Propionic Or Butyric Acid Patents (Class 435/141)
  • Publication number: 20120003706
    Abstract: A process converts a gas input stream comprising CO, CO2, and H2 by contact with fermentation liquid into a liquid product that controls the concentration of CO and CO2 in the fermentation vessel. The process charges the feed gas stream and a recycle gas stream to the fermentation vessel and an off-gas stream collects above the fermentation liquid. The off-gas stream flows to a gas injector that uses a recycle liquid as the motive fluid to mix the off-gas with the recycle liquid into a gas-liquid dispersion. Contact of the recycle liquid with the off-gas absorbs CO2 to provide the recycle stream. A gas separation vessel separates the remainder of the off-gas into the recycle gas. Mixing the recycle gas with the gas input stream dilutes the concentration of CO to lower the CO concentration in the fermentation vessel. Separated recycle liquid flows to a CO2 stripper for removal of CO2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventor: Robert Hickey
  • Publication number: 20120003707
    Abstract: A process for conversion of syngas to liquid products that serve as surface acting agents uses the gas stream at a relatively low pressure to eliminate the use of a compressor. The process uses a liquid stream as the primary energy input to a gas injector that intensely mixes gas and the liquid with reduced compression costs while the presence of the liquid product maintains the gas-liquid dispersion as it flows downward to build a static pressure head. The process lowers the required gas pressure by adjusting the elevation of the gas injector such that a conduit receives the gas-liquid dispersion from the outlet of the injector and confines it as it travels downward to enter the bottom of a column of liquid. The liquid product provides a surface acting agent that prolongs the creation and duration of microbubbles in the gas-liquid dispersion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Robert Hickey, Mark Neville
  • Publication number: 20110318790
    Abstract: The present invention relates to eukaryotic cells which have the ability to isomerise xylose directly into xylulose. The cells have acquired this ability by transformation with nucleotide sequences coding for a xylose isomerase that has one or more specific sequence elements typical for isomerases having the ability of functional expression in yeasts, such as e.g. xylose isomerases obtainable from a bacterium of the genera Clostridiumand Fusobacteriumor a tunicate form the genus Ciona. The cell preferably is a yeast or a filamentous fungus, more preferably a yeast is capable of anaerobic alcoholic fermentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Aloysius Wilhelmus Rudolphus Hubertus Teunissen, Johannes Adrianus Maria De Bont
  • Patent number: 8052961
    Abstract: Disclosed are compounds having the structure: wherein R1a and R1b are independently H, alkyl, F, or fluoroalkyl; wherein R2a, R2b, R2a?, and R2b? are independently H, alkyl, F, fluoroalkyl, aryl, or alkenyl; wherein R3 is OH, alkoxyl, NH2, alkylamino, or dialkylamino; wherein R4a and R4b are independently H, alkyl, acyl, or alkyloxycarbonyl; wherein R11, R12, R13, R21, R22, and R23 are independently H, alkyl, F, or fluoroalkyl; and wherein C0, C1, C2 and C2? are independently chiral or achiral. Also disclosed are processes for making a fluorinated ?-amino acid comprising the steps of: providing a diol; treating the diol with a thionyl halide with oxidative workup; reacting the product with an azide salt to yield an azido group; oxidizing the product to yield a carboxyl group; and reducing the azido group to yield an amino group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: University of Utah Foundation
    Inventors: Bruce (Yihua) Yu, Zhong-Xing Jiang
  • Patent number: 8048624
    Abstract: Methods of obtaining mutant nucleic acid sequences that demonstrate elevated oxaloacetate ?-decarboxylase activity are provided. Compositions, such as genetically modified microorganisms that comprise such mutant nucleic acid sequences, are described, as are methods to obtain the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: OPX Biotechnologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Lynch
  • Patent number: 8048655
