Nii A Patterson

US Patent:

20090271889, Oct 29, 2009

Filed:

Apr 28, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/431428

Inventors:

Mariya N. Somleva - Cambridge MA, US
Kristi D. Snell - Belmont MA, US
Julie Beaulieu - Cambridge MA, US
Oliver P. Peoples - Arlington MA, US
Bradley Garrison - Fulton MD, US
Nii Patterson - Chelmsford MA, US

International Classification:

A01H 5/00
C12N 15/82
C08L 97/02

US Classification:

800278, 800320, 800298, 524 9

Abstract:

Transgenic plants, plant material, and plant cells for synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates, preferably poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (also referred to a as PHB) are provided. Preferred plants that can be genetically engineered to produce PHB include plants that do not normally produce storage products such as oils and carbohydrates, and plants that have a CNAD-malic enzyme photosynthetic pathway. Such plants also advantageously produce lignocellulosic biomass that can be converted into biofuels. An exemplary plant that can be genetically engineered to produce PHB and produce lignocellulosic biomass is switchgrass, L. A preferred cultivar of switchgrass is Alamo. Other suitable cultivars of switchgrass include but are not limited to Blackwell, Kanlow, Nebraska 28, Pathfinder, Cave-in-Rock, Shelter and Trailblazer.

US Patent:

20110321190, Dec 29, 2011

Filed:

Sep 1, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/223575

Inventors:

Chakradhar Akula - Madison WI, US
Nii Patterson - Chelmsford MA, US
Kristi D. Snell - Belmont MA, US

International Classification:

A01H 1/06
C12N 15/82
A01H 5/00
C12N 5/10

US Classification:

800278, 435412, 435414, 435415, 435416, 435419, 4353201, 800296, 800298, 800306, 800312, 8003173, 800320, 8003201, 8003202, 800322

Abstract:

Transgenic plants and methods of culturing them using sorbitol as a sole carbon source are provided. One embodiment provides a method and system for positively selecting transgenic plants carrying and expressing a gene of interest. The transgenic plants are engineered to express sorbitol dehydrogenase in an amount effective to allow the transgenic plant to grow using sorbitol as the sole carbon source. In a preferred embodiment, the plant to be transformed does not have endogenous sorbitol dehydrogenase activity. Representative plants that can be transformed, include but are not limited to members of the Brassica family, industrial oilseeds, , algae, soybean, cottonseed, sunflower, palm, coconut, rice, safflower, peanut, mustards, silage corn, alfalfa, switchgrass, miscanthus, sorghum, tobacco, sugarcane and flax.

US Patent:

20120060413, Mar 15, 2012

Filed:

Sep 15, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/233498

Inventors:

Mariya Somleva - Cambridge MA, US
Himani Chinnapen - Quincy MA, US
Aminat Ali - Cambridge MA, US
Kristi D. Snell - Belmont MA, US
Oliver P. Peoples - Arlington MA, US
Nii Patterson - Chelmsford MA, US
Jihong Tang - Brighton MA, US

International Classification:

C10L 8/00
C12N 5/10
C08L 67/04
C12N 15/82
C08L 97/02
A01H 5/00
A01H 5/10

US Classification:

44605, 800298, 435419, 800320, 800278, 800288, 524 14

Abstract:

Transgenic plants, transgenic plant material, and transgenic plant cells for the improved synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates, preferably poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (also referred to as PHB), have been developed. In one embodiment, carbon flow is modulated to increase production of PHB. Preferred plants that can be genetically engineered to produce PHB include plants that produce a large amount of lignocellulosic biomass that can be converted into biofuels, such as switchgrass, , sugarcane, millets, Napier grass and other forage and turf grasses. An exemplary plant that can be genetically engineered to produce PHB and produces lignocellulosic biomass is switchgrass, L. A preferred cultivar of switchgrass is Alamo. Other suitable cultivars of switchgrass include, but are not limited to, Blackwell, Kanlow, Nebraska 28, Pathfinder, Cave-in-Rock, Shelter and Trailblazer.

US Patent:

20120174253, Jul 5, 2012

Filed:

Sep 15, 2010

Appl. No.:

13/395616

Inventors:

Nii Patterson - Chelmsford MA, US
Jihong Tang - Brighton MA, US
Edgar Benjamin Cahoon - Lincoln NE, US
Jan G. Jaworski - Town and Country MO, US
Wenyu Yang - Saint Louis MO, US
Oliver P. Peoples - Arlington MA, US
Kristi D. Snell - Belmont MA, US

International Classification:

A01H 1/02
A01H 5/00
C07C 59/147

US Classification:

800264, 554115, 800298, 800306, 800312, 800314, 8003173, 8003201, 800322

Abstract:

Transgenic oilseed plants, plant material, plant cells, and genetic constructs for synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (“PHA”) are provided. In a preferred embodiment, the transgenic oilseed plants synthesize (poly)3-hydroxybutyrate (“PHB”) in the seed. Genes utilized include phaA, phaB, phaC, all of which are known in the art. The genes can be introduced in the plant, plant tissue, or plant cell using conventional plant molecular biology techniques.

US Patent:

20120180162, Jul 12, 2012

Filed:

Sep 15, 2010

Appl. No.:

13/395702

Inventors:

Nii Patterson - Chelmsford MA, US
Jihong Tang - Brighton MA, US
Jixiang Han - Maryland heights MO, US
Venkata Tavva - Chikkadpally, IN
Andrew Hertig - Cambridge MA, US
Zhigang Zhang - Watertown MA, US
Thomas Martin Ramseier - Newton MA, US
Oliver P. peoples - Arlington MA, US
Kristi D. Snell - Belmont MA, US

Assignee:

METABOLIX, INC. - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

C12N 15/82
A01H 5/10
C12N 15/63
A01H 5/00

US Classification:

800286, 800298, 4353201, 800306, 8003201, 800312, 800322, 800314

Abstract:

Transgenic plants, plant material, plant cells, and genetic constructs for synthesis of biopolymers, for example polyhydroxyalkanoates (“PHA”) are provided. In one embodiment, the transgenic plants synthesize polyhydroxybutyrate (“PHB”). In one embodiment the transgenic plant encodes siRNA for one or more of the genes encoding enzymes for producing PHA. In a more preferred embodiment, the siRNA expression is under the control of an inducible regulatory element. In another embodiment, the transgenic plant contains transgenes that encode expression enzymes that will degrade the polymer. In a preferred embodiment, the expression of these enzymes is under the control of a germination specific, inducible, or minimal promoter. In another embodiment, the transgenic plant contains transgenes encoding enzymes that increase carbon flow for polymer synthesis. In a preferred embodiment, these transgenes encode enzymes that increase carbon flow in the Calvin Cycle.