Polyhydric Patents (Class 435/158)
  • Publication number: 20100081154
    Abstract: A group of bacterial dihydroxy-acid dehydratases having a [2Fe-2S] cluster was discovered. Bacterial [2Fe-2S] DHADs were expressed as heterologous proteins in bacteria and yeast cells, providing DHAD activity for conversion of 2,3-dihydroxyisovalerate to ?-ketoisovalerate or 2,3-dihydroxymethylvalerate to ?-ketomethylvalerate. Isobutanol and other compounds may be synthesized in pathways that include bacterial [2Fe-2S] DHAD activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: BUTAMAX(TM) ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLC
    Inventors: DENNIS FLINT, Steven Cary Rothman, Wonchul Suh, Jean-Francois Tomb, Rick W. Ye
  • Publication number: 20100068121
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing xylitol using a hydrolysate containing xylose and arabinose prepared from byproducts of tropical fruit biomass and more precisely, a method of producing xylitol which includes the steps of producing xylose and arabinose by the pretreatment of tropical fruit biomass byproducts including coconut shell, palm shell and oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) via acid (0.2-5%) hydrolysis and an electrodialysis and an ionic purification; and producing xylitol with high yield based on repeated batch fermentation using a hydrolysate containing xylose and arabinose as a carbon source. In addition, the present invention relates to an active carbon produced by carbonization and activation of a hydrolysate remainder of a tropical fruit shell, the byproduct of xylose and arabinose production, at a certain temperature and a preparation method of the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: CJ CHEILJEDANG CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seung-won Park, Joo-hang Lee, Taek-beom Kim, Jung-hoon Kim, Seong-bo Kim, Sang-hoon Song, Kang-pyo Lee, Seung-bae Ji, Dong-hoon Lee, Kang-deug Lee
  • Publication number: 20100028965
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method for producing 1,3-propanediol, comprising the steps of: using crude glycerol, a by-product during the biodiesel production, without further treatment, as the substrate for production of 1,3-propanediol; inoculating a 1,3-propanediol-producing strain in a seed medium containing crude glycerol, a by-product from biodiesel production; adding the seed culture into a fermentation medium containing crude glycerol, a by-product from biodiesel production, and fermenting; maintaining pH in a range of 6.8 to 8.0; and in the end of the fermentation, isolating and purifying 1,3-propanediol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Dehua Liu, hongjuan Liu, Yan Sun, Rihui Lin, Jian Hao
  • Patent number: 7645853
    Abstract: Processes for preparing random polytrimethylene ether ester are provided. The processes include contacting 1,3-propanediol with a suitable polymerization catalyst, wherein the 1,3-propanediol comprises about 10 microg/g or less peroxide compounds, based on the weight of 1,3-propanediol, and about 100 microg/g or less carbonyl compounds based on the weight of the 1,3-propanediol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Howard C. Ng, Hari Babu Sunkara
  • Patent number: 7625728
    Abstract: Effective processes are provided for the production of xylitol and ethanol and other products from solutions derived from lignocellulose-containing material in biomass. The solutions can be hydrolyzed or partially hydrolyzed before being fermented with microbes. The fermented solution can be distilled and can be subsequently separated, such as, by chromatographic separation, membrane separation, etc. The recovered xylitol solution can be crystallized to provide pure xylitol crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Danisco Sweeteners Oy
    Inventors: Olli-Pekka Eroma, Heikki Heikkila, Heikki Ojamo, Päivi Sarmala, Göran Hyöky, Leena Rahkila, Marja-Leena Sarkki, Tapio Viljava
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20090258404
    Abstract: Production of fermentation products, such as ethanol and lactic acid in biofilm reactors by microorganisms immobilised on sterilised granular sludge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: BIOGASOL IPR APS
    Inventors: Marie Just Mikkelsen, Birgitte Kiaer Ahring
  • Publication number: 20090246843