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for the recovery of an organic acid from a dilute salt solution in which the cation of the salt forms an insoluble carbonate salt. A tertiary amine and CO2 are introduced to the solution to form the insoluble carbonate salt and a complex between the acid and an amine. A water immiscible solvent, such as an alcohol, is added to extract the acid/amine complex from the dilute salt solution to a reaction phase. The reaction phase is continuously dried and a product between the acid and the solvent, such as an ester, is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: ZeaChem, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan W. Verser, Timothy J. Eggeman
  • Publication number: 20110256597
    Abstract: Ethanol and other liquid products are produced by contacting syngas components such as CO or a mixture of CO2 and H2 with a surface of a membrane under anaerobic conditions and transferring these components into contact with a biofilm on the opposite side of the membrane. These steps provide a stable system for producing liquid products such as ethanol, butanol and other chemicals. The gas fed on the membrane's gas contact side transports through the membrane to form a biofilm of anaerobic microorganisms that converted the syngas to desired liquid products. The system can sustain production with a variety of microorganisms and membrane configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: Robert Hickey, Rathin Datta, Shih-Perng Tsai, Rahul Basu
  • Publication number: 20110250654
    Abstract: Glycerol or other reduced carbon sources may be used as a feedstock for the microbial production of chemical products under certain microaerobic conditions. For example, such production may occur under microaerobic or microrespiratory conditions in which electron acceptors are consumed in the reaction as quickly as they are added. In such reactions, the reaction product is at least as reduced as carbon source. Further, during such a reaction, at least some of the carbon source is used to generate cell mass. In addition, microorganisms with modified genomes are provided for carrying out the methods herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicants: Glycos Biotechnologies, Inc., William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Ramon Gonzalez, Paul Campbell
  • Patent number: 8030045
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides novel beta-alanine/alpha ketoglutarate aminotransferase nucleic acid and protein sequences having increased biological activity. Also provided are cells containing such enzymes, as well as methods of their use, for example to produce malonyl semialdehyde and downstream products thereof, such as 3-hydroxypropionic acid and derivatives thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: Holly Jean Jessen, Hans H. Liao, Steven John Gort, Olga V. Selifonova
  • Publication number: 20110229942
    Abstract: Microorganisms for the production of high-value chemicals from free fatty acids are provided. The microorganisms comprise genetic mutations that alter fatty acid metabolism. The genetic mutations include a mutation or deletion of a fadR gene in which the FadR enzyme activity is partially or substantially eliminated and a mutation in an atoC gene that provides overexpression of the microorganism's ato operon. Methods of using the microorganisms to produce high-value chemicals are also provided. The high-value chemicals include ethanol, methyl acetate, succinate, gamma-butyrolactone, 1,4-butanediol, acetone, iso-propanol, butyrate, butanol, mevalonate, propionate, ethanolamine and 1,2-propanediol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: Glycos Biotechnologies, Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul Campbell, Ramon Gonzalez
  • Publication number: 20110201061
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method of hydrolysis of wet fiber and a method for preparing ethanol. Generally, an agricultural plant material, such as corn hulls, distiller's dried grains, or spent germ, is treated to at least partially hydrolyze the fiber. The process may include a maceration step followed by a shearing operation in the presence of steam to yield a treated product, in which, in many embodiments, saccharides will be released and unbound from fibrous portions of the agricultural product. In some embodiments, the process includes macerating the material to provide a slurry having a solids content of at least 10 percent and jet cooking the slurry. A mixture of saccharides prepared in this fashion may be fermented to yield ethanol and/or biochemicals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Sarjit Johal, Steven L. Ramsden, Zachary J. Halloran, Albert J. Pollmeier
  • Publication number: 20110189728
