Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
DETAILED ACTION
Application status
Claims 1-16 are pending in this application.
Priority
It is acknowledged that the instant application is a CON of US Application No. 18167119, filed on 02/10/2023 (now PAT 12091436), which is a CON of US Application No. 17051299, filed on 10/28/2020 (now PAT 11608364), which is the 371 national stage entry of PCT/EP2019/060897, filed on 04/29/2019.
Acknowledgment is made of applicant's claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d) to a foreign patent application EPO EP18170193.9 filed on 04/30/2018.
Election
Applicant's election with traverse of Group I, Claims 1-8, and species M378T, I384G, I384N, I384T, Q425A, Q425M, Q425L, A429S, F977A and I1112N, in the response filed on 08/17/2026, is acknowledged.
Applicants argue that the asserted basis for restricting Groups I and II is factually incorrect. The Office has alleged that Inventions I and II are "unrelated," on the footing that unrelated inventions are those not disclosed as capable of use together and having different modes of operation, functions, or effects, and concludes that the polypeptide of Invention I and the recombinant cell of Invention II are not disclosed as capable of use together. The specification discloses precisely the opposite: the disclosure provides, in a third aspect, a recombinant cell capable of producing a steviol glycoside, wherein the cell comprises a nucleotide sequence coding for the variant of the first aspect. The recombinant cell of Group II is thus defined by, and is the disclosed vehicle for using, the variant polypeptide of Group I. Indeed, claim 9 expressly requires "a nucleic acid coding for a variant of a parent polypeptide according to claim 1." The two groups share the same mode of operation and the same effect improved mediation of rebaudioside M transport-and are in a product/product-of-use relationship rather than being unrelated inventions.
Applicants’ arguments have been fully considered but are not deemed persuasive for the following reasons. Even assuming arguendo that Inventions I and II are ‘related’ as argued by Applicants, there is there would be a serious search and examination burden if restriction were not required because one or more of the following reasons apply:
(a) the inventions have acquired a separate status in the art in view of their different classification, i.e., a variant ATP-binding Cassette transporter vs. a recombinant cell;
(b) the inventions have acquired a separate status in the art due to their recognized divergent subject matter, i.e., a variant ATP-binding Cassette transporter vs. a recombinant cell;
(c) the inventions require a different field of search (for example, searching different classes/subclasses or electronic resources, or employing different search queries), i.e., the search of recombinant cells require searching of nucleotide sequences rather than amino acid sequences as required for searching/examining the variant ATP-binding Cassette transporters, and in addition to searches of the nucleotide sequences, there are codon degeneracies inherently present in the polypeptides that encode different amino acid sequences which further expand the sequences that have to be searched and examined;
(d) the prior art applicable to one invention would not likely be applicable to another invention;
(e) the inventions are likely to raise different non-prior art issues under 35 U.S.C. 101 and/or 35 U.S.C. 112, first paragraph, i.e., a variant ATP-binding Cassette transporter vs. a recombinant cell.
For the reasons provided above, this restriction requirement is deemed proper, and therefore, it is made final.
Claims 9-16 are withdrawn from further consideration by the Examiner, 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a non-elected invention.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 08/19/2024 is acknowledged. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 U.S.C. § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
Claims 1-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 112(a), written description, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
The instant claims are directed to a genus of variant ATP-Binding Cassette transporters of a parent polypeptide wherein the parent polypeptide is an ATP-Binding Cassette transporter according to SEQ ID NO: 3, wherein the variant comprises an amino acid sequence which, when aligned with the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 3, comprises at least one modification of an amino acid residue corresponding to any of amino acids, 15, 19, 26, 29, 31, 32, 33, 37, 46, 56, 59, 107,135, 136, 141, 145, 148, 150, 151, 153, 199, 200, 204, 206, 207, 210, 211, 255, 257, 258, 262, 267, 268, 272, 273, 276, 277, 278, 281, 282, 283, 284, 292, 294, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 302, 303, 306, 307, 309, 310, 311, 315, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 326, 328, 375, 376, 378, 379, 380, 382, 384, 386, 387, 389, 408, 410, 411, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 853, 854, 857, 859, 862, 864, 869, 890, 891, 892, 894, 903, 906, 968, 969, 972, 974, 977, 986, 996, 998, 999, 1001, 1003, 1004, 1010, 1012, 1016, 1017, 1018, 1019, 1020, 1021, 1059, 1060, 1061, 1062, 1063, 1075, 1076, 1107,1108, 1111, 1112, 1115, 1118, 1120, 1123, 1127, 1128, 1179, 1200, said positions being defined with reference to the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 3.
To satisfy the written description aspect of 35 U.S.C. § 112(a) for a claimed genus of [compositions or methods], it must be clear that: (1) the identifying characteristics of the claimed [compositions or methods] have been disclosed, e.g., structure, physical and/or chemical characteristics, functional characteristics when coupled with a known or disclosed correlation between function and structure, or a combination of these; and (2) a representative number of species within the genus must be disclosed.
The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has recently held that a “written description of an invention involving a chemical genus, like a description of a chemical species, ‘requires a precise definition, such as be structure, formula [or] chemical name,’ of the claimed subject matter sufficient to distinguish it from other materials.” University of California v. Eli Lilly and Co., 1997 U.S. App. LEXIS 18221, at *23, quoting Fiers v. Revel, 25 USPQ2d 1601, 1606 (Fed. Cir. 1993) (bracketed material in original). To fully describe a genus of genetic material, which is a chemical compound, applicants must (1) fully describe at least one species of the claimed genus sufficient to represent said genus whereby a skilled artisan, in view of the prior art, could predict the structure of other species encompassed by the claimed genus and (2) identify the common characteristics of the claimed molecules, e.g., structure, physical and/or chemical characteristics, functional characteristics when coupled with a known or disclosed correlation between function and structure, or a combination of these (paraphrased from Enzo Biochemical Inc. v. Gen-Probe Inc. (CAFC (2002) 63 USPQ2d 1609).
The specification discloses a number of specific representative species of the genus of variant ATP-Binding Cassette transporters (‘variant ABC transporters’ hereafter), i.e., a variant ABC transporter comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 with specific substitutions: M378T which increased production of RebM compared to the total steviol glycosides, or I384G + I1112N which increased production of RebM compared to the total steviol glycosides (see Tables 5 and 6,respectively).
However, these specific substitutions and specific combinations of substitutions disclosed in Tables 5-7 for specific SEQ ID NO: 3 fail to provide adequate written description for the genus of claimed variant ABC transporters having any amino acid sequence, which encompasses any polypeptide that any and all possible combinations of modifications at any of amino acids 15, 19, 26, 29, 31, 32, 33, 37, 46, 56, 59, 107,135, 136, 141, 145, 148, 150, 151, 153, 199, 200, 204, 206, 207, 210, 211, 255, 257, 258, 262, 267, 268, 272, 273, 276, 277, 278, 281, 282, 283, 284, 292, 294, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 302, 303, 306, 307, 309, 310, 311, 315, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 326, 328, 375, 376, 378, 379, 380, 382, 384, 386, 387, 389, 408, 410, 411, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 853, 854, 857, 859, 862, 864, 869, 890, 891, 892, 894, 903, 906, 968, 969, 972, 974, 977, 986, 996, 998, 999, 1001, 1003, 1004, 1010, 1012, 1016, 1017, 1018, 1019, 1020, 1021, 1059, 1060, 1061, 1062, 1063, 1075, 1076, 1107, 1108, 1111, 1112, 1115, 1118, 1120, 1123, 1127, 1128, 1179 and 1200. With the 20 standard amino acids, the number of all possible combinations of substitutions at the 146 unique positions can be calculated as 20146 which amounts to staggering 8.92 x 10189 different substitutions, and this does not even account for any modifications to these positions including but not limited to any additions, any deletions and/or any and all possible amino acid modifications.
In this case, the specification fails to describe any identification of structural characteristics or properties of any and all possible combinations of modifications at any of amino acids 15, 19, 26, 29, 31, 32, 33, 37, 46, 56, 59, 107,135, 136, 141, 145, 148, 150, 151, 153, 199, 200, 204, 206, 207, 210, 211, 255, 257, 258, 262, 267, 268, 272, 273, 276, 277, 278, 281, 282, 283, 284, 292, 294, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 302, 303, 306, 307, 309, 310, 311, 315, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 326, 328, 375, 376, 378, 379, 380, 382, 384, 386, 387, 389, 408, 410, 411, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 853, 854, 857, 859, 862, 864, 869, 890, 891, 892, 894, 903, 906, 968, 969, 972, 974, 977, 986, 996, 998, 999, 1001, 1003, 1004, 1010, 1012, 1016, 1017, 1018, 1019, 1020, 1021, 1059, 1060, 1061, 1062, 1063, 1075, 1076, 1107,1108, 1111, 1112, 1115, 1118, 1120, 1123, 1127, 1128, 1179 and 1200 of SEQ ID NO: 3 such that a person of ordinary skill in the art (POSITA) would readily recognize which of these modifications and/or combinations of these modifications actually increase production of RebM compared to the total steviol glycosides as intended by Applicants.
