# US 9,040,776 B2 · Genes regulating plant branching, promotors, genetic constructs containing same and uses thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,040,776 B2 - Document ID: US9040776B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/144,348 - Filed: 2009-11-27 - Published: 2012-01-19 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2009-01-13 - Assignees: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas - Applicants: Mar Martín Trillo; María Luisa Rodríguez Buey; Pilar Cubas Domínguez - Inventors: Mar Martín Trillo; María Luisa Rodríguez Buey; Pilar Cubas Domínguez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9040776B2 ## CPC - C12N 15/8261: {with agronomic (input) traits, e.g. crop yield} - C07K 14/415: from plants - C12N 15/8218: {Antisense, co-suppression, viral induced gene silencing [VIGS], post-transcriptional induced gene silencing [PTGS]} - C12N 15/8226: {Stem-specific, e.g. including tubers, beets} - 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 The invention relates to genes coding for TCP family transcription factors and having a biological role in the development of axillary buds and branch growth. Furthermore, the invention relates to the promoters of the transcription of said genes, to the genetic constructs containing same and to the uses thereof, including the use of agents that modulate the expression of these genes in order to modify plant architecture. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An isolated cDNA molecule capable of being translated into an amino acid sequence, said amino acid sequence comprising: a) a peptide having at least 95% identity with SEQ ID NO: 2, or b) the peptide having SEQ ID NO: 2; wherein said peptide maintains the function of suppressing the development of axillary buds and/or branch elongation in a plant. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An isolated cDNA molecule according to claim 1 operatively linked to a regulatory expression sequence of a gene of interest in the axillary meristem of a plant, wherein: a) the regulatory expression sequence comprises at least 95% identity with SEQ ID NO: 6, or b) the regulatory expression sequence is SEQ ID NO: 6. ### Claim 3 A vector comprising: (a) an isolated cDNA molecule capable of being translated into an amino acid sequence said amino acid sequence comprising: (i) a peptide having at least 95% identity with SEQ ID NO: 2, or (ii) the peptide having SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein said peptide maintains the function of suppressing the development of axillary buds and branch elongation; or (b) a regulatory expression sequence operatively linked to the cDNA molecule according to (a), wherein: (i) the regulatory expression sequence comprises at least 95% identity with SEQ ID NO: 6, or (ii) the regulatory expression sequence is SEQ ID NO: 6. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A plant, a seed, a plant cell, a part of the plant or a grain of pollen comprising the vector according to claim 3 (a) or (b). ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The plant, a seed, a plant cell, a part of the plant or a grain of pollen according to claim 4, which can be taxonomically classified as belonging to the species Solanum lycopersicum. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method to reduce the number of branches of a plant with respect to a control plant, comprising: a) transfecting the isolated cDNA molecule according to claim 1, or a vector that comprises said cDNA,molecule or a vector comprising a regulatory expression sequence operatively linked to said cDNA molecule, wherein the regulatory expression sequence comprises at least 95% identity with SEQ ID NO: 6, or the regulatory expression sequence is SEQ ID NO: 6, in a plant cell or culture of host plant cells, and (b) growing the transfected plant cell or culture of host plant cells in a suitable medium, until regenerating a complete plant. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein the transfected cell can be taxonomically classified as belonging to the species Solanum lycopersicum. ### Claim 8 A method for obtaining a plant having an increased number of branches with respect to a control plant comprising: (a) obtaining plant material from a plant (parent) which can be taxonomically classified as belonging to the species Solanum lycopersicum; (b) subjecting the plant material of step (a) to a mutagenesis process; (c) culturing the mutated plant material until regenerating a complete plant, and its descendants; (d) analysing the descendants of the plants of step (c) to detect at least one loss of function mutation in at least one copy of a polynucleotide encoding a peptide having at least 95% identity with SEQ ID NO: 2 or the peptide having SEQ ID NO: 2; (e) selecting the descendants of the mutated plant with said at least one mutation in at least one copy of said polynucleotide; and (f) optionally, culturing the plant selected to obtain further descendants with said at least one mutation.