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cell which comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a xylose isomerase, wherein the amino acid sequence of the xylose isomerase has at least about 70% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 3 and wherein the nucleotide sequence is heterologous to the host. A cell of the invention may be used in a process for producing a fermentation product, such as ethanol. Such a process may comprise fermenting a medium containing a source of xylose with a cell of the invention such that the cell ferments xylose to the fermentation product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Paul Klaassen, Jan Metske Laan, Van Der, Bianca Eiisabeth Maria Gielesen
  • Publication number: 20110183382
    Abstract: This invention provides systems and methods for the production of compounds by C. phytofermentans. C. phytofermentans is genetically-engineered for hydrolysis and fermentation of carbonaceous biomass to synthesize compounds of commercial value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: Qteros, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthias Schmalisch, Chelsea Ju, Francis H. Verhoff, Gregory S. Coil
  • Publication number: 20110183390
    Abstract: A stable system for producing liquid products such as ethanol, butanol and other chemicals from syngas components contacts CO or a mixture of CO2 and H2 with a hydrophilic membrane under anaerobic conditions and transfers these components into contact with microorganisms contained as a biofilm on the membrane. Maintaining the microorganisms as a biolayer on the surface of the membrane facilitates cleaning of the membrane surface that retains the biofilm. In addition the shell gas space that surrounds the membranes may be flooded to reduce or remove the biofilm. Agitation of the liquid, by for example the bubbling of gas in the surrounding shell space, can fully or partially remove the biofilm from the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: ROBERT HICKEY, RAHUL BASU, RATHIN DATTA, SHIH-PERNG TSAI
  • Publication number: 20110177567
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of a fermentation product from lignocellulosic biomass, to a reactor to carry out the method and to use of the reactor to produce a fermentation product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventors: Robert Reurd Christophor Bakker, Edserd De Jong, Ronald Hubertus Wilhelmus Maas, Ruud Alexander Weusthuis, Diana Visser, Hendrik Martinus Winkelaar, Mickel Leonardus August Jansen
  • Publication number: 20110151529
    Abstract: A fermentation process for the production of organic acids is provided and includes, providing metabolically engineered mutant bacteria which have had one or both of ack and pta genes disrupted, adapting the mutant bacteria to increase their resistance to acids and to increase their growth rate by immobilizing the mutant bacteria while exposing the mutant bacteria to a fermentable substrate, and further exposing the adapted mutant bacteria to a fermentable substrate for a time sufficient to provide a final organic acid fermentation product concentration of greater than about 50 g/L.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Shang-Tian Yang
  • Publication number: 20110137088
    Abstract: Renewable materials made from inhibiting compounds. A method includes the step of consuming a fermentation inhibiting compound with a biological organism, and the step of producing a renewable material with the biological organism from at least a portion of the fermentation inhibiting compound. The methods may include a net balance of cofactor production and consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob Borden
  • Publication number: 20110104770
    Abstract: Ethanol and other liquid products are produced from biomass using gasification of the biomass to produce a syngas containing CO2, CO, H2 and sulfur or sulfur compounds that passes the syngas to a fermentation step for the conversion of the CO and CO2 and H2 to ethanol. Sulfur and sulfur compounds in the syngas are used to satisfy sulfur demanded by bacteria in the fermentation step. A sulfur control additive is added to the gasification to control syngas sulfur and sulfur compounds at a desired concentration to meet bacteria sulfur demand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventor: Richard E. Tobey
  • Publication number: 20110076730
