James G Metz

US Patent:

6492509, Dec 10, 2002

Filed:

Dec 4, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/205815

Inventors:

Kathryn Dennis Lardizabal - Woodland CA
James George Metz - Davis CA
Michael W. Lassner - Davis CA

Assignee:

Calgene LLC - Davis CA

International Classification:

C07H 2104

US Classification:

536 236, 536 232

Abstract:

By this invention, nucleic acid sequences encoding for fatty acyl-CoA: fatty alcohol acyltransferase (wax synthase) are provided, wherein wax synthase is active in the formation of a wax ester from fatty alcohol and fatty acyl-CoA substrates. Of special interest is are nucleic acid sequences obtainable from a jojoba embryo wax synthase having an apparent molecular mass of approximately 33 kD. Also considered are amino acid and nucleic acid sequences obtainable from wax synthase proteins and the use of such sequences to provide transgenic host cells capable of producing wax esters.

US Patent:

6566583, May 20, 2003

Filed:

Jan 14, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/231899

Inventors:

Daniel Facciotti - Davis CA 95616
James George Metz - Davis CA 95616
Michael Lassner - Davis CA 95616

International Classification:

C12N 1582

US Classification:

800281, 536 232, 435419, 4352523, 4353201

Abstract:

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for preparing poly-unsaturated long chain fatty acids in plants, plant parts and plant cells, such as leaves, roots, fruits and seeds. Nucleic acid sequences and constructs encoding PKS-like genes required for the poly-unsaturated long chain fatty acid production, including the genes responsible for eicosapentenoic acid production of and novel genes associated with the production of docosahexenoic acid in are used to generate transgenic plants, plant parts and cells which contain and express one or more transgenes encoding one or more of the PKS-like genes associated with such long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid production. Expression of the PKS-like genes in the plant system permits the large scale production of poly-unsaturated long chain fatty acids such as eicosapentenoic acid and docosahexenoic acid for modification of the fatty acid profile of plants, plant parts and tissues. Manipulation of the fatty acid profiles allows for the production of commercial quantities of novel plant oils and products.

US Patent:

6596538, Jul 22, 2003

Filed:

Jun 5, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/092562

Inventors:

Kathryn Dennis Lardizabal - Woodland CA
James George Metz - Davis CA
Michael W. Lassner - Davis CA

Assignee:

Calgene LLC - Davis CA

International Classification:

C12N 1532

US Classification:

435419, 536 232, 536 236

Abstract:

By this invention, nucleic acid sequences encoding for fatty acyl-CoA: fatty alcohol acyltransferase (wax synthase) are provided, wherein said wax synthase is active in the formation of a wax ester from fatty alcohol and fatty acyl-CoA substrates. Of special interest is are nucleic acid sequences obtainable from a jojoba embryo wax synthase having an apparent molecular mass of approximately kD. Also considered are amino acid and nucleic acid sequences obtainable from wax synthase proteins and the use of such sequences to provide transgenic host cells capable of producing wax esters.

US Patent:

6828475, Dec 7, 2004

Filed:

May 30, 1996

Appl. No.:

08/657749

Inventors:

James George Metz - Davis CA
Kathryn Dennis Lardizabal - Woodland CA
Michael W. Lassner - Davis CA

Assignee:

Calgene LLC - Davis CA

International Classification:

A01H 510

US Classification:

800281, 800278, 800287, 800298

Abstract:

By this invention, a plant -ketoacyl-CoA synthase condensing enzyme is provided free from intact cells of said plant and capable of catalyzing the production of very long chain fatty acid molecules. Also contemplated are constructs comprising the nucleic acid sequence and a heterologous DNA sequence not naturally associated with the condensing enzyme encoding sequences, and which provide for at least transcription of a plant condensing enzyme encoding sequence in a host cell. In this fashion very long chain fatty acid molecules may be produced in a plant cell. Included are methods of modifying the composition of very long chain fatty acid molecules in a plant cell.

