# US 8,772,024 B2 · Yield enhancement in plants by modulation of a ZM-ZFP1 protein > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,772,024 B2 - Document ID: US8772024B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/241,473 - Filed: 2011-09-23 - Published: 2012-03-29 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-27 - Assignees: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. - Applicants: Guofu Li - Inventors: Guofu Li - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8772024B2 ## CPC - C12N 15/8261: {with agronomic (input) traits, e.g. crop yield} - C07K 14/415: from plants - Y02A 40/146: Genetically Modified [GMO] plants, e.g. transgenic plants - 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) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ## Abstract Compositions and methods for modulating plant development and for increasing yield in a plant are provided. The compositions include a ZM-ZFP1 sequence. Compositions of the disclosure comprise amino acid sequences and nucleotide sequences selected from SEQ ID NOS: 1 and 2 as well as variants and fragments thereof. Nucleotide sequences encoding the ZM-ZFP1 molecule are provided in DNA constructs for expression in a plant of interest are provided for modulating the level of a ZM-ZFP1 sequence in a plant or a plant part are provided. The methods comprise introducing into a plant or plant part a heterologous polynucleotide comprising a ZM-ZFP1 sequence of the disclosure. The level of the ZM-ZFP1 polypeptide can be increased or decreased. Such method can be used to increase the yield in plants; in one embodiment, the method is used to increase grain yield in cereals. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 linked to a heterologous promoter; (b) a nucleotide sequence linked to a heterologous promoter, where the nucleotide sequence encodes the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 27; and (c) a nucleotide sequence linked to a heterologous promoter, wherein the nucleotide sequence encodes polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein said nucleotide sequence encodes a polypeptide having ZM-ZFP1 (Zea mays-zinc finger protein 1), activity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An expression cassette comprising the polynucleotide of claim 1. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The expression cassette of claim 2, wherein said polynucleotide is operably linked to a promoter that drives expression in a plant. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The expression cassette of claim 3, wherein said promoter is a constitutive promoter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A plant comprising the expression cassette of claim 3. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The plant of claim 5, wherein said plant is a monocot. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The plant of claim 6, wherein said monocot is maize, wheat, rice, barley, sorghum or rye. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The plant of claim 7, wherein said monocot is rice. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The plant of claim 7, wherein said monocot is maize. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The plant of claim 5, wherein said plant has an increased level of a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2; and (b) a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2 wherein said polypeptide has ZM-ZFP1 protein activity. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The plant of claim 5, wherein said plant has a phenotype selected from the group consisting of: (a) an increased total seed number; and (b) an increased total seed weight. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) A method of increasing the level of a polypeptide in a plant comprising introducing into said plant the expression cassette of claim 3. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the yield of the plant is increased. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein increasing the level of said polypeptide produces a phenotype in the plant selected from the group consisting of: (a) an increase in plant growth rate (b) an increased total seed number; and (c) an increased total seed weight. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein said expression cassette is stably integrated into the genome of the plant. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein said plant is a monocot. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein said monocot is maize, wheat, rice, barley, sorghum or rye. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein said monocot is rice. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein said monocot is maize. ### Claim 20 A method of increasing yield in a plant comprising increasing expression of a ZM-ZFP1 polypeptide in said plant by transformation of said plant, wherein said ZM-ZFP1 polypeptide has ZM-ZFP1 protein activity and is selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 2; and (b) a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein said polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, comprising introducing into said plant an expression cassette comprising a polynucleotide encoding said ZM-ZFP1 polypeptide operably linked to a promoter that drives expression in a plant cell, wherein said polynucleotide comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1; (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2; and (c) a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2 wherein said polypeptide has ZM-ZFP1 protein activity. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, comprising: (a) transforming a plant cell with said expression cassette; and (b) regenerating a transformed plant from the transformed plant cell of step (a). ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein said expression cassette is stably incorporated into the genome of the plant. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein said promoter is constitutive promoter or a seed-preferred promoter.