    Abstract: Improved enzyme systems, recombinant cells, and processes employing the same to produce biosynthetic D-1,2,4-butanetriol; D-1,2,4-butanetriol prepared thereby and derivatives thereof; D-1,2,4-butanetriol trinitrate prepared therefrom; and enzymes and genes useful in the enzyme systems and recombinant cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: John W. Frost, Wei Niu
  • Publication number: 20110053224
    Abstract: The invention describes a novel composition of matter obtained from the leaves of green plants, which is useful in promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms. Specifically, that the invention describes a hydrolysate prepared from plant leaf biomass (leaf biomass hydrolysate or ‘LBH’) which dramatically stimulates the growth of beneficial microorganisms. Use of LBH as a fermentation substrate can also stimulate rapid production of organic acids and other organic compounds. LBH can be used as a substrate to promote the fermentation-based production of biobased industrial chemicals or biofuels, LBH can be utilized as a prebiotic to promote the growth of beneficial probiotic organisms, hi addition, LBH may also be useful in stimulating the fermentation-based production of other products, examples of which include preservatives, antibiotics, antigens, vaccines, amino acids, vitamins, recombinant proteins, bioremediation treatments, and immobilized enzymes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Yangming Martin Lo, Irene N.N. Yossa, Neil A. Belson
  • Publication number: 20110008856
    Abstract: The gene encoding a 4-hydroxybutyryl-Co A transferase has been isolated from bacteria and integrated into the genome of bacteria also expressing a polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase, to yield an improved production process for 4HB-containing polyhydroxyalkanoates using transgenic organisms, including both bacteria and plants. The new pathways provide means for producing 4HB containing PHAs from cheap carbon sources such as sugars and fatty acids, in high yields, which are stable. Useful strains are obtaining by screening strains having integrated into their genomes a gene encoding a 4HB-CoA transferase and/or PHA synthase, for polymer production. Processes for polymer production use recombinant systems that can utilize cheap substrates. Systems are provided which can utilize amino acid degradation pathways, ?-ketoglutarate, or succinate as substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Gjalt W. Huisman, Frank A. Skraly, David P. Martin, Oliver P. Peoples
  • Patent number: 7867400
    Abstract: A process of separating suspended solids from a fermentation liquor by subjecting the liquor to a solids-liquid separation stage, wherein the fermentation liquor is produced in a fermentation process for the production of a fermentation product, and which liquor comprises lignin, wherein the solids-liquid separation stage is assisted by a treatment system, characterised in that the treatment system comprises an anionic polymer, with the proviso that the treatment system and does not include a cationic polymer having an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of at least 4 dl/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Ciba Speacialty Chemicals Water treaments Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan Hughes, Rajesh Mistry, Kenneth Charles Symes
  • Publication number: 20100267097
    Abstract: Fibrous materials, compositions that include fibrous materials, and uses of the fibrous materials and compositions are disclosed. For example, the fibrous materials can be operated on by a microorganism to produce ethanol or a by-product, such as a protein or lignin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventor: Marshall Medoff
  • Publication number: 20100209983
    Abstract: A method of synthesizing optically-active (S)-3-hydroxybutyric acid and (S)-3-hydroxybutyrate ester using a mutated microorganism is provided. More particularly, a mutated microorganism for preparing (S)-3-hydroxybutyric acid transformed with a gene encoding b ketothiolase, a gene encoding (S)-3-hydroxybutyryl CoA dehydrogenase and a gene encoding acyl CoA hydrolase; a method of preparing (S)-3-hydroxybutyric acid using the mutated microorganism; a mutated microorganism for preparing (S)-3-hydroxybutyrate ester transformed with a gene encoding b ketothiolase, a gene encoding (S)-3-hydroxybutyryl CoA dehydrogenase, a gene encoding acyl CoA hydrolase and a gene encoding lipase; and a method of preparing (S)-3-hydroxybutyrate ester using the mutated microorganism are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: LG-CHEM, LTD.
