# US 11,898,151 B2 · Obtaining plants having improved biomass digestibility

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- Number: US 11,898,151 B2
- Document ID: US11898151B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/427,992
- Filed: 2020-02-07
- Published: 2022-04-21
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2019-02-08
- Assignees: Institut National De Recherche Pour L'agriculture, L'alimentation Et L'environnement
- Applicants: Institut National de Recherche Pour l'Agriculture, L'Alimentation et L'Environnement
- Inventors: Christine Horlow; Marie-Hélène Durand-Tardif; Gregory Mouille; Peter Rogowsky
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11898151B2

## CPC

- C12N 15/8255: {involving lignin biosynthesis}
- C12N 15/01: Preparation of mutants without inserting foreign genetic material therein; Screening processes therefor
- Y02E 50/10: Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a plant obtained by mutagenesis, such that the expression and/or the activity of the ESK1 protein and the expression and/or the activity of the TPS7 protein are diminished compared to a non-mutagenated plant. Said plant with biomass that has better digestibility maintains satisfactory growth. A further aim of the present invention is a method for preparing said plant, as well as the use of said plant for the production of biofuel.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A plant obtained by a mutagenesis method comprising
decreasing the expression and/or the activity
of the protein designated ESK1 and
of the protein designated TPS7,
in said plant, as compared to a non-mutagenized parent plant, and the decrease in the expression and/or the activity of the ESK1 and TPS7 proteins is achieved by introducing at least one mutation in each of the genes encoding the ESK1 and TPS7 proteins in said plant, and such that:
the non-mutagenized ESK1 protein has at least 50% identity with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 and comprising the acyl esterase and transmembrane domains, and
the non-mutagenized TPS7 protein has at least 60% identity with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 2 and comprising the TPS and TPP domains.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The plant according to claim 1, wherein the decrease in the expression and/or the activity of the KAK protein, as compared to a non-mutagenized parent plant, is achieved by introducing at least one mutation in the gene encoding the KAK protein, and such that the non-mutagenized KAK protein has at least 60% identity with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 3 and comprising the armadillo replicates and a HECT domain.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The plant according to claim 1, wherein the decrease in the expression and/or the activity of the TPS6 protein, as compared to a non-mutagenized parent plant, is achieved by introducing at least one mutation in the gene encoding the TPS6 protein, and such that the non-mutagenized TPS6 protein has at least 60% identity with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 6S and comprises the TPS and TPP domains.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method for preparing a plant according to claim 1 with improved digestibility comprising the steps of mutagenesis of the genes encoding the proteins designated ESK1 and TPS7.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method according to claim 4, comprising an additional step of mutagenesis of the gene encoding the protein designated KAK.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method according to claim 4, comprising an additional step of mutagenesis of the gene encoding the protein designated TPS6.

### Claim 7

A method for increasing the growth of a plant carrying the esk1 mutation, comprising a step of genetically modifying said plant to decrease the expression and/or the activity of the protein designated TPS7.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method for increasing the growth of a plant carrying the esk1 mutation according to claim 7, comprising an additional step of genetically modifying said plant to decrease the expression and/or the activity of the protein designated KAK.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method for increasing the growth of a plant carrying the esk1 mutation according to claim 7, comprising an additional step of genetically modifying said plant to decrease the expression and/or the activity of the protein designated TPS6.