Taken together, the genus of “variant ABC transporters” encompasses widely variant species, having essentially any structure. While M.P.E.P. section 2163 acknowledges that a single species can describe a genus, it also acknowledges that for a genus that encompasses widely variant species, disclosure of a single species within the genus fails to adequately describe all members of the genus. Please refer to the M.P.E.P. section 2163.05 [R-7.2022] under I, B for more details with respect to sufficient number of representative species that should be disclosed to describe a widely variant genus.
Given the lack of additional representative species of the claimed genus of variant ABC transporters as described above, Applicants have failed to sufficiently describe the claimed invention, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms that a skilled artisan would recognize Applicants were in possession of the claimed invention.
Applicant is referred to the revised guidelines concerning compliance with the written description requirement of U.S.C. 112(a) published in the Official Gazette and also available at www.uspto.gov.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1 and 5-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Dujon et al. (UniProt Accession No. Q6C4M7, retrieved from the Internet <<https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/Q6C4M7/entry>>, retrieved on 10/05/2026).
The instant claims are drawn to a variant ATP-Binding Cassette transporters of a parent polypeptide wherein the parent polypeptide is an ATP-Binding Cassette transporter according to SEQ ID NO: 3, wherein the variant comprises an amino acid sequence which, when aligned with the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 3, comprises at least one modification of an amino acid residue corresponding to any of amino acids, 15, 19, 26, 29, 31, 32, 33, 37, 46, 56, 59, 107,135, 136, 141, 145, 148, 150, 151, 153, 199, 200, 204, 206, 207, 210, 211, 255, 257, 258, 262, 267, 268, 272, 273, 276, 277, 278, 281, 282, 283, 284, 292, 294, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 302, 303, 306, 307, 309, 310, 311, 315, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 326, 328, 375, 376, 378, 379, 380, 382, 384, 386, 387, 389, 408, 410, 411, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 853, 854, 857, 859, 862, 864, 869, 890, 891, 892, 894, 903, 906, 968, 969, 972, 974, 977, 986, 996, 998, 999, 1001, 1003, 1004, 1010, 1012, 1016, 1017, 1018, 1019, 1020, 1021, 1059, 1060, 1061, 1062, 1063, 1075, 1076, 1107,1108, 1111, 1112, 1115, 1118, 1120, 1123, 1127, 1128, 1179, 1200, said positions being defined with reference to the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 3.
Dujon et al. teach a variant ABC transporter from Yarrowia lipolytica having 95.2% sequence identity to Applicants’ SEQ ID NO: 3 with deletions of amino acids 1-59 of SEQ ID NO: 3 (see below sequence search Result 1 of 20260917_114923_3i384t.align150.rup, which has been copied/pasted below for Applicants’ convenience, UniProt Accession No. Q6C4M7, publicly available since 08/16/2004), which anticipates claims 1 and 5-8. Therefore, teachings of Dujon et al. anticipate Applicants’ claimed invention.
RESULT 1
Q6C4M7_YARLI
ID Q6C4M7_YARLI Unreviewed; 1355 AA.
AC Q6C4M7;
DT 16-AUG-2004, integrated into UniProtKB/TrEMBL.
DT 16-AUG-2004, sequence version 1.
DT 10-JUN-2026, entry version 148.
DE SubName: Full=YALI0E25201p {ECO:0000313|EMBL:CAG79984.1};
GN ORFNames=YALI0_E25201g {ECO:0000313|EMBL:CAG79984.1};
OS Yarrowia lipolytica (strain CLIB 122 / E 150) (Yeast) (Candida lipolytica).
OC Eukaryota; Fungi; Dikarya; Ascomycota; Saccharomycotina; Dipodascomycetes;
OC Dipodascales; Dipodascales incertae sedis; Yarrowia.
OX NCBI_TaxID=284591 {ECO:0000313|EMBL:CAG79984.1, ECO:0000313|Proteomes:UP000001300};
RN [1] {ECO:0000313|EMBL:CAG79984.1, ECO:0000313|Proteomes:UP000001300}
RP NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE [LARGE SCALE GENOMIC DNA].
RC STRAIN=CLIB 122 / E 150 {ECO:0000313|Proteomes:UP000001300};
RX PubMed=15229592; DOI=10.1038/nature02579;
RG Genolevures;
RA Dujon B., Sherman D., Fischer G., Durrens P., Casaregola S., Lafontaine I.,
RA de Montigny J., Marck C., Neuveglise C., Talla E., Goffard N., Frangeul L.,
RA Aigle M., Anthouard V., Babour A., Barbe V., Barnay S., Blanchin S.,
RA Beckerich J.M., Beyne E., Bleykasten C., Boisrame A., Boyer J.,
RA Cattolico L., Confanioleri F., de Daruvar A., Despons L., Fabre E.,
RA Fairhead C., Ferry-Dumazet H., Groppi A., Hantraye F., Hennequin C.,
RA Jauniaux N., Joyet P., Kachouri R., Kerrest A., Koszul R., Lemaire M.,
RA Lesur I., Ma L., Muller H., Nicaud J.M., Nikolski M., Oztas S.,
RA Ozier-Kalogeropoulos O., Pellenz S., Potier S., Richard G.F., Straub M.L.,
RA Suleau A., Swennene D., Tekaia F., Wesolowski-Louvel M., Westhof E.,
RA Wirth B., Zeniou-Meyer M., Zivanovic I., Bolotin-Fukuhara M., Thierry A.,
RA Bouchier C., Caudron B., Scarpelli C., Gaillardin C., Weissenbach J.,
RA Wincker P., Souciet J.L.;
RT "Genome evolution in yeasts.";
RL Nature 430:35-44(2004).
CC -!- SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Membrane {ECO:0000256|ARBA:ARBA00004141}; Multi-
CC pass membrane protein {ECO:0000256|ARBA:ARBA00004141}.
CC -!- SIMILARITY: Belongs to the ABC transporter superfamily. ABCC family.
CC Conjugate transporter (TC 3.A.1.208) subfamily.
CC {ECO:0000256|ARBA:ARBA00009726}.
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DR EMBL; CR382131; CAG79984.1; -; Genomic_DNA.
DR RefSeq; XP_504385.2; XM_504385.2.
DR SMR; Q6C4M7; -.
DR STRING; 284591.Q6C4M7; -.
DR KEGG; yli:2912710; -.
DR VEuPathDB; FungiDB:YALI0_E25201g; -.
DR HOGENOM; CLU_000604_27_1_1; -.
DR InParanoid; Q6C4M7; -.
DR OMA; ACAQWFH; -.
DR OrthoDB; 117563at4891; -.
DR Proteomes; UP000001300; Chromosome E.
DR GO; GO:0005886; C:plasma membrane; IBA:GO_Central.
DR GO; GO:0008559; F:ABC-type xenobiotic transporter activity; IBA:GO_Central.
DR GO; GO:0005524; F:ATP binding; IEA:UniProtKB-KW.
DR GO; GO:0016887; F:ATP hydrolysis activity; IEA:InterPro.
DR GO; GO:0055085; P:transmembrane transport; IBA:GO_Central.
DR CDD; cd18597; ABC_6TM_YOR1_D1_like; 1.
DR CDD; cd18606; ABC_6TM_YOR1_D2_like; 1.
DR CDD; cd03250; ABCC_MRP_domain1; 1.
DR CDD; cd03244; ABCC_MRP_domain2; 1.
DR FunFam; 3.40.50.300:FF:000565; ABC bile acid transporter; 1.
DR FunFam; 3.40.50.300:FF:001750; ATP-binding cassette transporter; 1.
DR FunFam; 1.20.1560.10:FF:000061; ATP-binding cassette transporter YOR1; 1.
DR FunFam; 1.20.1560.10:FF:000010; Multidrug resistance-associated ABC transporter; 1.
DR Gene3D; 1.20.1560.10; ABC transporter type 1, transmembrane domain; 2.