    Inventor: Si Jae Park
  • Publication number: 20100143989
    Abstract: This invention relates to nitrilase mutants having improved nitrilase activity for converting 3-hydroxynitriles to 3-hydroxycarboxylic acids. More specifically, the Acidavorax facilis 72W (ATCC 55746) nitrilase gene was mutated using error-prone PCR and site-directed mutagenesis to create nitrilase enzymes having improved nitrilase activity for converting 3-hydroxynitriles (e.g., 3-hydroxybutyronitrile or 3-hydroxyvaleronitrile) to the corresponding 3-hydroxycarboxylic acids. A process using these improved mutants to produce the 3-hydroxycarboxylic acids is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark S. Payne, Robert DiCosimo, Daniel P. O'Keefe
  • Publication number: 20100143988
    Abstract: Strict anaerobic thermophilic bacterium belonging to the group of Thermoanaerobacter mathranii and mutants and derivatives thereof. The bacterium is particularly suitable for the production of fermentation products such as ethanol, lactic acid, acetic acid and hydrogen from lignocellulosic biomass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: Biogasol IPR APS
    Inventors: Marie Just Mikkelsen, Birgitte Kiaer Ahring
  • Publication number: 20100105116
    Abstract: The bioconversion of gas feedstreams to liquid products by direct contact with a layer of microorganism obtains enhanced productivity through the regular cycling of liquid across a substrate that supports a biolayer of microorganisms while separating the gas and liquid phases. Such processes produce liquid products such as ethanol, butanol and other chemicals from syngas components by contacting CO or a mixture of CO2 and H2 with a highly porous side of an asymmetric membrane under anaerobic conditions and transferring these components into contact with microorganisms contained within bio-pores of the membrane. A periodic laving of liquid from the liquid contact side to and away from the microorganisms can increase nutrient flow to the microorganisms while enhancing the recovery of liquid products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Rathin Datta, Shih-Perng Tsai, Jian Xu, Seong-Hoon Yoon
  • Publication number: 20100086965
    Abstract: The invention relates to an eukaryotic cell expressing nucleotide sequences encoding the ara A, ara B and ara D enzymes whereby the expression of these nucleotide sequences confers on the cell the ability to use L-arabinose and/or convert L-arabinose into L-ribulose, and/or xylulose 5-phosphate and/or into a desired fermentation product such as ethanol. Optionally, the eukaryotic cell is also able to convert xylose into ethanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventors: Antonius Jeroen Adriaan Van Maris, Jacobus Thomas Pronk, Hendrik Wouter Wisselink, Johannes Pieter Van Dijken, Aaron Adriaan Winkler, Johannes Hendrik De Winde
  • Patent number: 7687250
    Abstract: The invention provides methods, apparatuses, and kits for producing ethanol and other alcohols. The methods involve fermenting organic material in a fermentation mixture to a biogas comprising methane; converting at least a portion of the biogas to synthesis gas comprising CO and H2; and contacting at least a portion of the synthesis gas with a catalyst to produce alcohol. In some embodiments, a microorganism that reduces ferric iron to ferrous iron is included in the fermentation mixture to enhance the efficiency of the fermentation and the yield of alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Novus Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Delman R. Hogen, Jeffrey W. Lighthart, Hugh McTavish, John D. Offerman
  • Publication number: 20100047886
    Abstract: A stable system for producing liquid products such as ethanol, butanol and other chemicals from syngas components contacts CO or a mixture of CO2 and H2 with a hydrophilic membrane under anaerobic conditions and transfers these components into contact with microorganisms contained as a biofilm on the membrane. Maintaining the microorganisms as a biolayer on the surface of the membrane facilitates cleaning of the membrane surface that retains the biofilm. In addition the shell gas space that surrounds the membranes may be flooded to reduce or remove the biofilm. Agitation of the liquid, by for example the bubbling of gas in the surrounding shell space, can fully or partially remove the biofilm from the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Robert Hickey, Rahul Basu, Rathin Datta, Shih-Perng Tsai
  • Publication number: 20090325248
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cell which is genetically modified in relation to its wild type and which exhibits at least one of the properties a) or b): a) an increased activity by comparison with its wild type of an enzyme E1 which catalyzes the conversion of pyruvate into oxaloacetate, or of an enzyme E1b which catalyzes the conversion of phosphoenolpyruvate into oxaloacetate, b) an increased activity by comparison with its wild type of an enzyme E2 which catalyzes the conversion of aspartate into beta-alanine, where, besides properties a) or b), the cell is characterized by at least one of the properties c) or d) c) the genetically modified cell is able to export beta-alanine out of the cell, d) the genetically modified cell is able to convert beta-alanine into 3-hydroxypropionic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2006
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Marx, Volker F. Wendisch, Doris Rittmann, Stefan Buchholz
  • Publication number: 20090297495
    Abstract: The invention provides hydrolases, polynucleotides encoding them, and methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. In one aspect, the invention is directed to polypeptides, e.g., enzymes, having a hydrolase activity, e.g., an esterase, acylase, lipase, phospholipase (e.g., phospholipase A, B, C and D activity, patatin activity, lipid acyl hydrolase (LAH) activity) or protease activity, including thermostable and thermotolerant hydrolase activity, and polynucleotides encoding these enzymes, and making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. The hydrolase activities of the polypeptides and peptides of the invention include esterase activity, lipase activity (hydrolysis of lipids), acidolysis reactions (to replace an esterified fatty acid with a free fatty acid), transesterification reactions (exchange of fatty acids between triglycerides), ester synthesis, ester interchange reactions, phospholipase activity and protease activity (hydrolysis of peptide bonds).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Janne S. Kerovuo, Ryan McCann, David Weiner, Arne I. Solbak, JR.
