General Electric Company

Bechtel Bwxt Idaho, Lcc

Mohan Mark Amaratunga

Bruce Fletcher Johnson

David Paul Mobley

John Henry Lobos

Sukhendu Bikash Hait

Gary Charles Davis

Peter David Phelps

Ileana Hancu

Faisal Ahmed Syud

Andrew J Caruso

Thomas E Ward

Brian James Grimmond

Paritosh Jayant Dhawale

Eric Douglas Williams

Bahram Moasser

Amy Casey Williams

Nadeem Ishaque

Deborah K Bulmer

Carolyn S Watkins

Denyce Kramer Wicht

This invention relates to bifunctional detection agents useful for providing high-resolution, in vivo imaging of biochemical activity in a living organism. Methods of using these bifunctional detection agents may comprise administering them into a living organism, and then estimating the localization of the detection agent using one modality (i.e., MRI), while concurrently estimating the level of biological activity using a second modality (i.e., optical imaging). One of the bifunctional detection agents comprises a magnetic resonance component and an optical imaging component. The magnetic resonance component comprises a contrast agent that is always activated or 'on'. The optical imaging component comprises an activatable contrast agent or dye that is activated or turned 'on' only in the presence of a particular event. For example, the optical imaging component may be activated by a certain wavelength of light and (1) by the presence of a particular biochemical marker, (2) by enzyme cleavage, or (3) by a change in the temperature or pH of the surrounding medium. These bifunctional detection agents allow both anatomical and functional/metabolic information to be obtained simultaneously.

Systems and methods for high-resolution in vivo imaging of biochemical activity in a living organism

A method for synthesizing extended poly(amino acids) conjugated to imaging agents, such as DTPA, is disclosed. The amino acid is initially conjugated to the imaging agent at the monomer stage, followed by formation of the corresponding N-carboxyanhydride. The method utilizes catalyzed ring opening polymerization of the N-carboxyanhydride of the amino acid-imaging agent monomer allowing the formation of a poly(amino acid) backbone having 100% imaging agent conjugation if desired. However, the present method also permits the degree of conjugation to be controlled by copolymerizing the N-carboxyanhydride of the amino acid-imaging agent monomer with one or more unconjugated monomers, i.e. N-carboxyanhydrides of the same or of other amino acids. Various imaging agents may be employed, and new hybrid random, block, and mixed copolymers may be prepared.

Polymerization method for the synthesis of polypeptide imaging agents

Aliphatic tricarboxylic acids, as exemplified by 9-carboxy-1,18-octadecanedioic acid, may be prepared by the biotransformation of an olefinic monocarboxylic acid such as oleic acid to the corresponding olefinic dicarboxylic acid, preferably 1,18-octadec-9-enedioic acid, in the presence of a strain of yeast, such as a strain of followed by the carboxylation of the olefinic dicarboxylic acid by reaction with carbon monoxide and water in the presence of a catalyst. The product tricarboxylic acids are useful as branching agents for polycarbonates.

Tricarboxylic acids, method, and branched polycarbonates prepared therefrom

Aliphatic tricarboxylic acids, as exemplified by 9-carboxy-1,18-octadecanedioic acid, may be prepared by the biotransformation of an olefinic monocarboxylic acid such as oleic acid to the corresponding olefinic dicarboxylic acid, preferably 1,18-octadec-9-enedioic acid, in the presence of a strain of yeast, such as a strain of , followed by the carboxylation of the olefinic dicarboxylic acid by reaction with carbon monoxide and water in the presence of a catalyst. The product tricarboxylic acids are useful as branching agents for polycarbonates.

A method for preparing a polyestercarbonate copolymer using solid state polymerization and polyestercarbonates prepared thereby is described. The method comprises preparing a mixture comprising partially crystalline bisphenol A polycarbonate oligomer and hydroxy acids, aliphatic diacids, cycloaliphatic diacids, aromatic diacids or aromatic triacids and subjecting that mixture to solid state polymerization to afford a polyestercarbonate copolymer.

Polyestercarbonates and methods for the direct incorporation of acids into polycarbonate chains by SSP

The cloning and expression of genes in the common aromatic pathway of,are described. A compound for which chorismate, the final product of the common aromatic pathway, is an anabolic intermediate can be produced by cloning and expressing selected genes of the common aromatic pathway and the genes coding for enzymes necessary to convert chorismate to the selected compound. Plasmids carrying selected genes of the common aromatic pathway are also described.

Development of genetically engineered bacteria for production of selected aromatic compounds

This invention relates to polyestercarbonates comprising residues of at least one branched aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, and methods for preparation of polyestercarbonates comprising residues of at least one branched aliphatic dicarboxylic acid. This invention further relates to articles and methods of making articles from the polyestercarbonates.

Polyestercarbonate comprising residues of branched diacids

This invention pertains to a method of production of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, with purification and recovery of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid directly from the fermentation medium of a cultured organism, in the presence of other chemical species. Ion exchange resin is used during the fermentation process to recover the chemical product without the necessity of separating the biomass from the fermentation supernatant by filtration after fermentation is complete and then treating the filtrate to recover the product. This reduces or eliminates the need for filtration steps and eliminates the need for energy-intensive water removal processes. Furthermore, the removal of the product during the fermentation dramatically increases the production of the product during the fermentation process. This method therefore can both increase the amount of product produced in a single fermentation run and reduce the per unit cost of its biocatalytic production.

Method for increasing total production of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid by

The present invention pertains to a method for economical biofermentative production of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHB) using genetically engineered E. coli. According to the invention, a plasmid is provided which controls the overexpression of chorismate pyruvate lyase, the bacterial enzyme which catalyzes the production of PHB from chorismate. Mutant E. coli selected with a unique two-step screening assay to overproduce chorismate have been transformed with this plasmid, providing a biocatalyst that efficiently converts glucose to PHB.

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Clifton Park, NY, United States of America

Mohan Mark Amaratunga