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of at least one inorganic nitrate in a fermentation process for producing erythritol using a yeast strain of the Moniliella species as an erythritol-producing microorganism characterized in that the at least one inorganic nitrate is simultaneously used as a main nitrogen source and as a pH regulator in the culture medium, as well as to such an improved method for producing erythritol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: JUNGBUNZLAUER AUSTRIA AG
    Inventors: Robert Edlauer, Stefan Trimmel
  • Publication number: 20090226571
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the production of at least one nonvolatile microbial metabolite in solid form by sugar-based microbial fermentation, in which process a microorganism strain which produces the desired metabolites is grown using a sugar-containing liquid medium with a monosaccharide content of more than 20% by weight based on the total weight of the liquid medium, and the volatile constituents of the fermentation liquor are subsequently largely removed, the sugar-containing liquid medium being prepared by: a1) milling selected starch feedstock from cereal grains; and a2) liquefying the millbase in an aqueous liquid in the presence of at least one starch-liquefying enzyme, followed by saccharification using at least one saccharifying enzyme, where, for liquefaction purposes, at least a portion of the millbase is liquefied by continuous or batchwise addition to the aqueous liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Stephan Freyer, Markus Pompejus, Oskar Zelder, Markus Lohscheidt, Matthias Boy, Edzard Scholten
  • Patent number: 7582457
    Abstract: Recombinant organisms are provided comprising genes encoding cob(II)alamin reductase, cob(I)alamin adenosyltransferase, glycerol dehydratase and 1,3-propanediol oxidoreductase activities useful for the production of 1,3-propanediol from a variety of carbon substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignees: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Genencor International
    Inventors: Nigel S. Dunn-Coleman, Anthony Gatenby, Fernando Valle
  • Publication number: 20090209016
    Abstract: A fungal microorganism can be engineered by means of genetic engineering to utilise L-arabinose. The genes of the L-arabinose pathway, which were unknown, i.e. L-arabinitol 4-dehydrogenase and L-xylulose reductase, were identified. These genes, together with the known genes of the L-arabinose pathway, form a functional pathway. This pathway can be introduced to a fungus, which is completely or partially lacking this pathway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: John Londesborough, Merja Penttila, Peter Richard
  • Patent number: 7572376
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for the recovery of 1,3-propanediol from an aqueous feed stream. The present invention involves contacting an aqueous feed stream that comprises water, 1,3-propanediol, and at least one contaminant with at least one solvent extractant to form a mixture. The mixture is separated into a first phase and a second phase. The second phase comprises a majority of the water from the aqueous feed stream. The first phase comprises solvent extractant and at least some of the 1,3-propanediol that was present in the aqueous feed stream. The weight ratio in the first phase of 1,3-propanediol to any one contaminant present is greater than the weight ratio of 1,3-propanediol to the same contaminant in the aqueous feed stream prior to the aqueous feed stream being contacted with the solvent extractant. The first phase can be removed from the separated second phase in order to recover the 1,3-propanediol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Avraham M. Baniel, Robert P. Jansen, Asher Vitner, Anthony Baiada
  • Publication number: 20090197313
    Abstract: Provided is a process for continuously producing xylitol in high yield and productivity using a vacuum microfiltration bioreactor containing a fermentation medium for a strain of the genus Candida, which includes: 5 300 g/l of xylose, 1 10 g/l of urea, 1 10 g/l of potassium diphosphate, 0.01 1 g/l of magnesium sulfate, 0.1-10 mg/1 of MnSO404H2O, 0.1 10 mg/1 of CoCl2-6H2O, 0.1 10 mg/1 of NaMoO4-2H2O, 0.1 10 mg/1 of ZnSO4-7H2O, 0.1 10 mg/1 of AlCl3-6H2O, 0.1 10 mg/1 of CuCl2-2H2O, 0.01-5 mg/1 of H3BO3, 1-100 mg/1 of FeSO4 7H2O, 0.1-10 mg/1 of ascorbic acid, 1-100 mg/1 of biotin, 1-100 mg of choline, 1-200 mg/1 of folic acid, 1-100 mg/1 of inositol, 1-100 mg/1 of nicotinic acid, 0.1-10 mg/1 of p-aminobezoic acid, 1-100 mg/1 of pantothernic acid, 0.1-10 mg/1 of pyridoxine, 10-1,000 mg/1 of riboflavin, and 1-100 mg/1 of thiamine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: CJ CheilJedang Corporation
