen Chou, Mary Ann Franden, Kyle Knoke, Luan Tao, Paul V. Viitanen, Min Zhang, Yuying Zhang
  • Publication number: 20090203099
    Abstract: Through screening of a Zymomonas mutant library the himA gene was found to be involved in the inhibitory effect of acetate on Zymomonas performance. Xylose-utilizing Zymomonas strains further engineered to reduce activity of the himA gene were found to have increased ethanol production in comparison to a parental strain, when cultured in mixed-sugars medium comprising xylose, and, in particular, in the presence of acetate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Perry G. Caimi, Yat-Chen Chou, Mary Ann Franden, Kyle Knoke, Luan Tao, Paul V. Viitanen, Min Zhang, Yuying Zhang
  • Publication number: 20090081762
    Abstract: Purified cellobiohydrolase I (glycosyl hydrolase family 7 (Cel7A)) enzymes from Penicillium funiculosum demonstrate a high level of specific performance in comparison to other Cel7 family member enzymes when formulated with purified EIcd endoglucanase from A. cellulolyticus and tested on pretreated corn stover. This result is true of the purified native enzyme, as well as recombinantly expressed enzyme, for example, that enzyme expressed in a non-native Aspergillus host. In a specific example, the specific performance of the formulation using purified recombinant Cel7A from Penicillium funiculosum expressed in A. awamori is increased by more than 200% when compared to a formulation using purified Cel7A from Trichoderma reesei.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
    Inventors: William S. Adney, John O. Baker, Stephen R. Decker, Yat-Chen Chou, Michael E. Himmel, Shi-You Ding