(19)

(11)

EP 2 007 875 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 23.10.2008 (43) Date of publication: 31.12.2008 Bulletin 2009/01 (21) Application number: 07760205.0 (22) Date of filing: 05.04.2007

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  C12N 5/00(2006.01) C12N 5/02(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2007/066085 (87) International publication number: WO 2007/136936 (29.11.2007 Gazette 2007/48)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL BA HR MK RS (30) Priority: 05.04.2006 US 789853 P 05.04.2006 US 789851 P 05.04.2006 US 789855 P (71) Applicant: William Marsh Rice University Houston TX 77152-1892 (US)	(72) Inventors: ATHANASIOU, Kyriacos, A. Houston, TX 77030 (US) DENG, Ying Houston, TX 77054 (US) HU, Jerry Houston, TX 77072 (US) (74) Representative: Grubert, Andreas  Baker Botts 41 Lothbury Street London EC2R 7HF London EC2R 7HF (GB)