DR Gene3D; 3.40.50.300; P-loop containing nucleotide triphosphate hydrolases; 2.
DR InterPro; IPR003593; AAA+_ATPase.
DR InterPro; IPR011527; ABC1_TM_dom.
DR InterPro; IPR036640; ABC1_TM_sf.
DR InterPro; IPR003439; ABC_transporter-like_ATP-bd.
DR InterPro; IPR017871; ABC_transporter-like_CS.
DR InterPro; IPR050173; ABC_transporter_C-like.
DR InterPro; IPR027417; P-loop_NTPase.
DR PANTHER; PTHR24223; ATP-BINDING CASSETTE SUB-FAMILY C; 1.
DR PANTHER; PTHR24223:SF456; MULTIDRUG RESISTANCE-ASSOCIATED PROTEIN LETHAL(2)03659; 1.
DR Pfam; PF00664; ABC_membrane; 2.
DR Pfam; PF00005; ABC_tran; 2.
DR SMART; SM00382; AAA; 2.
DR SUPFAM; SSF90123; ABC transporter transmembrane region; 2.
DR SUPFAM; SSF52540; P-loop containing nucleoside triphosphate hydrolases; 2.
DR PROSITE; PS50929; ABC_TM1F; 2.
DR PROSITE; PS00211; ABC_TRANSPORTER_1; 2.
DR PROSITE; PS50893; ABC_TRANSPORTER_2; 2.
PE 3: Inferred from homology;
KW ATP-binding {ECO:0000256|ARBA:ARBA00022840};
KW Coiled coil {ECO:0000256|SAM:Coils};
KW Membrane {ECO:0000256|ARBA:ARBA00023136, ECO:0000256|SAM:Phobius};
KW Nucleotide-binding {ECO:0000256|ARBA:ARBA00022741};
KW Reference proteome {ECO:0000313|Proteomes:UP000001300};
KW Transmembrane {ECO:0000256|ARBA:ARBA00022692, ECO:0000256|SAM:Phobius};
KW Transmembrane helix {ECO:0000256|ARBA:ARBA00022989,
KW ECO:0000256|SAM:Phobius}; Transport {ECO:0000256|ARBA:ARBA00022448}.
FT TRANSMEM 84..109
FT /note="Helical"
FT /evidence="ECO:0000256|SAM:Phobius"
FT TRANSMEM 130..148
FT /note="Helical"
FT /evidence="ECO:0000256|SAM:Phobius"
FT TRANSMEM 208..227
FT /note="Helical"
FT /evidence="ECO:0000256|SAM:Phobius"
FT TRANSMEM 233..253
FT /note="Helical"
FT /evidence="ECO:0000256|SAM:Phobius"
FT TRANSMEM 316..338
FT /note="Helical"
FT /evidence="ECO:0000256|SAM:Phobius"
FT TRANSMEM 788..815
FT /note="Helical"
FT /evidence="ECO:0000256|SAM:Phobius"
FT TRANSMEM 827..849
FT /note="Helical"
FT /evidence="ECO:0000256|SAM:Phobius"
FT TRANSMEM 900..918
FT /note="Helical"
FT /evidence="ECO:0000256|SAM:Phobius"
FT TRANSMEM 924..946
FT /note="Helical"
FT /evidence="ECO:0000256|SAM:Phobius"
FT TRANSMEM 1019..1038
FT /note="Helical"
FT /evidence="ECO:0000256|SAM:Phobius"
FT DOMAIN 85..373
FT /note="ABC transmembrane type-1"
FT /evidence="ECO:0000259|PROSITE:PS50929"
FT DOMAIN 468..693
FT /note="ABC transporter"
FT /evidence="ECO:0000259|PROSITE:PS50893"
FT DOMAIN 795..1069
FT /note="ABC transmembrane type-1"
FT /evidence="ECO:0000259|PROSITE:PS50929"
FT DOMAIN 1109..1344
FT /note="ABC transporter"
FT /evidence="ECO:0000259|PROSITE:PS50893"
FT COILED 423..453
FT /evidence="ECO:0000256|SAM:Coils"
SQ SEQUENCE 1355 AA; 150780 MW; B5739FDB271B1937 CRC64;
Query Match 95.2%; Score 6809; Length 1355;
Best Local Similarity 99.7%;
Matches 1348; Conservative 1; Mismatches 3; Indels 0; Gaps 0;
Qy 63 SPLLKTGYLRNIEREDLYKVRERNSAAVIQQRLESNLEKQYAKYHAKLLKKGLSEQEAHL 122
| | :|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 4 SILTQTGYLRNIEREDLYKVRERNSAAVIQQRLESNLEKQYAKYHAKLLKKGLSEQEAHL 63
Qy 123 KLQDSAKPLVLALNQTFFWKFWLAGLFALVKDLCGIASAMVSRVLIEYIQDRYLYRGTDR 182
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 64 KLQDSAKPLVLALNQTFFWKFWLAGLFALVKDLCGIASAMVSRVLIEYIQDRYLYRGTDR 123
Qy 183 EPKVGRGVGPSIGLFLLAVGVTFFFNHMFYNVKMVGAQARAALVAVIYSKSTRLSAKGRA 242
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 124 EPKVGRGVGPSIGLFLLAVGVTFFFNHMFYNVKMVGAQARAALVAVIYSKSTRLSAKGRA 183
Qy 243 QYTTGKITNLAAIDAHRVDLSCESFHYITIFLPVVGCAIA VLVVNLKVAALVGIATMIVL 302
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 184 QYTTGKITNLAAIDAHRVDLSCESFHYITIFLPVVGCAIA VLVVNLKVAALVGIATMIVL 243
Qy 303 IFVVAGITIFSMKLRAIIVKLTDKRVTYIREALQSIRIIKYYGWEVPYCDKIKKVRLDET 362
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 244 IFVVAGITIFSMKLRAIIVKLTDKRVTYIREALQSIRIIKYYGWEVPYCDKIKKVRLDET 303
Qy 363 RNYAKMGSIRGTAIGMFQALPTLAGALSFITYAALGHGTDPARMFSSLTLFNLLLPALAV 422
||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 304 RNYAKMGSIRGTAIGMFQALPILAGALSFITYAALGHGTDPARMFSSLTLFNLLLPALAV 363
Qy 423 LPQALQAAGDARVALRRIQRFLGAEESTPTTVFDATLESTDDAVIVEDASFIWPEVVDDK 482
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 364 LPQALQAAGDARVALRRIQRFLGAEESTPTTVFDATLESTDDAVIVEDASFIWPEVVDDK 423
Qy 483 SDKEKAKDAKKEEKDKKKAEKKAKKAAKKAAKEIAVVVEEEVEHEKTEGSSESEKGTLKS 542
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 424 SDKEKAKDAKKEEKDKKKAEKKAKKAAKKAAKEIAVVVEEEVEHEKTEGSSESEKGTLKS 483
Qy 543 TFKGFNNLSFKIKRGEFVVVTGPIGSGKSSLLAAITGSMVLTGGSVRVSSTEWIGCLEPW 602
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 484 TFKGFNNLSFKIKRGEFVVVTGPIGSGKSSLLAAITGSMVLTGGSVRVSSTEWIGCLEPW 543
Qy 603 IQNATVRDNIVFGRKFDSEWYRTVVTACQLSQDLKIMTHGDNTMIGERGITVSGGQKARI 662
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 544 IQNATVRDNIVFGRKFDSEWYRTVVTACQLSQDLKIMTHGDNTMIGERGITVSGGQKARI 603
Qy 663 NLARAIYGNPEILIMDDVLSAVDARVGAGIVDDCLRGLAKNSTRILATHQLSVLPKADHV 722
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 604 NLARAIYGNPEILIMDDVLSAVDARVGAGIVDDCLRGLAKNSTRILATHQLSVLPKADHV 663
Qy 723 IFMDAEGQFHIGTYQELEADNEQFKALLAAGSMSKEEVVAVDETEVVIEGDLEDDCDNKE 782
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 664 IFMDAEGQFHIGTYQELEADNEQFKALLAAGSMSKEEVVAVDETEVVIEGDLEDDCDNKE 723
Qy 783 EYEDAAETISILADATQELQKVTTTVSAFEENDNMMEEEERMRDAVGLHVYWQYFRQANP 842
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 724 EYEDAAETISILADATQELQKVTTTVSAFEENDNMMEEEERMRDAVGLHVYWQYFRQANP 783
Qy 843 SRVKVMMFIGMIFISMIVIAFLFVFTSVWLSFWTGDRFHASRNFYTGIYIMLGILLLLAV 902
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 784 SRVKVMMFIGMIFISMIVIAFLFVFTSVWLSFWTGDRFHASRNFYTGIYIMLGILLLLAV 843
Qy 903 AGYMIVNEINSAMAARNLHNHALDSVFAARTSFFDTTPQGRIINRFTRDTDSLDNELAMR 962
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 844 AGYMIVNEINSAMAARNLHNHALDSVFAARTSFFDTTPQGRIINRFTRDTDSLDNELAMR 903
Qy 963 LTMLFFGVSAFFSNFLLTCVYVPYVTLVLVPVGFVFYVSLGYYRKSAREVKRIDSIERSH 1022
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 904 LTMLFFGVSAFFSNFLLTCVYVPYVTLVLVPVGFVFYVSLGYYRKSAREVKRIDSIERSH 963
Qy 1023 MMSVFNESISGMPVIIMYKAQHRLMNKLQATLDDMDSAYFLTAANQRWLSLRLDGLGSLV 1082
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 964 MMSVFNESISGMPVIIMYKAQHRLMNKLQATLDDMDSAYFLTAANQRWLSLRLDGLGSLV 1023
Qy 1083 VLVATILVAVGVFDLTPSNMGLIISAASFIPEVMSMVAQAVAELENCMNATERILYYKDN 1142
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1024 VLVATILVAVGVFDLTPSNMGLIISAASFIPEVMSMVAQAVAELENCMNATERILYYKDN 1083
Qy 1143 IPAEAAREVDGTELDQRPNWPEQGAISFNNVSMKYRDGLPYVLKSLSVDFQGGHKVGICG 1202
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1084 IPAEAAREVDGTELDQRPNWPEQGAISFNNVSMKYRDGLPYVLKSLSVDFQGGHKVGICG 1143
Qy 1203 RTGAGKSTILQTLYRIVELAEGSITIDGVDISTIGLHQLRSQLSIIPQEPVLFLGTIRSN 1262