    Inventors: Deok-kun Oh, Taek-bum Kim, Jung-hoon Kim, Seong-bo Kim, Seung-won Park, Soon-chul Kim
  • Publication number: 20090181433
    Abstract: The present invention provides means for the production of desired end-products of in vitro and/or in vivo bioconversion of biomass-based feed stock substrates, including but not limited to such materials as starch and cellulose. In particularly preferred embodiments, the methods of the present invention do not require gelatinization and/or liquefaction of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: GENENCOR INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Gopal K. Chotani, Manoj Kumar, Jeffrey P. Pucci, Karl J. Sanford, Jayarama K. Shetty
  • 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: 20090137013
    Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to an isolated hydrogen gas producing microorganism, termed Enterobacter sp. SGT-T4™ and derivatives thereof. Compositions and methods comprising the disclosed microorganisms are also provided. The disclosed invention also relates to a method to increase the hydrogen production rate and yield of hydrogen gas producing microorganism in the presence of diatomaceous earth and other absorptive materials. Further, the disclosure relates to the production of high microalgal biomass and microalgal oils suitable for economical industrial scale bio-diesel production from processed bacterial fermentation wastes as feedstock using the green microalga Chlorella protothecoides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: Sustainable Green Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Elmar Schmid, James Gibson
  • Publication number: 20090123981
    Abstract: The subject invention provides at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding an aldouronate-utilization regulon isolated from Paenibacillus sp. strain JDR-2, a bacterium which efficiently utilizes xylan and metabolizes aldouronates (methylglucuronoxylosaccharides). The subject invention also provides a means for providing a coordinately regulated process in which xylan depolymerization and product assimilation are coupled in Paenibacillus sp. strain JDR-2 to provide a favorable system for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to biobased products. Additionally, the nucleic acid sequences encoding the aldouronate-utilization regulon can be used to transform other bacteria to form organisms capable of producing a desired product (e.g., ethanol, 1-butanol, acetoin, 2,3-butanediol, 1,3-propanediol, succinate, lactate, acetate, malate or alanine) from lignocellulosic biomass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC.
    Inventors: JAMES F. PRESTON, III, Virginia Chow, Guang Nong, John D. Rice, Franz J. St. John
  • Patent number: 7528169
    Abstract: A compound represented by the following formula (I) or a salt thereof which has excellent antitumor activity and angiogenesis inhibitory action in a low oxygen condition, and a medicament such as an antitumor agent and an anti-inflammatory agent which comprises the compound or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Riken
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Osada, Hideaki Kakeya, Hiroshi Konno, Susumu Kanazawa
  • Publication number: 20090081745
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method for producing 1,3-propanediol and 2,3-butanediol from raw starch materials, including the following steps: 1) Candida krusei or Hansenula Arabitolgens Fang are inoculated into a fermentation medium with the saccharifying liquid of the raw starches as a carbon source; the yeast cells are cultured on an aerobic condition until glucose-consuming-rate is significantly reduced, and then fermented anaerobically to a glucose concentration from 5 to 10 g/L; the fermentation broth is collected and filtered to remove the yeast cells in the broth, and the resultant filtrate is glycerin fermentation broth; 2) Klebsiella, Clostridium butyricum, or Clostridium pasteurianum are inoculated into a fermentation medium in which the glycerin fermentation broth obtained from step 1) serves as a carbon source; the bacteria are fermented anaerobically for 30-32 hours, and then fermented aerobically when the production rate of 1,3-propanediol decreased obviously, and the fermentation was stopped when
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: Tsinghua Yuan
    Inventors: Dehua Liu, Keke Cheng, Hongjuan Liu, Rihui Lin, Jian Hao
  • 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: 20090068704
