Appeal No. 1995-2772
Application 08/001,063
reasons which are not clear to us, failed to withdraw the rejection. Supplemental Answer,
Paper No. 29, p. 3. Since there is no controversy as to this issue, we consider the
rejection as being MOOT.
Discussion
Biotin, also known as vitamin H, is an essential component in the metabolism of
most organisms. Specification, p. 1. At the time of the invention, the biotin biosynthetic
pathway in Escherichia coli (hereinafter, E. coli) was known to involve at least six enzymes
which are encoded by the bioA, bioB, bioF, bioC and bioD genes. Fisher, col. 3, lines 2-
4. As indicated by the claim above, the present invention is directed to host cells which
are transformed with the E. coli bioH gene and which are capable of producing more biotin
than host cells which have not been transformed with the gene. In addition, the invention
encompasses recombinant molecules comprising the E. coli bioH gene; methods of
increasing biotin production by transforming host cells with said gene; and methods of
making said host cells. Useful host cells are said to include bacteria of the genera
Escherichia, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, and Corynebacterium, as well as yeast
of the genus Saccharomyces. Specification, p. 35.
All of the claims on appeal require a biotin-producing recombinant cell which has
been transformed with an E. coli bioH gene such that said cell produces more biotin than a
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