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1144 RTGAGKSTILQTLYRIVELAEGSITIDGVDISTIGLHQLRSQLSIIPQEPVLFLGTIRSN 1203
Qy 1263 LDPLEQYSDAELWGSLRRSGLLDEGETEGKFHLDQKVEADGSNFSLGERQLLTLARALLR 1322
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1204 LDPLEQYSDAELWGSLRRSGLLDEGETEGKFHLDQKVEADGSNFSLGERQLLTLARALLR 1263
Qy 1323 NTKILVLDEATSNVDYKTDKLVQETISREFGHCTILCIAHRLRTIAKYDRILVLESGEIN 1382
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1264 NTKILVLDEATSNVDYKTDKLVQETISREFGHCTILCIAHRLRTIAKYDRILVLESGEIN 1323
Qy 1383 QYDTPWNLYNDKEGIFRGMCDTSGLNEVDFNK 1414
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1324 QYDTPWNLYNDKEGIFRGMCDTSGLNEVDFNK 1355
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1-8 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-6 of U.S. Patent No. 11608364. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because of the following reasons.
Claim 1 of the instant application:
Claim 1. A variant ATP-Binding Cassette transporters of a parent polypeptide wherein the parent polypeptide is an ATP-Binding Cassette transporter according to SEQ ID NO: 3, wherein the variant comprises an amino acid sequence which, when aligned with the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 3, comprises at least one modification of an amino acid residue corresponding to any of amino acids, 15, 19, 26, 29, 31, 32, 33, 37, 46, 56, 59, 107,135, 136, 141, 145, 148, 150, 151, 153, 199, 200, 204, 206, 207, 210, 211, 255, 257, 258, 262, 267, 268, 272, 273, 276, 277, 278, 281, 282, 283, 284, 292, 294, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 302, 303, 306, 307, 309, 310, 311, 315, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 326, 328, 375, 376, 378, 379, 380, 382, 384, 386, 387, 389, 408, 410, 411, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 853, 854, 857, 859, 862, 864, 869, 890, 891, 892, 894, 903, 906, 968, 969, 972, 974, 977, 986, 996, 998, 999, 1001, 1003, 1004, 1010, 1012, 1016, 1017, 1018, 1019, 1020, 1021, 1059, 1060, 1061, 1062, 1063, 1075, 1076, 1107,1108, 1111, 1112, 1115, 1118, 1120, 1123, 1127, 1128, 1179, 1200, said positions being defined with reference to the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 3.
Claims 1 and 2 of ‘364 patent:
Claim 1. A variant of a parent polypeptide, wherein the variant comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 3, and at least one of the following modifications: A375F, I376W, I384G, L420G, P424L, any amino acid other than F at position 968, F977Q, S1107Y, I1112N, and/or A1120M, wherein the variant has steviol glycoside transport mediating activity, and when measured under the same conditions: a) the ratio between the molar concentration of rebaudioside M produced by a recombinant cell expressing the variant and the molar concentration of rebaudioside M produced by a reference cell is at least 1.2; and/or b) the ratio between the molar concentration of rebaudioside M and the molar concentration of rebaudioside A produced by a recombinant cell expressing the variant is at least 1.2 times the ratio between the molar concentration of rebaudioside M and the molar concentration of rebaudioside A produced by a reference cell; and/or c) the ratio between the molar concentration of rebaudioside M and the molar concentration of total steviol glycosides produced by a recombinant cell expressing the variant is at least 1.2 times the ratio between the molar concentration of rebaudioside M and the molar concentration of total steviol glycosides produced by a reference cell; wherein a reference cell is a recombinant cell expressing the parent polypeptide.
Claim 2. The variant according to claim 1, wherein the variant further comprises at least one modification of an amino acid residue corresponding to any of amino acids 15, 19, 26, 29, 31, 32, 33, 37, 46, 56, 59, 107, 135, 136, 141, 145, 148, 150, 151, 153, 199, 200, 204, 206, 207, 210, 211, 255, 257, 258, 262, 267, 268, 272, 273, 276, 277, 278, 281, 282, 283, 284, 292, 294, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 302, 303, 306, 307, 309, 310, 311, 315, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 326, 328, 378, 379, 380, 382, 386, 387, 389, 408, 410, 411, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 419, 421, 422, 423, 425, 427, 428, 429, 853, 854, 857, 859, 862, 864, 869, 890, 891, 892, 894, 903, 906, 969, 972, 974, 986, 996, 998, 999, 1001, 1003, 1004, 1010, 1012, 1016, 1017, 1018, 1019, 1020, 1021, 1059, 1060, 1061, 1062, 1063, 1075, 1076, 1108, 1111, 1115, 1118, 1123, 1127, 1128, 1179, 1200, said positions being defined with reference to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3.
The instant claim 1 and the claim 1 of ‘364 directly overlap in scope because both are drawn to a variant ABC transporter having SEQ ID NO: 3 with overlapping substitution positions. Both recite “comprising” language which is ‘open’ to comprise additional modifications and claim 2 of ‘364 patent is virtually identical to claim 1 of the instant application regarding the amino acid modification positions of SEQ ID NO: 3. For the reasons provided herein, claims 1-8 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of said patent.
Claims 1-8 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-10 of U.S. Patent No. 12091436. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because of the following reasons.
Claim 1 of the instant application:
Claim 1. A variant ATP-Binding Cassette transporters of a parent polypeptide wherein the parent polypeptide is an ATP-Binding Cassette transporter according to SEQ ID NO: 3, wherein the variant comprises an amino acid sequence which, when aligned with the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 3, comprises at least one modification of an amino acid residue corresponding to any of amino acids, 15, 19, 26, 29, 31, 32, 33, 37, 46, 56, 59, 107,135, 136, 141, 145, 148, 150, 151, 153, 199, 200, 204, 206, 207, 210, 211, 255, 257, 258, 262, 267, 268, 272, 273, 276, 277, 278, 281, 282, 283, 284, 292, 294, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 302, 303, 306, 307, 309, 310, 311, 315, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 326, 328, 375, 376, 378, 379, 380, 382, 384, 386, 387, 389, 408, 410, 411, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 853, 854, 857, 859, 862, 864, 869, 890, 891, 892, 894, 903, 906, 968, 969, 972, 974, 977, 986, 996, 998, 999, 1001, 1003, 1004, 1010, 1012, 1016, 1017, 1018, 1019, 1020, 1021, 1059, 1060, 1061, 1062, 1063, 1075, 1076, 1107,1108, 1111, 1112, 1115, 1118, 1120, 1123, 1127, 1128, 1179, 1200, said positions being defined with reference to the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 3.