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for utilizing less purified starch in fermentation processes. One example is a recombinant E. coli containing a exogenous extracellular isoamylase activity that is capable of utilizing small oligomers containing (1,6) linkages (including but not limited to isomaltose and panose) in fermentations to produce useful products. The invention is useful in large-scale industrial biofermentations by reducing the cost of the substrate carbohydrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: EI duPont / Legal
    Inventors: Perry G. Caimi, Mario W. Chen, Vasantha Nagarajan, Jean-Francois Tomb, Siqun Wang, Yuying Zhang
  • Publication number: 20090061494
    Abstract: Diols of the formula I: or corresponding polymers wherein R1 has been integrated into a polymeric backbone, wherein n ranges from (1) to (4); X is a divalent linking group selected from the group consisting of ether, ester, amino and amido groups; R1 is an n-valent hydrocarbon residue containing at least one reactive group selected from the group consisting of carbon-carbon double or triple bonds and silyl groups; R2, R3 and R4 independently are hydrogen or C1-C4alkyl; are conveniently prepared by treatment of an epoxide of the formula II wherein all residues and the index n are as defined for formula I, or a corresponding polymer, with an epoxide hydrolase, e.g. from lyophilized cells of Aspergillus niger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventor: Kai-Uwe Schoning
  • Publication number: 20090053777
    Abstract: Processes for saccharification of pretreated biomass to obtain high concentrations of fermentable sugars are provided. Specifically, a process was developed that uses a fed batch approach with particle size reduction to provide a high dry weight of biomass content enzymatic saccharification reaction, which produces a high sugars concentration hydrolysate, using a low cost reactor system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Susan Marie Hennessey, Mayis Seapan, Richard T. Elander, Melvin P. Tucker, III
  • Publication number: 20090053770
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing an improved pretreated biomass product for use in saccharification followed by fermentation to produce a target chemical that includes removal of saccharification and or fermentation inhibitors from the pretreated biomass product. Specifically, the pretreated biomass product derived from using the present method has fewer inhibitors of saccharification and/or fermentation without a loss in sugar content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Susan Marie Hennessey, Julie Friend, Richard T. Elander, Melvin P. Tucker, III
  • Publication number: 20090047719
    Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microorganism comprising one or more gene disruptions, the one or more gene disruptions occurring in genes encoding an enzyme obligatory to coupling 1,4-butanediol production to growth of the microorganism when the gene disruption reduces an activity of the enzyme, whereby theone or more gene disruptions confers stable growth-coupled production of 1,4-butanediol onto the non-naturally occurring microorganism. The microorganism can further comprise a gene encoding an enzyme in a 1,4-butanediol (BDO) biosynthetic pathway. The invention additionally relates to methods of using microorganisms to produce BDO.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Anthony P. Burgard, Stephen J. Van Dien, Mark Burk
  • Publication number: 20090029431
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for preparing 1,3-propanediol from a carbon-containing substance, said method comprising a step which consists in culturing a recombinant micro-organism not producing coenzyme B12 in the absence of coenzyme B12 or one of its precursors. The invention also concerns a nucleic acid coding for a glycerol dehydratase whereof the catalytic activity is independent of the presence of coenzyme B12 or one of its precursors and a nucleic acid coding for a 1,3-propanol dehydrogenase intervening in the synthesis of 1,3-propanediol. The invention further concerns recombinant vectors and host cells comprising said nucleic acids and the polypeptides coded by the latter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Patricia Sarcabal, Christian Croux, Philippe Soucaille
  • Publication number: 20090031453
