(19)

(11)

EP 1 082 439 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 27.01.2000 (43) Date of publication: 14.03.2001 Bulletin 2001/11 (21) Application number: 99925954.2 (22) Date of filing: 27.05.1999

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: C12N 15/52, C12N 15/76, C12N 9/00, C12N 1/21 (86) International application number: PCT/US9911/814 (87) International publication number: WO 9961/599 (02.12.1999 Gazette 1999/48)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 28.05.1998 US 87080 P 28.08.1998 US 141908 22.09.1998 US 100880 P 08.02.1999 US 119139 P (71) Applicant: Kosan Biosciences, Inc. Hayward, CA 94545 (US)	(72) Inventors: ASHLEY, Gary Alameda, CA 94502 (US) BETLACH, Melanie, C. Burlingame, CA 94010 (US) BETLACH, Mary San Francisco, CA 94131 (US) MCDANIEL, Robert Palo Alto, CA 94306 (US) TANG, Li Foster City, CA 94404 (US) (74) Representative: Irvine, Jonquil Claire et al J.A. KEMP & CO.14 South SquareGray's Inn London WC1R 5LX London WC1R 5LX (GB)