Isolating Microbial Proteins That Regulate Cellular Protein Stability
This patent identifies specific genetic sequences from microbes that produce proteins capable of modifying SUMO, a key molecule that controls how other proteins behave inside cells.
Original patent title: “Nucleic acids encoding microbial SUMO protease homologs”
This patent identifies specific genetic sequences from microbes that produce proteins capable of modifying SUMO, a key molecule that controls how other proteins behave inside cells. Granted to Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute in 2010 with 10 claims and 6 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → the specific genetic code (nucleic acid molecule) that instructs a cell to build a protein containing a SUMO-specific protease-like (SSP) domain. These proteins act like molecular scissors, cutting SUMO proteins away from other proteins to regulate their function or lifespan. By isolating these sequences, researchers can insert them into vectors—small vehicles used to deliver DNA—and introduce them into bacterial, yeast, or mammalian cells to study how these microbial enzymes affect cell health or disease.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover naturally occurring SUMO proteases found in humans or other animals.
- Does not cover the general concept of protein modification, only the specific sequences identified as SEQ ID NO:27.
- Does not cover diagnostic methods that do not utilize the specific SSP domain sequences defined in the claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The inventors identified that diverse microorganisms, from common gut bacteria to parasites, possess enzymes structurally similar to human SUMO-proteases, suggesting these microbes use similar 'molecular switches' to survive.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Laboratory research on the protein-degradation pathways of pathogens like Salmonella.
Development of recombinant protein expression systems for biotechnology.
Why it matters
The bigger picture
SUMO (Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier) proteins are essential for managing protein traffic and stability in cells. Because many pathogens use these enzymes to manipulate host cells, identifying microbial versions of these proteins provides a roadmap for developing new antibiotics or anti-parasitic drugs that target the pathogen's ability to survive within a host.
Filed
November 20, 2002
Granted
July 6, 2010
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Research institutions and biotech firms focused on infectious disease and proteomics continue to explore how pathogens hijack host cellular machinery. The Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute remains a hub for this type of fundamental molecular biology research.
Market impact
This patent contributed to the foundational understanding of how microbial enzymes interact with host cell signaling pathways. It provided a specific set of tools for researchers to probe the role of SUMOylation in infection, which is a critical area for developing targeted therapies against intracellular pathogens.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent claims the specific genetic code (nucleic acid molecule) that instructs a cell to build a protein containing a SUMO-specific protease-like (SSP) domain. These proteins act like molecular scissors, cutting SUMO proteins away from other proteins to regulate their function or lifespan. By isolating these sequences, researchers can insert them into vectors—small vehicles used to deliver DNA—and introduce them into bacterial, yeast, or mammalian cells to study how these microbial enzymes affect cell health or disease.
The clever bit
The inventors identified that diverse microorganisms, from common gut bacteria to parasites, possess enzymes structurally similar to human SUMO-proteases, suggesting these microbes use similar 'molecular switches' to survive.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover naturally occurring SUMO proteases found in humans or other animals.
- Does not cover the general concept of protein modification, only the specific sequences identified as SEQ ID NO:27.
- Does not cover diagnostic methods that do not utilize the specific SSP domain sequences defined in the claims.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
17/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
7/20
Moderate scope
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$18K – $58K
Midpoint $36K · expired or expiring · industry ×3.0
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
10 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Reed, J. C., & Godzik, A. (2010). Isolating Microbial Proteins That Regulate Cellular Protein Stability (U.S. Patent No. 7,750,134). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7750134/imbruvica-ibrutinib
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US7750134"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
More to explore
More in Biotech & Medicine
US 4683195 · 1987 · Cetus Corp
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
US 8697359 · 2014 · Massachusetts Institute of Technology
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
US 4733665 · 1988 · Expandable Grafts Partnership
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
US 4965188 · 1990 · Cetus Corp
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Isolating Microbial Proteins That Regulate Cellular Protein Stability cover?
This patent identifies specific genetic sequences from microbes that produce proteins capable of modifying SUMO, a key molecule that controls how other proteins behave inside cells.
Who owns patent US 7750134?
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute owns this patent, granted in 2010.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on July 6, 2030, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 7750134 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 6 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
SUMO (Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier) proteins are essential for managing protein traffic and stability in cells. Because many pathogens use these enzymes to manipulate host cells, identifying microbial versions of these proteins provides a roadmap for developing new antibiotics or anti-parasitic drugs that target the pathogen's ability to survive within a host.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover naturally occurring SUMO proteases found in humans or other animals.
Patent monitoring