Claim 1 of ‘436 patent:
Claim 1. A recombinant cell capable of producing a steviol glycoside, wherein the cell comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a variant of a parent polypeptide, wherein the variant comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 3, and at least one of the following modifications: A375F, I376W, I384G, L420G, P424L, any amino acid other than F at position 968, F977Q, S1107Y, I1112N, and/or A1120M.
The instant claim 1 is different from claims of ‘436 patent in that claims of ‘436 patent are drawn to a recombinant cell comprising a variant ABC transporter comprising an amino acid sequence having 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 3 with A375F, I376W, I384G, L420G, P424L, any amino acid other than F at position 968, F977Q, S1107Y, I1112N, and/or A1120M. However, both are drawn to a variant ABC transporter having SEQ ID NO: 3 with overlapping modifications because they are recited in the instant claims 1-4. Therefore, it would have been obvious for a POSITA to make and use the variant ABC transporters present in the recombinant cells of ‘436 patent. A POSITA would have been motivated to make and use the variant ABC transporters as disclosed in ‘436 patent for the purposes of increasing steviol glycosides production. A POSITA would have had a high expectation of success because all of the required biochemical reagents and techniques were readily available and rampantly practiced as evidenced by ‘436 patent. For the reasons provided herein, claims 1-8 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of said patent.
Claims 1-8 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-8 of U.S. Patent No. 11297862. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because of the following reasons.
Claim 1 of the instant application:
Claim 1. A variant ATP-Binding Cassette transporters of a parent polypeptide wherein the parent polypeptide is an ATP-Binding Cassette transporter according to SEQ ID NO: 3, wherein the variant comprises an amino acid sequence which, when aligned with the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 3, comprises at least one modification of an amino acid residue corresponding to any of amino acids, 15, 19, 26, 29, 31, 32, 33, 37, 46, 56, 59, 107,135, 136, 141, 145, 148, 150, 151, 153, 199, 200, 204, 206, 207, 210, 211, 255, 257, 258, 262, 267, 268, 272, 273, 276, 277, 278, 281, 282, 283, 284, 292, 294, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 302, 303, 306, 307, 309, 310, 311, 315, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 326, 328, 375, 376, 378, 379, 380, 382, 384, 386, 387, 389, 408, 410, 411, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 853, 854, 857, 859, 862, 864, 869, 890, 891, 892, 894, 903, 906, 968, 969, 972, 974, 977, 986, 996, 998, 999, 1001, 1003, 1004, 1010, 1012, 1016, 1017, 1018, 1019, 1020, 1021, 1059, 1060, 1061, 1062, 1063, 1075, 1076, 1107,1108, 1111, 1112, 1115, 1118, 1120, 1123, 1127, 1128, 1179, 1200, said positions being defined with reference to the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 3.
Claim 1 of ‘862 patent:
Claim 1. A recombinant cell capable of producing a steviol glycoside which overexpresses a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:29 or an amino acid sequence having at least 98% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:29.
The instant claim 1 and the claim 1 of ‘862 are different in that claims of ‘862 patent are drawn to a recombinant cell which overexpresses a variant ABC transporter comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 98% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 29. It is noted by the Examiner that SEQ ID NO: 3 of the instant application and SEQ ID NO: 29 of the ‘862 patent are 100% identical (see below sequence alignment). As such, the scope of the variant ABC transporter directly overlap as any amino acid sequence having 98% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 29 encompasses a variant ABC transporter having the recited modifications of SEQ ID NO: 3. Furthermore, it would have been obvious for a POSITA to make and use the variant ABC transporters present in the recombinant cells of ‘862 patent. A POSITA would have been motivated to make and use the variant ABC transporters as disclosed in ‘862 patent for the purposes of increasing steviol glycosides production. A POSITA would have had a high expectation of success because all of the required biochemical reagents and techniques were readily available and rampantly practiced as evidenced by ‘862 patent. For the reasons provided herein, claims 1-8 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of said patent.
SUMMARIES
%
Result Query
No. Score Match Length DB ID Description
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 7155 100.0 1414 1 US-15-751-674-29 STEVIOL GLYCOSIDE
ALIGNMENTS
RESULT 1
US-15-751-674-29
Query Match 100.0%; Score 7155; DB 1; Length 1414;
Best Local Similarity 100.0%;
Matches 1414; Conservative 0; Mismatches 0; Indels 0; Gaps 0;
Qy 1 MGKTEVTQESLECGSVTSSLGKKPFSIITLFTGRRIPPVPTEKPDSAEERAGILSKLTWQ 60
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1 MGKTEVTQESLECGSVTSSLGKKPFSIITLFTGRRIPPVPTEKPDSAEERAGILSKLTWQ 60
Qy 61 WLSPLLKTGYLRNIEREDLYKVRERNSAAVIQQRLESNLEKQYAKYHAKLLKKGLSEQEA 120
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 61 WLSPLLKTGYLRNIEREDLYKVRERNSAAVIQQRLESNLEKQYAKYHAKLLKKGLSEQEA 120
Qy 121 HLKLQDSAKPLVLALNQTFFWKFWLAGLFALVKDLCGIASAMVSRVLIEYIQDRYLYRGT 180
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 121 HLKLQDSAKPLVLALNQTFFWKFWLAGLFALVKDLCGIASAMVSRVLIEYIQDRYLYRGT 180
Qy 181 DREPKVGRGVGPSIGLFLLAVGVTFFFNHMFYNVKMVGAQARAALVAVIYSKSTRLSAKG 240
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 181 DREPKVGRGVGPSIGLFLLAVGVTFFFNHMFYNVKMVGAQARAALVAVIYSKSTRLSAKG 240
Qy 241 RAQYTTGKITNLAAIDAHRVDLSCESFHYITIFLPVVGCAIA VLVVNLKVAALVGIATMI 300
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 241 RAQYTTGKITNLAAIDAHRVDLSCESFHYITIFLPVVGCAIA VLVVNLKVAALVGIATMI 300
Qy 301 VLIFVVAGITIFSMKLRAIIVKLTDKRVTYIREALQSIRIIKYYGWEVPYCDKIKKVRLD 360
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 301 VLIFVVAGITIFSMKLRAIIVKLTDKRVTYIREALQSIRIIKYYGWEVPYCDKIKKVRLD 360
Qy 361 ETRNYAKMGSIRGTAIGMFQALPILAGALSFITYAALGHGTDPARMFSSLTLFNLLLPAL 420
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 361 ETRNYAKMGSIRGTAIGMFQALPILAGALSFITYAALGHGTDPARMFSSLTLFNLLLPAL 420
Qy 421 AVLPQALQAAGDARVALRRIQRFLGAEESTPTTVFDATLESTDDAVIVEDASFIWPEVVD 480
