# US 2014/0154732 A1 · Suppression of tla1 gene expression for improved photosynthetic productivity

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- Number: US 2014/0154732 A1
- Document ID: US20140154732A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/173,678
- Filed: 2014-02-05
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2006-06-12
- Assignees: The Regents of the University of California
- Applicants: The Regents of the University of California
- Inventors: Anastasios MELIS; Mautusi MITRA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154732A1

## CPC

- C12N 15/113: Non-coding nucleic acids modulating the expression of genes, e.g. antisense oligonucleotides; {Antisense DNA or RNA; Triplex- forming oligonucleotides; Catalytic nucleic acids, e.g. ribozymes; Nucleic acids used in co-suppression or gene silencing (when used in plants C12N15/8218)}
- C07K 14/415: from plants
- C12N 15/825: {involving pigment biosynthesis}
- C12N 15/8269: {Photosynthesis}
- C12N 15/8271: {for stress resistance, e.g. heavy metal resistance}
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)
- C07K: PEPTIDES (peptides in foodstuffs A23; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs, working-up proteins for foodstuffs A23J; preparations for medicinal purposes A61K; peptides containing beta-lactam rings C07D; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, C07D; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type C07D519/02; macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units in their molecules, i.e. when the preparation does not provide for a specific; but for a random sequence of the amino acid units, homopolyamides and block copolyamides derived from amino acids C08G69/00; macromolecular products derived from proteins C08H1/00; preparation of glue or gelatine C09H; single cell proteins, enzymes C12N; genetic engineering processes for obtaining peptides C12N15/00; compositions for measuring or testing processes involving enzymes C12Q; investigation or analysis of biological material G01N33/00)

## Abstract

The invention provides method and compositions to minimize the chlorophyll antenna size of photosynthesis by decreasing TLA1 gene expression, thereby improving solar conversion efficiencies and photosynthetic productivity in plants, e.g., green microalgae, under bright sunlight conditions.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of decreasing chlorophyll antenna size in a plant, the method comprising:
inhibiting expression of a Tla1 nucleic acid in a plant by introducing into the plant an expression cassette comprising a promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide, or a complement thereof, that specifically hybridizes to a nucleic acid that is at least 70% identical to at least 200 contiguous nucleotides of the Tla1 nucleic acid; and
selecting a plant with decreased chlorophyll antenna size compared to a plant in which the expression cassette has not been introduced.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the promoter is constitutive.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the promoter is inducible.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the polynucleotide is operably linked to the promoter in the antisense orientation.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the polynucleotide is operably linked to the promoter in the sense orientation.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the plant is green algae.

### Claim 7

A plant comprising an expression cassette comprising a polynucleotide, or a complement thereof, that specifically hybridizes to a nucleic acid that is at least 70% highest percent identity to at least 200 contiguous nucleotides of a Tla1 nucleic acid.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The plant of claim 7, wherein the plant is green algae.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

A method of enhancing yields of photosynthetic productivity under high-density growth conditions, the method comprising cultivating a plant of claim 7 under bright sunlight and high density growth conditions.

### Claim 10

A method of enhancing production of a compound of interest, the method comprising suppressing Tla1 gene expression in a plant; and cultivating the plant under conditions in which the compound is produced.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the plant is green algae.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the compound is H2, biodiesel, Beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, or astaxanthinproduction production, the method comprising suppressing Tla1 gene expression in a plante to be used for H2 production; and cultivating the plant under conditions in which H2 is produced.