    Abstract: Alanine 2,3-aminomutase sequences are disclosed, as are cells having alanine 2,3-aminomutase activity and methods of selecting for such cells. Methods for producing beta-alanine, pantothenate, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, as well as other organic compounds, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Holly Jean Jessen, Ravi R. Gokarn, Steven John Gort, Ogla V. Selifonova, Hans H. Liao, Brian J. Brazeau
  • Patent number: 7482144
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of xylitol, the method comprising (a1) providing (i) a microorganism having xylanolytic activity, and (ii) a microorganism capable of converting a pentose sugar to xylitol; or (a2) providing a microorganism having xylanolytic activity and being capable of converting a pentose sugar to xylitol, (b) culturing the microorganism of step (a1) (i) or the microorganism of step (a2) in a medium comprising polymer or oligomer materials containing pentose sugars in conditions sufficient for enabling hydrolysis of said polymers or oligomers by the microorganism; (c) producing xylitol in the microorganism of step (a1) (ii) or in the microorganism of step (a2) by bioconversion of the hydrolysis products obtained in step (b), and (d) recovering said xylitol produced. The invention also relates to a microorganism, which has xylanolytic activity and has been genetically modified (i) to enhance its xylanolytic activity, and (ii) to reduce its xylitol metabolism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Danisco Sweeteners Oy
    Inventors: Heikki Ojamo, Merja Penttila, Heikki Heikkila, Jaana Uusitalo, Marja Ilmen, Marja-Leena Sarkki, Maija-Leena Vehkomaki
  • Publication number: 20080299628
    Abstract: A modular process for organosolv fractionation of lignocellulosic feedstocks into component parts and further processing of said component parts into at least fuel-grade ethanol and four classes of lignin derivatives. The modular process comprises a first processing module configured for physico-chemically digesting lignocellulosic feedstocks with an organic solvent thereby producing a cellulosic solids fraction and a liquid fraction, a second processing module configured for producing at least a fuel-grade ethanol and a first class of novel lignin derivatives from the cellulosic solids fraction, a third processing module configured for separating a second class and a third class of lignin derivatives from the liquid fraction and further processing the liquid fraction to produce a distillate and a stillage, a fourth processing module configured for separating a fourth class of lignin derivatives from the stillage and further processing the stillage to produce a sugar syrup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: Lignol Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Christer Hallberg, Donald O'Connor, Michael Rushton, Edward Kendall Pye, Gordon Gjennestadt
  • Publication number: 20080299606
    Abstract: A process for the fermentative production of at least one organic compound having at least 3 C atoms or having at least 2 C atoms and at least one 1 N atom, comprising the following steps: a1) milling a starch feedstock, thus obtaining a millbase which comprises at least part of the nonstarchy solid constituents of the starch feedstock; a2) suspending the millbase in an aqueous liquid and hydrolysis of the starch portion in the millbase by enzymatic liquefaction and, if appropriate, subsequent saccharification, whereby a first liquid (1) which comprises mono- or oligosaccharides is obtained; and b) addition of the liquid (1) which comprises mono- or oligosaccharides together with metabolizable mono-, di- or oligosaccharides or together with a composition which comprises metabolizable mono-, di- or oligosaccharide in a concentration of at least 50% by weight and which is essentially free from solids which are insoluble in water to a fermentation medium comprising a microorganism which is capable of overproduc
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Markus Pompejus, Stephan Freyer, Markus Lohscheidt, Oskar Zelder, Matthias Boy
  • Publication number: 20080286832
    Abstract: The invention provides yeast strains, and polypeptides encoded by genes of such yeast strains, that have enantiospecific 2,2-disubstituted epoxide hydrolase activity. The invention also features nucleic acid molecules encoding such polypeptides, vectors containing such nucleic acid molecules, and cells containing such vectors. Also embraced by the invention are methods for obtaining optically active 2,2-disubstituted vicinal diols and optically active 2,2-disubstituted epoxides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Adriana Leonora Botes, Jeanette Lotter