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 421 AVLPQALQAAGDARVALRRIQRFLGAEESTPTTVFDATLESTDDAVIVEDASFIWPEVVD 480
Qy 481 DKSDKEKAKDAKKEEKDKKKAEKKAKKAAKKAAKEIAVVVEEEVEHEKTEGSSESEKGTL 540
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 481 DKSDKEKAKDAKKEEKDKKKAEKKAKKAAKKAAKEIAVVVEEEVEHEKTEGSSESEKGTL 540
Qy 541 KSTFKGFNNLSFKIKRGEFVVVTGPIGSGKSSLLAAITGSMVLTGGSVRVSSTEWIGCLE 600
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 541 KSTFKGFNNLSFKIKRGEFVVVTGPIGSGKSSLLAAITGSMVLTGGSVRVSSTEWIGCLE 600
Qy 601 PWIQNATVRDNIVFGRKFDSEWYRTVVTACQLSQDLKIMTHGDNTMIGERGITVSGGQKA 660
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 601 PWIQNATVRDNIVFGRKFDSEWYRTVVTACQLSQDLKIMTHGDNTMIGERGITVSGGQKA 660
Qy 661 RINLARAIYGNPEILIMDDVLSAVDARVGAGIVDDCLRGLAKNSTRILATHQLSVLPKAD 720
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 661 RINLARAIYGNPEILIMDDVLSAVDARVGAGIVDDCLRGLAKNSTRILATHQLSVLPKAD 720
Qy 721 HVIFMDAEGQFHIGTYQELEADNEQFKALLAAGSMSKEEVVAVDETEVVIEGDLEDDCDN 780
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 721 HVIFMDAEGQFHIGTYQELEADNEQFKALLAAGSMSKEEVVAVDETEVVIEGDLEDDCDN 780
Qy 781 KEEYEDAAETISILADATQELQKVTTTVSAFEENDNMMEEEERMRDAVGLHVYWQYFRQA 840
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 781 KEEYEDAAETISILADATQELQKVTTTVSAFEENDNMMEEEERMRDAVGLHVYWQYFRQA 840
Qy 841 NPSRVKVMMFIGMIFISMIVIAFLFVFTSVWLSFWTGDRFHASRNFYTGIYIMLGILLLL 900
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 841 NPSRVKVMMFIGMIFISMIVIAFLFVFTSVWLSFWTGDRFHASRNFYTGIYIMLGILLLL 900
Qy 901 AVAGYMIVNEINSAMAARNLHNHALDSVFAARTSFFDTTPQGRIINRFTRDTDSLDNELA 960
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 901 AVAGYMIVNEINSAMAARNLHNHALDSVFAARTSFFDTTPQGRIINRFTRDTDSLDNELA 960
Qy 961 MRLTMLFFGVSAFFSNFLLTCVYVPYVTLVLVPVGFVFYVSLGYYRKSAREVKRIDSIER 1020
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 961 MRLTMLFFGVSAFFSNFLLTCVYVPYVTLVLVPVGFVFYVSLGYYRKSAREVKRIDSIER 1020
Qy 1021 SHMMSVFNESISGMPVIIMYKAQHRLMNKLQATLDDMDSAYFLTAANQRWLSLRLDGLGS 1080
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1021 SHMMSVFNESISGMPVIIMYKAQHRLMNKLQATLDDMDSAYFLTAANQRWLSLRLDGLGS 1080
Qy 1081 LVVLVATILVAVGVFDLTPSNMGLIISAASFIPEVMSMVAQAVAELENCMNATERILYYK 1140
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1081 LVVLVATILVAVGVFDLTPSNMGLIISAASFIPEVMSMVAQAVAELENCMNATERILYYK 1140
Qy 1141 DNIPAEAAREVDGTELDQRPNWPEQGAISFNNVSMKYRDGLPYVLKSLSVDFQGGHKVGI 1200
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1141 DNIPAEAAREVDGTELDQRPNWPEQGAISFNNVSMKYRDGLPYVLKSLSVDFQGGHKVGI 1200
Qy 1201 CGRTGAGKSTILQTLYRIVELAEGSITIDGVDISTIGLHQLRSQLSIIPQEPVLFLGTIR 1260
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1201 CGRTGAGKSTILQTLYRIVELAEGSITIDGVDISTIGLHQLRSQLSIIPQEPVLFLGTIR 1260
Qy 1261 SNLDPLEQYSDAELWGSLRRSGLLDEGETEGKFHLDQKVEADGSNFSLGERQLLTLARAL 1320
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1261 SNLDPLEQYSDAELWGSLRRSGLLDEGETEGKFHLDQKVEADGSNFSLGERQLLTLARAL 1320
Qy 1321 LRNTKILVLDEATSNVDYKTDKLVQETISREFGHCTILCIAHRLRTIAKYDRILVLESGE 1380
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1321 LRNTKILVLDEATSNVDYKTDKLVQETISREFGHCTILCIAHRLRTIAKYDRILVLESGE 1380
Qy 1381 INQYDTPWNLYNDKEGIFRGMCDTSGLNEVDFNK 1414
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1381 INQYDTPWNLYNDKEGIFRGMCDTSGLNEVDFNK 1414
Claims 1-8 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-11 of U.S. Patent No. 11925193. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because of the following reasons.
Claim 1 of the instant application:
Claim 1. A variant ATP-Binding Cassette transporters of a parent polypeptide wherein the parent polypeptide is an ATP-Binding Cassette transporter according to SEQ ID NO: 3, wherein the variant comprises an amino acid sequence which, when aligned with the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 3, comprises at least one modification of an amino acid residue corresponding to any of amino acids, 15, 19, 26, 29, 31, 32, 33, 37, 46, 56, 59, 107,135, 136, 141, 145, 148, 150, 151, 153, 199, 200, 204, 206, 207, 210, 211, 255, 257, 258, 262, 267, 268, 272, 273, 276, 277, 278, 281, 282, 283, 284, 292, 294, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 302, 303, 306, 307, 309, 310, 311, 315, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 326, 328, 375, 376, 378, 379, 380, 382, 384, 386, 387, 389, 408, 410, 411, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 853, 854, 857, 859, 862, 864, 869, 890, 891, 892, 894, 903, 906, 968, 969, 972, 974, 977, 986, 996, 998, 999, 1001, 1003, 1004, 1010, 1012, 1016, 1017, 1018, 1019, 1020, 1021, 1059, 1060, 1061, 1062, 1063, 1075, 1076, 1107,1108, 1111, 1112, 1115, 1118, 1120, 1123, 1127, 1128, 1179, 1200, said positions being defined with reference to the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 3.
Claim 1 of ‘193 patent:
Claim 1. A recombinant cell capable of producing a steviol glycoside, which has been modified to reduce the expression of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:29 or an amino acid sequence having at least 98% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:29, as compared to a corresponding cell which has not been similarly modified.
The instant claim 1 and the claim 1 of ‘193 are different in that claims of ‘193 patent are drawn to a recombinant cell which has been modified to reduce the expression of a variant ABC transporter comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 98% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 29. It is noted by the Examiner that SEQ ID NO: 3 of the instant application and SEQ ID NO: 29 of the ‘193 patent are 100% identical (see below sequence alignment). As such, the scope of the variant ABC transporter directly overlap as any amino acid sequence having 98% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 29 encompasses a variant ABC transporter having the recited modifications of SEQ ID NO: 3. Furthermore, it would have been obvious for a POSITA to make and use the variant ABC transporters present in the recombinant cells of ‘193 patent. A POSITA would have been motivated to make and use the variant ABC transporters as disclosed in ‘193 patent for the purposes of increasing steviol glycosides production (see the last paragraph of column 6 continued to the next column). A POSITA would have had a high expectation of success because all of the required biochemical reagents and techniques were readily available and rampantly practiced as evidenced by ‘193 patent. For the reasons provided herein, claims 1-8 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of said patent.