  • Publication number: 20090291480
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides novel beta-alanine/alpha ketoglutarate aminotransferase nucleic acid and protein sequences having increased biological activity. Also provided are cells containing such enzymes, as well as methods of their use, for example to produce malonyl semialdehyde and downstream products thereof, such as 3-hydroxypropionic acid and derivatives thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: CARGILL, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Holly Jean Jessen, Hans H. Liao, Steven John Gort, Olga V. Selifonova
  • Publication number: 20090275096
    Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid pathway. The microbial organism contains at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme in a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid pathway. The invention additionally provides a method for producing 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid. The method can include culturing a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid producing microbial organism expressing at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid pathway enzyme in a sufficient amount and culturing under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: Genomatica, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony P. Burgard, Mark J. Burk, Robin E. Osterhout, Priti Pharkya
  • Publication number: 20090269812
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of producing a chemical product through continuous fermentation which includes filtering a culture of a microorganism or cultured cells with a separation membrane to recover a product from a filtrate and simultaneously retaining a nonfiltered fluid in, or refluxing it to, the culture, and adding fermentation materials to the culture, wherein a porous membrane having an average pore size of 0.01 ?m or more to less than 1 ?m is used as the separation membrane and the filtration is conducted with a transmembrane pressure difference in the range of 0.1 to 20 kPa. According to this method, the fermentation productivity of the chemical product can be largely elevated at high stability and a low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: Toray Industries, Inc , a corporation of Japan
    Inventors: Hideki Sawai, Katsushige Yamada, Takashi Mimitsuka, Kenji Sawai, Tetsu Yonehara, Yohito Ito, Masahiro Henmi
  • Patent number: 7608191
    Abstract: A process of separating suspended solids from a fermentation liquor by subjecting the liquor to a solids-liquid separation stage, wherein the fermentation liquor is produced in a fermentation process for the production of a fermentation product, and which liquor comprises lignin, wherein the solids-liquid separation stage is assisted by a treatment system, characterized in that the treatment system comprises an anionic polymer, with the proviso that the treatment system and does not include a cationic polymer having an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of at least 4 dl/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Ciba Specialty Chemicals Water Treatments Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan Hughes, Rajesh Mistry, Kenneth Charles Symes
  • Patent number: 7582444
    Abstract: Process for improving the separation efficiency of residual solid matter from the liquid phase of an aqueous acid hydrolysate of a naturally occurring polysaccharide comprising dissolved sugars, and residual acid wherein a flocculating agent(s) is added to the aqueous mixture in an effective amount, and a process of producing fermentation products comprising the steps of, (i) hydrolysing a particulate polysaccharide based plant derived material in an acid medium, and thereby forming an aqueous mixture comprising dissolved sugar and solid matter, (ii) subjecting the aqueous mixture to one or more separation stages in which solid matter are removed from the aqueous phase, (iii) adjusting the pH of the obtained aqueous phase to a pH of at least 4, (iv) fermenting the dissolved sugars of the aqueous phase by a microorganism to produce a fermentation product, (v) isolating the fermentation product, wherein in at least one separation stage in step (ii) a flocculating agent is added to the aqueous mixture in an effe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Ciba Specialty Chemicals Water Treatments Ltd.
