Claims for Patent: 9,485,953

Summary for Patent: 9,485,953

Title:	Method for treating tobacco plants with enzymes
Abstract:	A method of modifying the content of certain chemical compounds in tobacco materials is provided, the method including treatment of a tobacco plant or portion thereof with at least one enzyme. For example, the method may modify the content of tobacco smoke toxicant precursors in tobacco materials, which can result in a modification in toxicant production when the tobacco material is exposed to elevated temperatures. The type of tobacco plant or portion thereof treated according to the invention can be, for example, a tobacco seed, a tobacco seedling, an immature live plant, a mature live plant, a harvested plant, or a plant derivative. Smoking articles and other tobacco products including such enzyme-treated tobacco materials are also provided.
Inventor(s):	Moldoveanu; Serban C. (Winston-Salem, NC), Marshall; Jerry Wayne (Stokesdale, NC), Riddick; Marvin Glenn (Winston-Salem, NC), Davis; Michael F. (Clemmons, NC)
Assignee:	R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (Winston-Salem, NC)
Application Number:	13/553,222
Patent Claims:	1. A method of modifying the content of one or more compounds in a tobacco material, comprising contacting an unharvested tobacco plant or portion thereof with one or more enzymes, wherein the one or more enzymes comprise asparaginase. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the unharvested tobacco plant or portion thereof is selected from the group consisting of a tobacco seed, a tobacco seedling, an immature live plant, a mature live plant, or a portion thereof. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacting step comprises applying the one or more enzymes in a solution, suspension, or dispersion in water. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the tobacco material is characterized by a reduced content of a compound selected from the group consisting of proteins, amino acids, pectin, cellulose, pyridine, quinoline, 2-aminonaphthalene, 4-aminobiphenyl, chlorogenic acid, hydroquinone, rutin, caffeic acid, asparagine, and mixtures thereof, relative to untreated tobacco material. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: harvesting the unharvested tobacco plant or portion thereof; processing the harvested tobacco plant or portion thereof to provide a tobacco material in a form suitable for incorporation in a tobacco product; and incorporating the tobacco material into a smokeless tobacco product or a smoking article. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the tobacco material is in the form of cut filler. 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the tobacco material is in the form of a tobacco blend. 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the smoking article, upon smoking, is characterized by a Hoffmann analyte content of mainstream smoke that is reduced relative to an untreated control smoking article. 9. The method of claim 5, wherein the smoking article, upon smoking, is characterized by an acrylamide content of mainstream smoke that is reduced relative to an untreated control smoking article. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the amount of acrylamide reduction by weight in mainstream smoke is at least about 40% as compared to an untreated control smoking article. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more compounds comprise smoke toxicants or smoke toxicant precursors. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more smoke toxicant precursors comprise Hoffmann analyte precursors. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more smoke toxicant precursors are selected from the group consisting of proteins, amino acids, pectin, cellulose, pyridine, quinoline, 2-aminonaphthalene, 4-aminobiphenyl, chlorogenic acid, hydroquinone, rutin, caffeic acid, asparagine, and mixtures thereof. 14. A method of modifying the content of one or more compounds in a tobacco material, comprising: contacting an unharvested tobacco plant or portion thereof with one or more enzymes, harvesting the unharvested tobacco plant or portion thereof; and applying one or more probiotic bacteria, probiotic yeasts, or a combination thereof to the unharvested or harvested tobacco plant or portion thereof. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more compounds comprise smoke toxicants or smoke toxicant precursors. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more smoke toxicant precursors comprise Hoffmann analyte precursors. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the Hoffmann analyte precursors are catechol precursors. 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more smoke toxicant precursors are selected from the group consisting of proteins, amino acids, pectin, cellulose, pyridine, quinoline, 2-aminonaphthalene, 4-aminobiphenyl, chlorogenic acid, hydroquinone, rutin, caffeic acid, asparagine, and mixtures thereof. 19. The method of claim 14, wherein the unharvested tobacco plant or portion thereof is selected from the group consisting of a tobacco seed, a tobacco seedling, an immature live plant, a mature live plant, or a portion thereof. 20. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more enzymes comprise a hydrolase, isomerase, lyase, oxidoreductase, transferase, or a combination thereof. 21. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more enzymes comprise proteases, amylases, or a combination thereof. 22. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more enzymes comprise a polyphenol oxidase. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the polyphenol oxidase comprises a catechol oxidase. 24. The method of claim 14 wherein the tobacco material is characterized by a reduced content of a compound selected from the group consisting of proteins, amino acids, pectin, cellulose, pyridine, quinoline, 2-aminonaphthalene, 4-aminobiphenyl, chlorogenic acid, hydroquinone, rutin, caffeic acid, asparagine, and mixtures thereof, relative to untreated tobacco material. 25. The method of claim 14, further comprising: processing the harvested tobacco plant or portion thereof to provide a tobacco material in a form suitable for incorporation in a tobacco product; and incorporating the tobacco material into a smokeless tobacco product or a smoking article. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the smoking article, upon smoking, is characterized by a Hoffmann analyte content of mainstream smoke that is reduced relative to an untreated control smoking article.

Details for Patent 9,485,953

Applicant	Tradename	Biologic Ingredient	Dosage Form	BLA	Approval Date	Patent No.	Expiredate
Recordati Rare Diseases, Inc.	ELSPAR	asparaginase	For Injection	101063	01/10/1978		2039-02-26