SUMMARIES
%
Result Query
No. Score Match Length DB ID Description
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 7155 100.0 1414 1 US-17-512-368-29 STEVIOL GLYCOSIDE
ALIGNMENTS
RESULT 1
US-17-512-368-29
Query Match 100.0%; Score 7155; DB 1; Length 1414;
Best Local Similarity 100.0%;
Matches 1414; Conservative 0; Mismatches 0; Indels 0; Gaps 0;
Qy 1 MGKTEVTQESLECGSVTSSLGKKPFSIITLFTGRRIPPVPTEKPDSAEERAGILSKLTWQ 60
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1 MGKTEVTQESLECGSVTSSLGKKPFSIITLFTGRRIPPVPTEKPDSAEERAGILSKLTWQ 60
Qy 61 WLSPLLKTGYLRNIEREDLYKVRERNSAAVIQQRLESNLEKQYAKYHAKLLKKGLSEQEA 120
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 61 WLSPLLKTGYLRNIEREDLYKVRERNSAAVIQQRLESNLEKQYAKYHAKLLKKGLSEQEA 120
Qy 121 HLKLQDSAKPLVLALNQTFFWKFWLAGLFALVKDLCGIASAMVSRVLIEYIQDRYLYRGT 180
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 121 HLKLQDSAKPLVLALNQTFFWKFWLAGLFALVKDLCGIASAMVSRVLIEYIQDRYLYRGT 180
Qy 181 DREPKVGRGVGPSIGLFLLAVGVTFFFNHMFYNVKMVGAQARAALVAVIYSKSTRLSAKG 240
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 181 DREPKVGRGVGPSIGLFLLAVGVTFFFNHMFYNVKMVGAQARAALVAVIYSKSTRLSAKG 240
Qy 241 RAQYTTGKITNLAAIDAHRVDLSCESFHYITIFLPVVGCAIA VLVVNLKVAALVGIATMI 300
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 241 RAQYTTGKITNLAAIDAHRVDLSCESFHYITIFLPVVGCAIA VLVVNLKVAALVGIATMI 300
Qy 301 VLIFVVAGITIFSMKLRAIIVKLTDKRVTYIREALQSIRIIKYYGWEVPYCDKIKKVRLD 360
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 301 VLIFVVAGITIFSMKLRAIIVKLTDKRVTYIREALQSIRIIKYYGWEVPYCDKIKKVRLD 360
Qy 361 ETRNYAKMGSIRGTAIGMFQALPILAGALSFITYAALGHGTDPARMFSSLTLFNLLLPAL 420
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 361 ETRNYAKMGSIRGTAIGMFQALPILAGALSFITYAALGHGTDPARMFSSLTLFNLLLPAL 420
Qy 421 AVLPQALQAAGDARVALRRIQRFLGAEESTPTTVFDATLESTDDAVIVEDASFIWPEVVD 480
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 421 AVLPQALQAAGDARVALRRIQRFLGAEESTPTTVFDATLESTDDAVIVEDASFIWPEVVD 480
Qy 481 DKSDKEKAKDAKKEEKDKKKAEKKAKKAAKKAAKEIAVVVEEEVEHEKTEGSSESEKGTL 540
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 481 DKSDKEKAKDAKKEEKDKKKAEKKAKKAAKKAAKEIAVVVEEEVEHEKTEGSSESEKGTL 540
Qy 541 KSTFKGFNNLSFKIKRGEFVVVTGPIGSGKSSLLAAITGSMVLTGGSVRVSSTEWIGCLE 600
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 541 KSTFKGFNNLSFKIKRGEFVVVTGPIGSGKSSLLAAITGSMVLTGGSVRVSSTEWIGCLE 600
Qy 601 PWIQNATVRDNIVFGRKFDSEWYRTVVTACQLSQDLKIMTHGDNTMIGERGITVSGGQKA 660
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 601 PWIQNATVRDNIVFGRKFDSEWYRTVVTACQLSQDLKIMTHGDNTMIGERGITVSGGQKA 660
Qy 661 RINLARAIYGNPEILIMDDVLSAVDARVGAGIVDDCLRGLAKNSTRILATHQLSVLPKAD 720
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 661 RINLARAIYGNPEILIMDDVLSAVDARVGAGIVDDCLRGLAKNSTRILATHQLSVLPKAD 720
Qy 721 HVIFMDAEGQFHIGTYQELEADNEQFKALLAAGSMSKEEVVAVDETEVVIEGDLEDDCDN 780
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 721 HVIFMDAEGQFHIGTYQELEADNEQFKALLAAGSMSKEEVVAVDETEVVIEGDLEDDCDN 780
Qy 781 KEEYEDAAETISILADATQELQKVTTTVSAFEENDNMMEEEERMRDAVGLHVYWQYFRQA 840
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 781 KEEYEDAAETISILADATQELQKVTTTVSAFEENDNMMEEEERMRDAVGLHVYWQYFRQA 840
Qy 841 NPSRVKVMMFIGMIFISMIVIAFLFVFTSVWLSFWTGDRFHASRNFYTGIYIMLGILLLL 900
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 841 NPSRVKVMMFIGMIFISMIVIAFLFVFTSVWLSFWTGDRFHASRNFYTGIYIMLGILLLL 900
Qy 901 AVAGYMIVNEINSAMAARNLHNHALDSVFAARTSFFDTTPQGRIINRFTRDTDSLDNELA 960
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 901 AVAGYMIVNEINSAMAARNLHNHALDSVFAARTSFFDTTPQGRIINRFTRDTDSLDNELA 960
Qy 961 MRLTMLFFGVSAFFSNFLLTCVYVPYVTLVLVPVGFVFYVSLGYYRKSAREVKRIDSIER 1020
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 961 MRLTMLFFGVSAFFSNFLLTCVYVPYVTLVLVPVGFVFYVSLGYYRKSAREVKRIDSIER 1020
Qy 1021 SHMMSVFNESISGMPVIIMYKAQHRLMNKLQATLDDMDSAYFLTAANQRWLSLRLDGLGS 1080
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1021 SHMMSVFNESISGMPVIIMYKAQHRLMNKLQATLDDMDSAYFLTAANQRWLSLRLDGLGS 1080
Qy 1081 LVVLVATILVAVGVFDLTPSNMGLIISAASFIPEVMSMVAQAVAELENCMNATERILYYK 1140
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1081 LVVLVATILVAVGVFDLTPSNMGLIISAASFIPEVMSMVAQAVAELENCMNATERILYYK 1140
Qy 1141 DNIPAEAAREVDGTELDQRPNWPEQGAISFNNVSMKYRDGLPYVLKSLSVDFQGGHKVGI 1200
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1141 DNIPAEAAREVDGTELDQRPNWPEQGAISFNNVSMKYRDGLPYVLKSLSVDFQGGHKVGI 1200
Qy 1201 CGRTGAGKSTILQTLYRIVELAEGSITIDGVDISTIGLHQLRSQLSIIPQEPVLFLGTIR 1260
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1201 CGRTGAGKSTILQTLYRIVELAEGSITIDGVDISTIGLHQLRSQLSIIPQEPVLFLGTIR 1260
Qy 1261 SNLDPLEQYSDAELWGSLRRSGLLDEGETEGKFHLDQKVEADGSNFSLGERQLLTLARAL 1320
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1261 SNLDPLEQYSDAELWGSLRRSGLLDEGETEGKFHLDQKVEADGSNFSLGERQLLTLARAL 1320
Qy 1321 LRNTKILVLDEATSNVDYKTDKLVQETISREFGHCTILCIAHRLRTIAKYDRILVLESGE 1380
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1321 LRNTKILVLDEATSNVDYKTDKLVQETISREFGHCTILCIAHRLRTIAKYDRILVLESGE 1380
Qy 1381 INQYDTPWNLYNDKEGIFRGMCDTSGLNEVDFNK 1414
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1381 INQYDTPWNLYNDKEGIFRGMCDTSGLNEVDFNK 1414
Claims 1-8 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-13 of U.S. Patent No. 12285033. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because of the following reasons.
Claim 1 of the instant application:
Claim 1. A variant ATP-Binding Cassette transporters of a parent polypeptide wherein the parent polypeptide is an ATP-Binding Cassette transporter according to SEQ ID NO: 3, wherein the variant comprises an amino acid sequence which, when aligned with the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 3, comprises at least one modification of an amino acid residue corresponding to any of amino acids, 15, 19, 26, 29, 31, 32, 33, 37, 46, 56, 59, 107,135, 136, 141, 145, 148, 150, 151, 153, 199, 200, 204, 206, 207, 210, 211, 255, 257, 258, 262, 267, 268, 272, 273, 276, 277, 278, 281, 282, 283, 284, 292, 294, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 302, 303, 306, 307, 309, 310, 311, 315, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 326, 328, 375, 376, 378, 379, 380, 382, 384, 386, 387, 389, 408, 410, 411, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 853, 854, 857, 859, 862, 864, 869, 890, 891, 892, 894, 903, 906, 968, 969, 972, 974, 977, 986, 996, 998, 999, 1001, 1003, 1004, 1010, 1012, 1016, 1017, 1018, 1019, 1020, 1021, 1059, 1060, 1061, 1062, 1063, 1075, 1076, 1107,1108, 1111, 1112, 1115, 1118, 1120, 1123, 1127, 1128, 1179, 1200, said positions being defined with reference to the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 3.
Claim 1 of ‘033 patent:
Claim 1. A recombinant host capable of producing a steviol glycoside which overexpresses a polypeptide which mediates steviol glycoside transport and which polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:29 or an amino acid sequence having at least about 95% sequence identity thereto, wherein the recombinant host comprises one or more recombinant nucleic acid sequence encoding: (i) a polypeptide having UDP-glycosyltransferase 74G1 (UGT74G1) activity; (ii) a polypeptide having UDP-glycosyltransferase 2 (UGT2) activity; (iii) a polypeptide having UDP-glycosyltransferase 85C2 (UGT85C2) activity; and (iv) a polypeptide having UDP-glycosyltransferase 76G1 (UGT76G1) activity.
The instant claim 1 and the claim 1 of ‘033 are different in that claims of ‘033 patent are drawn to a recombinant cell which overexpresses a variant ABC transporter comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 29. It is noted by the Examiner that SEQ ID NO: 3 of the instant application and SEQ ID NO: 29 of the ‘033 patent are 100% identical (see below sequence alignment). As such, the scope of the variant ABC transporter directly overlap as any amino acid sequence having 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 29 encompasses a variant ABC transporter having the recited modifications of SEQ ID NO: 3. Furthermore, it would have been obvious for a POSITA to make and use the variant ABC transporters present in the recombinant cells of ‘033 patent. A POSITA would have been motivated to make and use the variant ABC transporters as disclosed in ‘033 patent for the purposes of increasing steviol glycosides production. A POSITA would have had a high expectation of success because all of the required biochemical reagents and techniques were readily available and rampantly practiced as evidenced by ‘033 patent. For the reasons provided herein, claims 1-8 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of said patent.