    Inventor: Jonathan Hughes
  • Patent number: 7582215
    Abstract: A process of separating suspended solids from a fermentation liquor by subjecting the liquor to a solids-liquid separation stage, wherein the fermentation liquor is produced in a fermentation process for the production of a fermentation product, which liquor comprises water, lignin and BOD, wherein the solids liquid separation stage is assisted by a treatment system, characterised in that the treatment system comprises either, (i) a cationic polymer having an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of at least 4 dl/g at a dose of above 2 kg/tonne based on dry weight of suspension, or (ii) a cationic polymer having an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of at least 4 dl/g and, (iii) an anionic polymer, and/or (iv) a cationic polymer of intrinsic viscosity of below 4 dl/g and a cationic charge density of at least 3 meq/g and/or (v) inorganic coagulants and/or (vi) charged microparticulate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Ciba Specialty Chemicals Water Treatments Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan Hughes, Kenneth Charles Symes
  • Patent number: 7572456
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising humanized antibodies or fragments thereof that immunospecifically bind to one or more antigens of a flavivirus, particularly of West Nile Virus (WNV) and methods for preventing, treating or ameliorating symptoms associated with a flavivirus, particularly of West Nile Virus (WNV) infection utilizing said compositions. In particular, the present invention relates to methods for preventing, treating or ameliorating symptoms associated with WNV infection, said methods comprising administering to a human subject an effective amount of one or more humanized antibodies or fragments thereof that immunospecifically bind to a WNV antigen. The present invention also relates to detectable or diagnostic compositions comprising humanized antibodies or fragments thereof that immunospecifically bind to a WNV antigen and methods for detecting or diagnosing WNV infection utilizing said compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: MacroGenics, Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie S. Johnson, Ling Huang
  • Publication number: 20090186392
    Abstract: The invention relates to the development of appropriate cultivation conditions for a bacteria to grow anaerobically (fermentatively) on a glycerol substrate. The method requires culturing bacteria having a functional 1,2-propanediol pathway and a functional type II glycerol dehydrogenase-dihydroxyacetone kinase pathway in a culture medium containing high concentrations of glycerol, a neutral to mildly acidic pH, low levels of potassium and phosphate, and high levels of CO2, such that glycerol is thus converted into a desirable product, such as ethanol, —hydrogen, formate, succinate, or 1,2-propanediol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Ramon Gonzalez
  • Publication number: 20090176285
    Abstract: A glycerol utilizing cell and a method for the production of glycerol-derived target compounds are provided. The glycerol utilizing cell may comprise a glycerol metabolizing system or a glycerol uptake protein and be used to produce a glycerol-derivable target compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Genrich Burd, Anamitra Bhattacharyya
  • Publication number: 20090075351
    Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial biocatalyst including a microbial organism having a 4-hydroxybutanoic acid (4-HB) biosynthetic pathway having at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding 4-hydroxybutanoate dehydrogenase, succinyl-CoA synthetase, CoA-dependent succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, or ?-ketoglutarate decarboxylase, wherein the exogenous nucleic acid is expressed in sufficient amounts to produce monomeric 4-hydroxybutanoic acid (4-HB).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Mark J. Burk, Stephen J. Van Dien, Anthony P. Burgard, Wei Niu
  • Publication number: 20090053783
    Abstract: Methods and materials related to producing 3-HP as well as other organic compounds are disclosed. Specifically, isolated nucleic acids, polypeptides, host cells, and methods and materials for producing 3-HP and other organic compounds are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Ravi R. Gokarn, Olga V. Selifonova, Holly Jean Jessen, Steven John Gort, Thorsten Selmer, Wolfgang Buckel
  • Patent number: 7491747