US Patent:

7001772, Feb 21, 2006

Filed:

Apr 16, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/124807

Inventors:

Paul G. Roessler - San Diego CA, US
T. Dave Matthews - San Diego CA, US
Tom M. Ramseier - Poway CA, US
James G. Metz - Longmont CO, US

Assignee:

Martek Biosciences Corporation - Columbia MD

International Classification:

C07H 21/04
C12N 15/74
C12N 1/12

US Classification:

435471, 4352572, 4353201, 435232, 536 231, 536 232, 536 237

Abstract:

Disclosed are nucleic acid and amino acid sequences for acetolactate synthase, acetolactate synthase regulatory regions, α-tubulin promoter, a promoter from a Thraustochytriales polyketide synthase (PKS) system, and fatty acid desaturase promoter, each from a Thraustochytriales microorganism. Also disclosed are recombinant vectors useful for transformation of Thraustochytriales microorganisms, as well as a method of transformation of Thraustochytriales microorganisms. The recombinant nucleic acid molecules of the present invention can be used for the expression of foreign nucleic acids in a Thraustochytriales microorganism as well as for the deletion, mutation, or inactivation of genes in Thraustochytriales microorganisms.

US Patent:

7202067, Apr 10, 2007

Filed:

May 14, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/438784

Inventors:

Craig A. Weaver - Boulder CO, US
James G. Metz - Longmont CO, US
Jerry M. Kuner - Longmont CO, US

Assignee:

Martek Biosciences Corporation - Columbia MD

International Classification:

C12N 9/00
C12N 9/10
C12N 1/21
C12P 23/00
C12P 21/02

US Classification:

435183, 435166, 435167, 4352523, 435325, 4352542, 536 232, 536 231, 536 243, 536 2432, 800295, 426 61, 424 932

Abstract:

Described herein is a novel three domain gene from , denoted carotene synthase, that encodes a protein with three different enzymatic activities: phytoene dehydrogenase (PD), phytoene synthase (PS), and lycopene cyclase (LC). Also described is the isolated gene encoding the carotene synthase, homologues thereof, the enzyme encoded by such gene, biologically active portions and homologues thereof, recombinant nucleic acid molecules, microorganisms and plants that have been genetically modified to increase or decrease the action of such gene, and methods of producing carotenoids and derivatives thereof or methods of producing microorganisms and lipid products lacking pigmentation using the knowledge of the carotene synthase described herein.

US Patent:

7211418, May 1, 2007

Filed:

Mar 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/810352

Inventors:

James G. Metz - Longmont CO, US
Craig A. Weaver - Boulder CO, US
William R. Barclay - Boulder CO, US
James H. Flatt - Longmont CO, US

Assignee:

Martek Biosciences Corporation - Columbia MD

International Classification:

C07H 21/04
C12N 5/02
C12P 7/46

US Classification:

435134, 435135, 435136, 435325, 435410, 4352523, 43525233, 43525411, 4353201, 536 232, 536 231, 536 237

Abstract:

The invention generally relates to polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) polyketide synthase (PKS) systems, to homologues thereof, to isolated nucleic acid molecules and recombinant nucleic acid molecules encoding biologically active domains of such a PUFA PKS system, to genetically modified organisms comprising PUFA PKS systems, to methods of making and using such systems for the production of bioactive molecules of interest, and to novel methods for identifying new bacterial and non-bacterial microorganisms having such a PUFA PKS system.

US Patent:

7214853, May 8, 2007

Filed:

Dec 27, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/331061

Inventors:

Daniel Facciotti - Davis CA, US
James George Metz - Davis CA, US
Michael Lassner - Davis CA, US

Assignee:

Martek Biosciences Corporation - Columbia MD

International Classification:

C12N 15/82
C12N 5/04
C12N 1/20
C07H 21/04

US Classification:

800281, 435419, 4352523, 536 232

Abstract:

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for preparing poly-unsaturated long chain fatty acids in plants, plant parts and plant cells, such as leaves, roots, fruits and seeds. Nucleic acid sequences and constructs encoding PKS-like genes required for the poly-unsaturated long chain fatty acid production, including the genes responsible for eicosapentenoic acid production of and novel genes associated with the production of docosahexenoic acid in are used to generate transgenic plants, plant parts and cells which contain and express one or more transgenes encoding one or more of the PKS-like genes associated with such long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid production. Expression of the PKS-like genes in the plant system permits the large scale production of poly-unsaturated long chain fatty acids such as eicosapentenoic acid and docosahexenoic acid for modification of the fatty acid profile of plants, plant parts and tissues. Manipulation of the fatty acid profiles allows for the production of commercial quantities of novel plant oils and products.