SUMMARIES
%
Result Query
No. Score Match Length DB ID Description
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 7155 100.0 1414 1 US-18-428-486-29 STEVIOL GLYCOSIDE
ALIGNMENTS
RESULT 1
US-18-428-486-29
Query Match 100.0%; Score 7155; DB 1; Length 1414;
Best Local Similarity 100.0%;
Matches 1414; Conservative 0; Mismatches 0; Indels 0; Gaps 0;
Qy 1 MGKTEVTQESLECGSVTSSLGKKPFSIITLFTGRRIPPVPTEKPDSAEERAGILSKLTWQ 60
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1 MGKTEVTQESLECGSVTSSLGKKPFSIITLFTGRRIPPVPTEKPDSAEERAGILSKLTWQ 60
Qy 61 WLSPLLKTGYLRNIEREDLYKVRERNSAAVIQQRLESNLEKQYAKYHAKLLKKGLSEQEA 120
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 61 WLSPLLKTGYLRNIEREDLYKVRERNSAAVIQQRLESNLEKQYAKYHAKLLKKGLSEQEA 120
Qy 121 HLKLQDSAKPLVLALNQTFFWKFWLAGLFALVKDLCGIASAMVSRVLIEYIQDRYLYRGT 180
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 121 HLKLQDSAKPLVLALNQTFFWKFWLAGLFALVKDLCGIASAMVSRVLIEYIQDRYLYRGT 180
Qy 181 DREPKVGRGVGPSIGLFLLAVGVTFFFNHMFYNVKMVGAQARAALVAVIYSKSTRLSAKG 240
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 181 DREPKVGRGVGPSIGLFLLAVGVTFFFNHMFYNVKMVGAQARAALVAVIYSKSTRLSAKG 240
Qy 241 RAQYTTGKITNLAAIDAHRVDLSCESFHYITIFLPVVGCAIA VLVVNLKVAALVGIATMI 300
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 241 RAQYTTGKITNLAAIDAHRVDLSCESFHYITIFLPVVGCAIA VLVVNLKVAALVGIATMI 300
Qy 301 VLIFVVAGITIFSMKLRAIIVKLTDKRVTYIREALQSIRIIKYYGWEVPYCDKIKKVRLD 360
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 301 VLIFVVAGITIFSMKLRAIIVKLTDKRVTYIREALQSIRIIKYYGWEVPYCDKIKKVRLD 360
Qy 361 ETRNYAKMGSIRGTAIGMFQALPILAGALSFITYAALGHGTDPARMFSSLTLFNLLLPAL 420
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 361 ETRNYAKMGSIRGTAIGMFQALPILAGALSFITYAALGHGTDPARMFSSLTLFNLLLPAL 420
Qy 421 AVLPQALQAAGDARVALRRIQRFLGAEESTPTTVFDATLESTDDAVIVEDASFIWPEVVD 480
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 421 AVLPQALQAAGDARVALRRIQRFLGAEESTPTTVFDATLESTDDAVIVEDASFIWPEVVD 480
Qy 481 DKSDKEKAKDAKKEEKDKKKAEKKAKKAAKKAAKEIAVVVEEEVEHEKTEGSSESEKGTL 540
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 481 DKSDKEKAKDAKKEEKDKKKAEKKAKKAAKKAAKEIAVVVEEEVEHEKTEGSSESEKGTL 540
Qy 541 KSTFKGFNNLSFKIKRGEFVVVTGPIGSGKSSLLAAITGSMVLTGGSVRVSSTEWIGCLE 600
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 541 KSTFKGFNNLSFKIKRGEFVVVTGPIGSGKSSLLAAITGSMVLTGGSVRVSSTEWIGCLE 600
Qy 601 PWIQNATVRDNIVFGRKFDSEWYRTVVTACQLSQDLKIMTHGDNTMIGERGITVSGGQKA 660
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 601 PWIQNATVRDNIVFGRKFDSEWYRTVVTACQLSQDLKIMTHGDNTMIGERGITVSGGQKA 660
Qy 661 RINLARAIYGNPEILIMDDVLSAVDARVGAGIVDDCLRGLAKNSTRILATHQLSVLPKAD 720
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 661 RINLARAIYGNPEILIMDDVLSAVDARVGAGIVDDCLRGLAKNSTRILATHQLSVLPKAD 720
Qy 721 HVIFMDAEGQFHIGTYQELEADNEQFKALLAAGSMSKEEVVAVDETEVVIEGDLEDDCDN 780
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 721 HVIFMDAEGQFHIGTYQELEADNEQFKALLAAGSMSKEEVVAVDETEVVIEGDLEDDCDN 780
Qy 781 KEEYEDAAETISILADATQELQKVTTTVSAFEENDNMMEEEERMRDAVGLHVYWQYFRQA 840
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 781 KEEYEDAAETISILADATQELQKVTTTVSAFEENDNMMEEEERMRDAVGLHVYWQYFRQA 840
Qy 841 NPSRVKVMMFIGMIFISMIVIAFLFVFTSVWLSFWTGDRFHASRNFYTGIYIMLGILLLL 900
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 841 NPSRVKVMMFIGMIFISMIVIAFLFVFTSVWLSFWTGDRFHASRNFYTGIYIMLGILLLL 900
Qy 901 AVAGYMIVNEINSAMAARNLHNHALDSVFAARTSFFDTTPQGRIINRFTRDTDSLDNELA 960
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 901 AVAGYMIVNEINSAMAARNLHNHALDSVFAARTSFFDTTPQGRIINRFTRDTDSLDNELA 960
Qy 961 MRLTMLFFGVSAFFSNFLLTCVYVPYVTLVLVPVGFVFYVSLGYYRKSAREVKRIDSIER 1020
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 961 MRLTMLFFGVSAFFSNFLLTCVYVPYVTLVLVPVGFVFYVSLGYYRKSAREVKRIDSIER 1020
Qy 1021 SHMMSVFNESISGMPVIIMYKAQHRLMNKLQATLDDMDSAYFLTAANQRWLSLRLDGLGS 1080
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1021 SHMMSVFNESISGMPVIIMYKAQHRLMNKLQATLDDMDSAYFLTAANQRWLSLRLDGLGS 1080
Qy 1081 LVVLVATILVAVGVFDLTPSNMGLIISAASFIPEVMSMVAQAVAELENCMNATERILYYK 1140
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1081 LVVLVATILVAVGVFDLTPSNMGLIISAASFIPEVMSMVAQAVAELENCMNATERILYYK 1140
Qy 1141 DNIPAEAAREVDGTELDQRPNWPEQGAISFNNVSMKYRDGLPYVLKSLSVDFQGGHKVGI 1200
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1141 DNIPAEAAREVDGTELDQRPNWPEQGAISFNNVSMKYRDGLPYVLKSLSVDFQGGHKVGI 1200
Qy 1201 CGRTGAGKSTILQTLYRIVELAEGSITIDGVDISTIGLHQLRSQLSIIPQEPVLFLGTIR 1260
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1201 CGRTGAGKSTILQTLYRIVELAEGSITIDGVDISTIGLHQLRSQLSIIPQEPVLFLGTIR 1260
Qy 1261 SNLDPLEQYSDAELWGSLRRSGLLDEGETEGKFHLDQKVEADGSNFSLGERQLLTLARAL 1320
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1261 SNLDPLEQYSDAELWGSLRRSGLLDEGETEGKFHLDQKVEADGSNFSLGERQLLTLARAL 1320
Qy 1321 LRNTKILVLDEATSNVDYKTDKLVQETISREFGHCTILCIAHRLRTIAKYDRILVLESGE 1380
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1321 LRNTKILVLDEATSNVDYKTDKLVQETISREFGHCTILCIAHRLRTIAKYDRILVLESGE 1380
Qy 1381 INQYDTPWNLYNDKEGIFRGMCDTSGLNEVDFNK 1414
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1381 INQYDTPWNLYNDKEGIFRGMCDTSGLNEVDFNK 1414
Conclusion
Claims 1-8 are rejected for the reasons as stated above. Applicants must respond to the objections/rejections in this Office action to be fully responsive in prosecution.
The instant Office action is non-final.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAE W LEE whose telephone number is (571)272-9949. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F between 9:00-6:00.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Manjunath Rao can be reached on (571)272-0939. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/JAE W LEE/
Examiner, Art Unit 1656
/MANJUNATH N RAO/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1656
Prosecution Insights