Patents by Inventor Zhixiong Xue

Zhixiong Xue 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: 20190276905
    Abstract: Described are compositions and methods relating to yeast cells having a genetic mutation that give rise to increased stress tolerance and/or increased alcohol production. Such yeast is well-suited for use in alcohol production to reduce fermentation time and/or increase yields.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Celia Payen, Zhixiong Xue
  • Patent number: 9617571
    Abstract: Methods of increasing the amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the total lipid fraction and in the oil fraction of PUFA-producing, oleaginous eukaryotes, accomplished by modifying the activity of peroxisome biogenesis factor (Pex) proteins. Disruptions of a chromosomal Pex3 gene, Pex10p gene or Pex16p gene in a PUFA-producing, oleaginous eukaryotic strain resulted in an increased amount of PUFAs, as a percent of total fatty acids and as a percent of dry cell weight, in the total lipid fraction and in the oil fraction of the strain, as compared to the parental strain whose native Pex protein was not disrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Seung-Pyo Hong, Pamela L Sharpe, Zhixiong Xue, Narendra S Yadav, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Publication number: 20160326551
    Abstract: Provided herein are recombinant yeast host cells and methods for their use for production of fermentation products from an engineered pyruvate utilizing pathway. The yeast host cells provided herein comprise an altered lipid profile, which confers resistance to butanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Tina K. VAN DYK, Zhixiong XUE, Narendra S. YADAV, Hongxiang ZHANG
  • Patent number: 9441209
    Abstract: Recombinant microbial cells are disclosed herein that comprise (i) a down-regulation of an endogenous polynucleotide sequence encoding Sou2 sorbitol utilization protein, and (ii) a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) biosynthetic pathway. The down-regulation of the polynucleotide sequence encoding Sou2 sorbitol utilization protein can increase the lipid content of the microbial cells and/or decrease the total amount of sugar alcohols produced by the microbial cells. Also disclosed are methods of using the recombinant microbial cells to produce oil containing omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as EPA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Quinn Qun Zhu, Seung-Pyo Hong, Dongming Xie, Zhixiong Xue, Hyeryoung Yoon, Michael Dauner
  • Patent number: 9175318
    Abstract: Described are methods of reducing the amount of byproduct organic acids during fermentation of an organism, based on expression of a heterologous malonyl-CoA synthetase. A polyunsaturated fatty acid [“PUFA”]-producing strain of the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica was engineered to express a heterologous malonyl-CoA synthetase gene. The expression did not effect the production of PUFAs, but did result in a reduced amount of malonates when compared to the amount of malonates produced in the parental strain not expressing malonyl-CoA synthetase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: E. I. DUPONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Quinn Qun Zhu, Zhixiong Xue
  • Patent number: 9150874
    Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding delta-9 elongases along with a method of making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) using these delta-9 elongases in plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Howard Glenn Damude, Brian McGonigle, Quinn Qun Zhu, Zhixiong Xue
  • Publication number: 20150218526
    Abstract: Recombinant microbial cells are disclosed herein that comprise (i) a down-regulation of an endogenous polynucleotide sequence encoding Sou2 sorbitol utilization protein, and (ii) a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) biosynthetic pathway. The down-regulation of the polynucleotide sequence encoding Sou2 sorbitol utilization protein can increase the lipid content of the microbial cells and/or decrease the total amount of sugar alcohols produced by the microbial cells. Also disclosed are methods of using the recombinant microbial cells to produce oil containing omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as EPA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Quinn Qun Zhu, Seung-Pyo Hong, Dongming Xie, Zhixiong Xue, Hyeryoung Yoon, Michael Dauner
  • Patent number: 9005940
    Abstract: Recombinant microbial cells are disclosed herein that comprise (i) a down-regulation of an endogenous polynucleotide sequence encoding Sou2 sorbitol utilization protein, and (ii) a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) biosynthetic pathway. The down-regulation of the polynucleotide sequence encoding Sou2 sorbitol utilization protein can increase the lipid content of the microbial cells and/or decrease the total amount of sugar alcohols produced by the microbial cells. Also disclosed are methods of using the recombinant microbial cells to produce oil containing omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as EPA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Quinn Qun Zhu, Seung-Pyo Hong, Dongming Xie, Zhixiong Xue, Hyeryoung Yoon, Michael Dauner
  • Patent number: 8969049
    Abstract: Promoter regions associated with the Yarrowia lipolytica diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (dgat2) gene are disclosed and have been found to be particularly effective for the expression of heterologous genes in yeast. These promoter regions will be useful for driving high-level expression of genes involved in the production of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Quinn Qun Zhu, Zhixiong Xue
  • Publication number: 20150024441
    Abstract: Methods of increasing the amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the total lipid fraction and in the oil fraction of PUFA-producing, oleaginous eukaryotes, accomplished by modifying the activity of peroxisome biogenesis factor (Pex) proteins. Disruptions of a chromosomal Pex3 gene, Pex10p gene or Pex16p gene in a PUFA-producing, oleaginous eukaryotic strain resulted in an increased amount of PUFAs, as a percent of total fatty acids and as a percent of dry cell weight, in the total lipid fraction and in the oil fraction of the strain, as compared to the parental strain whose native Pex protein was not disrupted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: SEUNG-PYO HONG, Pamela L. Sharpe, Zhixiong Xue, Narendra S. Yadav, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Patent number: 8916365
