Appeal No. 1995-4867
Application 07/993,482
Zabeau et al. (Zabeau), “Enhanced Expression Of Cro-$-Galactosidase Fusion Proteins
Under The Control Of The P Promoter Of Bacteriophase 8,” The EMBO Journal, Vol. 1,
R
No. 10, pp. 1217-24 (1982).
Gorski et al. (Gorski), “The Stability Of Bacteriophase T4 Gene 32 mRNA: A 5' Leader
Sequence That Can Stabilize mRNA Transcripts,” Cell, Vol. 43, pp. 461-69 (1985).
Miyake et al. (Miyake), “Secretion Of Human Interferon-" Induced By Using Secretion
Vectors Containing A Promoter And Signal Sequence Of Alkaline Phosphatase Gene Of
Escherichia coli,” J. Biochem., Vol.97, pp. 1329-36 (1985).
Chang et al. (Chang) EPO 0 196 864 Oct. 08, 1986
Claim 31 stands rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103. As evidence of obviousness, the
examiner relies upon Crowl, Maniatis, Zabeau, Gorski, Chang and Miyake. We reverse.
DISCUSSION
1. Claim interpretation
“The name of the game is the claim.” In re Hiniker Co., 150 F.3d 1367, 1369,
47 USPQ2d 1523, 1529 (Fed. Cir. 1998). In deciding patentability issues under
35 U.S.C. § 103, the court observed in Panduit Corp. v. Dennison Mfg. Co., 810 F.2d
1561, 1567-68, 1 USPQ2d 1593, 1597 (Fed. Cir.), cert. denied, 481 U.S. 1052 (1987),
“Analysis begins with a key legal question--what is the invention claimed?” since “[c]laim
interpretation . . . will normally control the remainder of the decisional process.
Here, the language in claim 31 which needs to be interpreted is the statement that the
expression cassette is “for the secretion of a disulfide bond-containing polypeptide in a
biologically active, mature form from an E. coli host cell into the culture medium.” The
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