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound of the formula I: (Formula I) in which: A, B, R1, Z, n and R2 are as defined in claim 1. These compounds are useful in the treatment of dyslipidaemia, atherosclerosis and diabetes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Roche Didier, Jean-Jacques Zeiller, Francis Contard, Valérie Guyard-Dangremont, Daniel Guerrier, Hervé Dupont, Jean-Jacques Berthelon
  • Patent number: 7455997
    Abstract: A process of producing fermentation product comprising the steps of, (i) forming an acidified suspension of particulate plant derived material comprising a first polysaccharide which is more readily hydrolysable and a second polysaccharide which is more difficult to hydrolysable, (ii) allowing the first polysaccharide to undergo hydrolysis by action of the acid at a temperature of at least 50° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Ciba Specialty Chemicals Water Treatments Ltd
    Inventor: Jonathan Hughes
  • Publication number: 20080199926
    Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microorganism having one or more gene disruptions, the one or more gene disruptions occurring in genes encoding an enzyme obligatory coupling 3-hydroxypropionic acid production to growth of the microorganism when the gene disruption reduces an activity of the enzyme, whereby the one or more gene disruptions confers stable growth-coupled production of 3-hydroxypropionic acid onto the non-naturally occurring microorganism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: Anthony P. Burgard, Stephen J. Van Dien
  • Publication number: 20080193989
    Abstract: The invention relates to processes that efficiently convert carbon-containing materials, such as biomass, into products in such a manner that the energy, carbon, and mass content of the materials are efficiently transferred into such products. Such methods include converting the materials into at least one intermediate by a biological conversion process and at least one intermediate by a thermochemical conversion process and reacting the intermediates to form the product. Such methods have a chemical energy efficiency to produce the product that is greater than the chemical energy efficiency of a solely biological conversion process to produce the product and that is greater than the chemical energy efficiency of a process in which all of the material is initially subjected to a thermochemical conversion step as part of the process to produce the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: ZEACHEM, INC.
    Inventors: Dan W. Verser, Timothy J. Eggeman
  • Publication number: 20080131945
    Abstract: A method for producing 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde from glycerin in high conversion ratio is provided. The method is characterized by comprising a step of dehydrating glycerin using a microbial cell and/or a treated microbial cell containing diol dehydratase and/or glycerol dehydratase, and optionally diol dehydratase reactivating factor and/or glycerol dehydratase reactivating factor, under conditions so as to give a value (X/Y2) calculated by dividing a catalytic amount [X (U/g glycerin)] of diol dehydratase and/or glycerol dehydratase by square of glycerin concentration [Y (g/100 ml)] within a range of 10 to 8,000, to produce 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Tetsuo Toraya, Takamasa Tobimatsu, Mamoru Yamanishi, Kouichi Mori, Hideki Kajiura, Seiki Yamada, Michio Yuzuki, Muneaki Azuma, Tetsuya Hara, Shinzo Yasuda
  • Patent number: 7374926
    Abstract: The present invention particularly relates to a chemoenzymatic process for the stereoselective preparation of both enantiomers of 3-hydroxy-4-trityloxy butanenitrile key intermediates for the preparation of (R)-GABOB by lipase mediated kinetic resolution of its racemates and their effective application in the enantioconvergent synthesis of (R)-GABOB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Ahmed Kamal, Gollapalli B. Ramesh Khanna, Krishnaji Tadiparthi, Ramu Rondla
  • Patent number: 7273755
    Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid and amino acid sequences for phenylalanine aminomutase enzyme and methods for purifying this enzyme are provided. Methods for altering biosynthesis of compounds in plant cell cultures are also provided. In particular, methods for altering production of taxanes and taxane-related compounds are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Bristol Myers Squibb Co.
    Inventors: Christopher L. Steele, Yijun Chen, Brian A. Dougherty, Sandra Hofstead, Kin S. Lam, Wenying Li, Zizhuo Xing