Patents by Inventor Yoshimitsu Takakura

Yoshimitsu Takakura 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: 20240032498
    Abstract: Provided are a tobacco plant in which a high solavetivone content can be achieved without inoculation with a virus, and a method for producing the tobacco plant. In a tobacco plant in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a function of an endogenous CA1 gene is suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Takanori TAKEUCHI, Hisashi UDAGAWA, Yoshimitsu TAKAKURA, Hiroshi MAGOME, Ryo NISHIGUCHI
  • Patent number: 11659807
    Abstract: In order to provide tobacco resistant to a virus, tobacco in accordance with the present invention is arranged such that: (i) a translation initiation factor eIF(iso)4E protein which is non-functional with respect to a virus is produced or (ii) expression of a translation initiation factor eIF(iso)4E gene is suppressed; and (a) a translation initiation factor eIF4E2 protein, which is non-functional with respect to a virus, is produced or (b) expression of a translation initiation factor eIF4E2 gene is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Takakura, Akira Shinjo, Hisashi Udagawa, Kazuharu Koga
  • Publication number: 20230120622
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a tobacco plant having a low alkaloid content. In the tobacco plant, a function of a gene encoding aspartate oxidase AO2 is suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Takanori TAKEUCHI, Masao ARAI, Hisashi UDAGAWA, Hiroshi MAGOME, Ryo NISHIGUCHI, Yoshimitsu TAKAKURA
  • Publication number: 20230071752
    Abstract: The object of an embodiment of the present invention is to improve the quality of a tobacco product. The present invention relates to a tobacco plant in which a mutation is introduced in a genome, the mutation causing suppression of a function of a specific endogenous gene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi MAGOME, Masao ARAI, Kiyoshi OYAMA, Yoshimitsu TAKAKURA, Ryo NISHIGUCHI
  • Patent number: 10400251
    Abstract: A virus-resistant tobacco in accordance with the present invention is such that it includes a mutation in a translation initiation factor eIF(iso)4E gene, the mutation causing production of an eIF(iso)4E protein which is non-functional with respect to a virus or suppressing expression of the eIF(iso)4E gene, or a virus-resistant tobacco in accordance with the present invention is such that an expression level of the eIF(iso)4E gene is 20% or lower as compared to a wild type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Takakura, Kazuharu Koga, Akira Shinjo, Hisashi Udagawa
  • Publication number: 20190174706
    Abstract: In order to provide tobacco resistant to a virus, tobacco in accordance with the present invention is arranged such that: (i) a translation initiation factor eIF(iso)4E protein which is non-functional with respect to a virus is produced or (ii) expression of a translation initiation factor eIF(iso)4E gene is suppressed; and (a) a translation initiation factor eIF4E2 protein, which is non-functional with respect to a virus, is produced or (b) expression of a translation initiation factor eIF4E2 gene is suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu TAKAKURA, Akira SHINJO, Hisashi UDAGAWA, Kazuharu KOGA
  • Publication number: 20170107533
    Abstract: A virus-resistant tobacco in accordance with the present invention is such that it includes a mutation in a translation initiation factor eIF(iso)4E gene, the mutation causing production of an eIF(iso)4E protein which is non-functional with respect to a virus or suppressing expression of the eIF(iso)4E gene, or a virus-resistant tobacco in accordance with the present invention is such that an expression level of the eIF(iso)4E gene is 20% or lower as compared to a wild type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu TAKAKURA, Kazuharu KOGA, Akira SHINJO, Hisashi UDAGAWA
  • Patent number: 9611303
    Abstract: The present invention provides a modified biotin-binding protein comprising an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 or its modified sequence and having a biotin-binding activity and replacement selected from the group consisting of: 1) replacement of the 36th serine residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with an amino acid residue that does not form a hydrogen bond; 2) replacement of the 80th tryptophan residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with a hydrophilic amino acid residue; 3) replacement of the 116th aspartic acid residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with an amino acid residue that does not form a hydrogen bond; 4) replacement of the 46th proline residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with a threonine, serine, or tyrosine residue and replacement of the 78th threonine residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with an amino acid residue that does not form a hydrogen bond; 5) replacement of the 46th proline residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with a threonine, serine, or tyrosine residue and replacement of the 116th aspartic acid residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with an amino acid that
