Charles A McWherter

Title: Innovations of Charles A McWherter

Introduction

Charles A McWherter is a notable inventor based in Chesterfield, MO (US). He has made significant contributions to the field of biotechnology, particularly in the development of modified proteins that exhibit reduced allergenicity. With a total of 4 patents to his name, McWherter's work has implications for various applications, including insecticidal materials and nutritional supplements.

Latest Patents

McWherter's latest patents focus on nucleic acids encoding deallergenized proteins and permuteins. These modified proteins maintain enzymatic and insecticidal activity while displaying reduced or eliminated allergenicity. His research identified epitopes that bind to anti-patatin antibodies, which were subsequently removed through site-directed mutagenesis. Notably, tyrosines were found to contribute to the allergenic properties of patatin proteins. The removal of glycosylation sites was observed to reduce or eliminate antibody binding. Additionally, permuteins with rearranged amino acid sequences were disclosed, retaining enzymatic activity. The applications of deallergenized proteins and permuteins extend to insecticidal materials, nutritional supplements, and immunotherapeutic agents.

Career Highlights

McWherter is currently associated with Monsanto Technology LLC, where he continues to innovate in the field of biotechnology. His work has been instrumental in advancing the understanding of allergenic proteins and their modifications.

Collaborations

Some of his notable coworkers include Murtaza F Alibhai and James D Astwood, who have collaborated with him on various projects.

Conclusion

Charles A McWherter's contributions to biotechnology through his innovative patents have the potential to significantly impact the fields of agriculture and health. His work exemplifies the importance of research in developing safer and more effective products.