  • Publication number: 20080241900
    Abstract: A new xylose reductase encoding gene from Neurspora crassa was heterologously expressed in E. coli as a His-tag fusion protein and subsequently purified in high yield. This xylose reductase was shown to have a high turnover rate and catalytic efficiency, high stability at room temperature, broad pH profile, and a preference of NADPH over NADH. This enzyme is utilized in production of xylitol and other sugar alcohols such as sorbitol and also in the metabolic enhancement of organisms used for fermentation of plant biomass into ethanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicants: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Huimin Zhao, Ryan Woodyer, Michael Simurdiak, Wilfred A. van der Donk
  • Patent number: 7427500
    Abstract: Provided is a process for continuously producing xylitol in high yield and productivity using a vacuum microfiltration bioreactor containing a fermentation medium for a strain of the genus Candida, which includes: 5 300 g/l of xylose, 1 10 g/l of urea, 1 10 g/l of potassium diphosphate, 0.01 1 g/l of magnesium sulfate, 0.1-10 mg/l of MnSO4.4H2O, 0.1 10 mg/l of CoCl2.6H2O, 0.1 10 mg/l of NaMoO4.2H2O, 0.1 10 mg/l of ZnSO4.7H2O, 0.1 10 mg/l of AlCl3.6H2O, 0.1 10 mg/l of CuCl2.2H2O, 0.01-5 mg/l of H3BO3, 1-100 mg/l of FeSO4 7H2O, 0.1-10 mg/l of ascorbic acid, 1-100 mg/l of biotin, 1-100 mg of choline, 1-200 mg/l of folic acid, 1-100 mg/l of inositol, 1-100 mg/l of nicotinic acid, 0.1-10 mg/l of p-aminobezoic acid, 1-100 mg/l of pantothenic acid, 0.1-10 mg/l of pyridoxine, 10-1,000 mg/l of riboflavin, and 1-100 mg/l of thiamine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: CJ CheilJedang Corporation
    Inventors: Deok-kun Oh, Taek-bum Kim, Jung-hoon Kim, Seong-bo Kim, Seung-won Park, Soon-chul Kim
  • Publication number: 20080213833
    Abstract: The invention provides yeast strains, and polypeptides encoded by genes of such yeast strains, that have enantiospecific glycidyl ether hydrolase activity. The invention also features nucleic acid molecules encoding such polypeptides, vectors containing such nucleic acid molecules, and cells containing such vectors. Also embraced by the invention are methods for obtaining optically active glycidyl ethers and associated optically active vicinal diols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: Oxrane (UK) Ltd.
    Inventors: Adriana Leonora Botes, Michel Labuschagne, Jeanette Lotter, Robin Kumar Mitra
  • Publication number: 20080182303
    Abstract: The invention provides synthetic chemical and chemoenzymatic methods of producing simvastatin and various intermediates. In one aspect, enzymes such as hydrolases, e.g., esterases, are used in the methods of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Brian Morgan, Mark Burk, Michael Levin, Zuolin Zhu, Jennifer Chaplin, Karen Kustedjo, Zillin Huang, William Greenberg
  • Patent number: 7405063
    Abstract: A bioprocess for producing carboxylic acids, alcohols and aldehydes is provided by culturing Candida sp. in a fermentation medium containing various defined substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Cognis Corporation
    Inventors: L. Dudley Eirich, Kevin W. Anderson, Jeffrey A. Gates, C. Ron Wilson, Manfred Biermann, Gilbert H. Vice
  • Publication number: 20080176302
    Abstract: The present invention provides a microorganism useful for biologically producing 1,3-propanediol from a fermentable carbon source at higher yield than was previously known. The complexity of the cofactor requirements necessitates the use of a whole cell catalyst for an industrial process that utilizes this reaction sequence to produce 1,3-propanediol. The invention provides a microorganism with disruptions in specified genes and alterations in the expression levels of specified genes that is useful in a higher yielding process to produce 1,3-propanediol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: E.I. duPont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: MARGUERITE A. CERVIN, Philippe Soucaille, Fernando Valle
  • Patent number: 7381553
    Abstract: A new xylose reductase encoding gene from Neurspora crassa was heterologously expressed in E. coli as a His-tag fusion protein and subsequently purified in high yield. This xylose reductase was shown to have a high turnover rate and catalytic efficiency, high stability at room temperature, broad pH profile, and a preference of NADPH over NADH. This enzyme is utilized in production of xylitol and other sugar alcohols such as sorbitol and also in the metabolic enhancement of organisms used for fermentation of plant biomass into ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Universtiy of Illinois