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Takakura, Masako Tsunashima, Kozue Sofuku
  • Patent number: 9573982
    Abstract: The present invention provides modified tamabidin 2, which is a modified biotin-binding protein comprising an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2, an amino acid sequence having one or more amino acid mutations in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, or an amino acid sequence having an identity of not less than 80% to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 and having biotin-binding activity, wherein an asparagine residue at position 115 of SEQ ID NO: 2 is replaced with cysteine. The modified biotin-binding protein has remarkable heat resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Takakura, Naomi Oka
  • Patent number: 9556450
    Abstract: Isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides and recombinant DNA constructs useful for conferring drought tolerance, compositions (such as plants or seeds) comprising these recombinant DNA constructs, and methods utilizing these recombinant DNA constructs. The recombinant DNA construct comprises a polynucleotide operably linked to a promoter that is functional in a plant, wherein said polynucleotide encodes a DTP21 polypeptide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY, JAPAN TOBACCO INC, PIONEER HI-BRED INTL INC.
    Inventors: Marc C Albertsen, Yukoh Hiei, Teruyuki Imayama, Masakazu Kashihara, Norio Kato, Toshihiko Komari, Toshiyuki Komori, Stanley Luck, Ichiro Oka, Hajime Sakai, Yoshimitsu Takakura, Scott V Tingey, Satoru Usami
  • Publication number: 20150291671
    Abstract: The present invention provides a modified biotin-binding protein comprising an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 or its modified sequence and having a biotin-binding activity and replacement selected from the group consisting of: 1) replacement of the 36th serine residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with an amino acid residue that does not form a hydrogen bond; 2) replacement of the 80th tryptophan residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with a hydrophilic amino acid residue; 3) replacement of the 116th aspartic acid residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with an amino acid residue that does not form a hydrogen bond; 4) replacement of the 46th proline residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with a threonine, serine, or tyrosine residue and replacement of the 78th threonine residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with an amino acid residue that does not form a hydrogen bond; 5) replacement of the 46th proline residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with a threonine, serine, or tyrosine residue and replacement of the 116th aspartic acid residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with an amino acid that
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu TAKAKURA, Masako TSUNASHIMA, Kozue SOFUKU
  • Patent number: 9139617
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting an antibody against a small protein encoded by the intermediate stage transcript of HHV-6 (SITH-1) in a biological sample. The method of the present invention includes the following steps: 1) providing the SITH-1 protein; 2) binding the SITH-1 protein provided in step 1) to a carrier; and 3) contacting the biological sample with the SITH-1 protein-bound carrier prepared in step 2) to detect the SITH-1 protein antibody.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignees: JAPAN TOBACCO INC., VIRUS IKAGAKU KENKYUSHO INC.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Takakura, Naomi Oka, Kazuhiro Kondo, Nobuyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9034590
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting a substance in a biological sample, a carrier for using in the method, and a kit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignees: JAPAN TOBACCO INC., VIRUS IKAGAKU KENKYUSHO INC.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Takakura, Naomi Oka, Kazuhiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 9018360
    Abstract: The present invention provides a modified biotin-binding protein comprising an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 or its modified sequence and having a biotin-binding activity and replacement selected from the group consisting of: 1) replacement of the 36th serine residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with an amino acid residue that does not form a hydrogen bond; 2) replacement of the 80th tryptophan residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with a hydrophilic amino acid residue; 3) replacement of the 116th aspartic acid residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with an amino acid residue that does not form a hydrogen bond; 4) replacement of the 46th proline residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with a threonine, serine, or tyrosine residue and replacement of the 78th threonine residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with an amino acid residue that does not form a hydrogen bond; 5) replacement of the 46th proline residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with a threonine, serine, or tyrosine residue and replacement of the 116th aspartic acid residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with an amino acid that
