The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 26, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 23, 1999
Hans-Peter Hohmann, Freiburg, DE;
Luis Pasamontes, Trimbach, CH;
Michel Tessier, Mulhouse, FR;
Adolphus van Loon, Rheinfelden, CH;
Roche Vitamins Inc., Nutley, NJ (US);
Abstract
Novel proteins of Flavobacrerium sp. R1534 and the DNA sequences which encode these proteins are disclosed which provide an improved biosynthetic pathway from farnesyl pyrophosphate and isopentyl pyrophosphate to various carotenoid precursors and carotenoids, especially .beta.-carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin and cantaxanthin. Processes are also provided for preparing zeaxanthin by culturing a transformed host cell containing an expression cassette that includes a polynucleotide having a DNA sequence which encodes the GGPP synthase of Flavobacterium sp. R1534 (crtE), the prephytoene synthase of Flavobacterium sp. R1534 (crtB), the phytoene desaturase of Flavobacterium sp. R1534 (crtI), the lycopene cyclase of Flavobacterium sp. R1534 (crtY), or the .beta.-carotene hydroxylase of Flavobacterium sp. R1534 (crtZ). The polynucleotide is substantially free of other polynucleotides of Flavobacterium sp. R1534. The process further includes isolating the zeaxanthin from such cells or the culture medium.