    Inventors: Huimin Zhao, Ryan Woodyer, Michael Simurdiak, Wilfred A. van der Donk
  • Patent number: 7371558
    Abstract: The present invention provides a microorganism useful for biologically producing 1,3-propanediol from a fermentable carbon source at higher yield than was previously known. The complexity of the cofactor requirements necessitates the use of a whole cell catalyst for an industrial process that utilizes this reaction sequence to produce 1,3-propanediol. The invention provides a microorganism with disruptions in specified genes and alterations in the expression levels of specified genes that is useful in a higher yielding process to produce 1,3-propanediol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignees: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Genencor International
    Inventors: Marguerite A. Cervin, Phillipe Soucaille, Fernando Valle
  • Patent number: 7358072
    Abstract: The invention provides processes for continuous fed-batch fermentative production and continuous recycle fermentative production of mannitol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignees: ZuChem, Inc, The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Badal Saha, Francis Michael Racine, Elena Terentieva
  • Patent number: 7341855
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a plant mangrove-associated fungus Curvularia lunata, and a simple and efficient method of obtaining high yield of pure mannitol from a plant mangrove-associated fungus Curvularia lunata, said method comprising steps of cutting the leaves into small pieces and placing it on potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates for 48 hours, maintaining the culture at temperature ranging between 26-47° C. and salinity ranging between 4-32 ppt with occasional stress conditions for about 17-19 days to obtain mycelial mat, sonicating the mat to lyse the cells, extracting crude from the sonicated mat using methanol repeatedly, concentrating the crude, treating the concentrated crude extract with solvents of increasing polarity, obtaining aqueous fraction as white powder residue after the treatment containing crude mannitol, purifying the crude mannitol by chromatography to obtain pure mannitol with about 75% of the total crude extract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Prabha Devi, Chandrakant Govind Naik, Solimabi Wahidulla, Lisette D'Souza, Ely Rodrigues, Asha Peketi
  • Patent number: 7323539
    Abstract: A process is provided comprising contacting 1,3-propanediol with a suitable polymerization catalyst to produce polytrimethylene ether glycol or random polytrimethylene ether ester, wherein the 1,3-propanediol comprises about 10 microg/g or less peroxide compounds, based on the weight of 1,3-propanediol, and about 100 microg/g or less carbonyl compounds based on the weight of the 1,3-propanediol. Preferably, the 1,3-propanediol comprises about 100 microg/g or less of monofunctional alcohol compounds based on the weight of the PDO. In addition, polytrimethylene ether glycol and random polytrimethylene ether ester prepared by the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Hari Babu Sunkara, Howard Chung-Ho Ng
  • Patent number: 7247458
    Abstract: The invention is drawn to the enzymatic decarboxylation of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (2-KLG) to produce xylose. The invention is also drawn to a method to detect xylose in vitro or in vivo (intracellularly), which employs an L-xylose dehydrogenase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Archer-Daniels-Midland Company
    Inventors: Wuli Bao, Leif P. Solheim, Steven F. Stoddard
  • Patent number: 7229803
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods for reacting (di)amines as substrates in the presence of a lysine oxidase arid a reducing agent, resulting in alcohols, diols or cyclic secondary amines. In a particular embodiment, the invention is directed to methods of preparing cyclic secondary amines suitable for ultimately synthesizing piperidine-2-carboxylic acid and proline derivatives, useful, for example as thrombin inhibitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Friedrich, Norbert Zimmermann, Rainer Stürmer
  • Patent number: 7169588