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Takakura, Masako Tsunashima, Kozue Sofuku
  • Publication number: 20150101078
    Abstract: Isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides and recombinant DNA constructs useful for conferring drought tolerance, compositions (such as plants or seeds) comprising these recombinant DNA constructs, and methods utilizing these recombinant DNA constructs. The recombinant DNA construct comprises a polynucleotide operably linked to a promoter that is functional in a plant, wherein said polynucleotide encodes a DTP21 polypeptide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: MARC C ALBERTSEN, Yukoh Hiei, Teruyuki Imayama, Masakazu Kashihara, Norio Kato, Toshihiko Komari, Toshiyuki Komori, Stanley Luck, Ichiro Oka, Hajime Sakai, Yoshimitsu Takakura, Scott V Tingey, Satoru Usami
  • Patent number: 8957190
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid support having a heat-resistant biotin-binding protein attached thereto. The present invention also relates to the use of the solid support of the present invention having a heat-resistant biotin-binding protein attached thereto. The present invention further relates to technical fields such as purification, concentration, detection and/or capture of a biotin-linked substance by means of a heat-resistant biotin-binding protein. Such a biotin-binding protein used in the solid support of the present invention is heat-resistant and is therefore useful for use in assay systems involving exposure to a temperature of 70° C. or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Takakura, Satoru Usami, Masako Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 8916746
    Abstract: Isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides and recombinant DNA constructs useful for conferring drought tolerance, compositions (such as plants or seeds) comprising these recombinant DNA constructs, and methods utilizing these recombinant DNA constructs. The recombinant DNA construct comprises a polynucleotide operably linked to a promoter that is functional in a plant, wherein said polynucleotide encodes a DTP21 polypeptide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignees: Japan Tobacco, Inc., E. I. du Pont de Neumours and Company, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventors: Masakazu Kashihara, Toshiyuki Komori, Ichiro Oka, Satoru Usami, Norio Kato, Yukoh Hiei, Yoshimitsu Takakura, Toshihiko Komari, Teruyuki Imayama, Scott V. Tingey, Hajime Sakai, Marc C. Albertsen, Stanley Luck
  • Publication number: 20140242620
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting non-specific binding in a step of detecting a substance in a biological sample. The invention provides a method of inhibiting non-specific binding in a step of detecting a substance in a biological sample, the method comprising: bringing a biotin-binding protein monomer not substantially having biotin-binding ability into contact with the biological sample, wherein in the step of detecting, a substance capable of specifically binding to the substance to be detected is immobilized to a carrier through binding between biotin and the biotin-binding protein before or after binding of the substance to be detected to the substance capable of specifically binding to the substance to be detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Takakura, Naomi Oka
  • Publication number: 20130309691
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid support having a heat-resistant biotin-binding protein attached thereto. The present invention also relates to the use of the solid support of the present invention having a heat-resistant biotin-binding protein attached thereto. The present invention further relates to technical fields such as purification, concentration, detection and/or capture of a biotin-linked substance by means of a heat-resistant biotin-binding protein. Such a biotin-binding protein used in the solid support of the present invention is heat-resistant and is therefore useful for use in assay systems involving exposure to a temperature of 70° C. or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu TAKAKURA, Satoru USAMI, Masako ICHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20130309765
    Abstract: The present invention provides modified tamabidin 2, which is a modified biotin-binding protein comprising an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2, an amino acid sequence having one or more amino acid mutations in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, or an amino acid sequence having an identity of not less than 80% to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 and having biotin-binding activity, wherein an asparagine residue at position 115 of SEQ ID NO: 2 is replaced with cysteine. The modified biotin-binding protein has remarkable heat resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Takakura, Naomi Oka