    Abstract: Transgenic Yarrowia species are disclosed herein that comprise a polynucleotide encoding a cytosolic malic enzyme, a lipid content that is at least about 35% by weight of the dry cell weight of the Yarrowia species, and an engineered polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) biosynthetic pathway, wherein overexpression of the cytosolic malic enzyme increases lipid content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Daniel Joseph Macool, Zhixiong Xue, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Patent number: 8865429
    Abstract: Transgenic oleaginous yeast having increased oil content comprising increased Yap1 transcription factor activity, wherein the increased oil content is compared to the oil content of a non-transgenic oleaginous yeast, are described herein. The increased Yap1 transcription factor activity results from overexpressing a Yap1 transcription factor, by increasing the interaction between the transcription factor and a protein that is capable of activating the transcription factor, or by a combination thereof. Methods of using these yeast strains are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Seung-Pyo Hong, Zhixiong Xue, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Patent number: 8859849
    Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding delta-8 desaturases along with a method of making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) using these delta-8 desaturases in plants and oleaginous yeast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Howard Glenn Damude, Zhixiong Xue, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Patent number: 8822185
    Abstract: Methods of increasing the amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the total lipid fraction and in the oil fraction of PUFA-producing, oleaginous eukaryotes, accomplished by modifying the activity of peroxisome biogenesis factor (Pex) proteins, are disclosed. Disruptions of a chromosomal Pex3 gene, Pex10p gene or Pex16p gene in a PUFA-producing, oleaginous eukaryotic strain resulted in an increased amount of PUFAs, as a percent of total fatty acids and as a percent of dry cell weight, in the total lipid fraction and in the oil fraction of the strain, as compared to the parental strain whose native Pex protein was not disrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Seung-Pyo Hong, Pamela L Sharpe, Zhixiong Xue, Narendra S Yadav, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Patent number: 8815566
    Abstract: Engineered strains of the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica capable of producing greater than 25% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, an ?-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid) in the total oil fraction are described. These strains comprise various chimeric genes expressing heterologous desaturases, elongases and acyltransferases and optionally comprise various native desaturase and acyltransferase knockouts to enable synthesis and high accumulation of EPA. Production host cells are claimed, as are methods for producing EPA within said host cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Howard Glenn Damude, Peter John Gillies, Daniel Joseph Macool, Stephen K Picataggio, Dana M. Walters Pollak, James John Ragghianti, Zhixiong Xue, Narendra S Yadav, Hongxiang Zhang, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Publication number: 20140220645
    Abstract: Recombinant microbial cells are disclosed herein that comprise (i) a down-regulation of an endogenous polynucleotide sequence encoding Sou2 sorbitol utilization protein, and (ii) a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) biosynthetic pathway. The down-regulation of the polynucleotide sequence encoding Sou2 sorbitol utilization protein can increase the lipid content of the microbial cells and/or decrease the total amount of sugar alcohols produced by the microbial cells. Also disclosed are methods of using the recombinant microbial cells to produce oil containing omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as EPA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Quinn Qun Zhu, Seung-Pyo Hong, Dongming Xie, Zhixiong Xue, Hyeryoung Yoon, Michael Dauner
  • Patent number: 8735108
    Abstract: Engineered strains of the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica capable of producing greater than 50 weight percent of eicosapentaenoic acid in the total oil fraction are described. These strains over-express heterologous ?9 elongases, ?8 desaturases, ?5 desaturases, ?17 desaturases, ?12 desaturases and C16/18 elongases, and optionally over-express diacylglycerol cholinephosphotransferases. Gene knockouts are also described, as are methods for producing EPA within host cells, and products comprising EPA from the optimized Yarrowia lipolytica strains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Zhixiong Xue, Narendra S Yadav, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Patent number: 8703473
    Abstract: Engineered strains of the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica are disclosed herein that are capable of producing microbial oil comprising greater than 25 weight percent of eicosapentaenoic acid [“EPA”], an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, measured as a weight percent of dry cell weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Seung-Pyo Hong, Pamela L. Sharpe, Zhixiong Xue, Narendra S. Yadav, Hongxiang Zhang, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Patent number: 8685682
    Abstract: An engineered strain of the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica capable of producing greater than 5.6% docosahexaenoic acid acid (DHA, an w-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid) in the total oil fraction is described. This strain comprises various chimeric genes expressing heterologous desaturases, elongases and acyltransferases and optionally comprises various native desaturase and acyltransferase knockouts to enable synthesis and high accumulation of DHA. Production host cells are claimed, as are methods for producing DHA within said host cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Howard Glenn Damude, Peter John Gillies, Daniel Joseph Macool, Stephen K Picataggio, James John Ragghianti, John E Seip, Zhixiong Xue, Narendra S Yadav, Hongxiang Zhang, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Patent number: 8685681
    Abstract: Acyltransferases are provided, suitable for use in the manufacture of microbial oils enriched in omega fatty acids in oleaginous yeast (e.g., Yarrowia lipolytica). Specifically, genes encoding diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT1) have been isolated from Y. lipolytica and Mortierella alpina. These genes encode enzymes that participate in the terminal step in oil biosynthesis in yeast. Each is expected to play a key role in altering the quantity of polyunsaturated fatty acids produced in oils of oleaginous yeasts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Narendra S. Yadav, Zhixiong Xue, Hongxiang Zhang