    Abstract: A new polypropylene terephthalate composition is provided. The polypropylene terephthalate is comprised of 1,3-propanediol and terephthalate. The 1,3-propanediol is produced by the bioconversion of a fermentatble carbon source, preferable glucose. The resulting polypropylene terephthalate is distinguished from petrochemically produced polymer on the basis of dual carbon-isotopic fingerprinting which indicates both the source and the age of the carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignees: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Genencor International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Burch, Robert R. Dorsch, Lisa Anne Laffend, Vasantha Nagarajan, Charles Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7135309
    Abstract: A process is provided for the bioconversion of a carbon substrate to 1,3-propanediol by a single organism utilizing microorganisms, such as, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Clostridium, Klebsiella, Aerobacter, Lactobacillus, Aspergillus, Saccharomyces, Zygosaccharomyces, Pichia, Kluyveromyces, Candida, Hansenula, Debaryomyces, Mucor, Torulopsis, Methylobacter, Escherichia, Salmonella, Bacillus, Streptomyces and Pseudomonas, containing the genes encoding for an active glycerol or diol dehydratase enzyme by contacting these organisms with a carbon substrate under the appropriate fermentation conditions. Specifically, Citrobacter and, Klebsiella provide the source of exogenous genes for such active dehydratase enzyme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignees: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Genencor International, Inc.
    Inventors: Lisa Anne Laffend, Vasantha Nagarajan, Charles Edwin Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7109005
    Abstract: Effective processes are provided for the production of xylitol and ethanol and other products from solutions derived from lignocellulose-containing material in biomass. The solutions can be hydrolyzed or partially hydrolyzed before being fermented with microbes. The fermented solution can be distilled and can be subsequently separated, such as, by chromatographic separation, membrane separation, etc. The recovered xylitol solution can be crystallized to provide pure xylitol crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Danisco Sweeteners Oy
    Inventors: Olli-Pekka Eroma, Heikki Heikkila, Heikki Ojamo, Päivi Sarmala, Göran Hyöky, Leena Rahkila, Marja-Leena Sarkki, Tapio Viljava
  • Patent number: 7098368
    Abstract: The invention discloses a hydrogenation process for removing impurities and controlling acid for use in downstream processing of biochemically-derived 1,3-propanediol. Preferably, the biochemically-derived 1,3-propanediol, before the contacting, has an initial color and, after the contracting, has a color that is lower than the initial color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Mayis Seapan, George F. Diffendall, Robert E. Trotter, Tyler T. Ames, F. Glenn Gallagher
  • Patent number: 7060477
    Abstract: The invention concerns proteins of fungal origin having an epoxide hydrolase activity, such as those obtained in essentially pure form by extraction from fungi cells, or by culturing in host cells transformed by a nucleotide sequence coding for said fungal proteins. The invention also concerns the uses thereof, in particular for implementing methods for preparing enantiopure epoxides and/or diols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignees: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Universite de la Mediterranee
    Inventors: Michael Arand, Alain R. Archelas, Jacques Baratti, Roland Furstoss
  • Patent number: 6953684
    Abstract: The present invention provides a microorganism for the production of 1,3-propanediol from a variety of carbon sources in an organism capable of 1,3-propanediol production and comprising a) at least one gene encoding a dehydratase activity; b) at least one gene encoding a glycerol-3-phosphatase; and c) at least one gene encoding protein X. The protein X may be derived from a Klebsiella or Citrobacter gene cluster. The recombinant microorganism may further comprise d) at least one gene encoding a protein having at least 50% similarity to a protein selected from the group consisting of protein 1 (SEQ ID NO:60 or SEQ ID NO:61), of protein 2 (SEQ ID NO:62 or SEQ ID NO:63) and of protein 3 (SEQ ID NO:64 or SEQ ID NO:65) from Klebsiella or Citrobacter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Genencor International, Inc.
    Inventors: Nigel Dunn-Coleman, Maria Diaz-Torres, Matthew W. Chase, Donald Trimbur