P-coumaroyl-CoA:monolignol transferase

US10428342B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY · US
• Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation · US
• The Board of Trustees of Illinois State University · US

Inventors

• Curtis Wilkerson · Swartz Creek, US
• John Ralph · Madison, US
• Saunia Withers · Durham, US
• John C. Sedbrook · Bloomington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 14, 2012
• Grant date: Oct 1, 2019
• Expiry date: Feb 4, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12N2310/14
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention relates to nucleic acids encoding a p-coumaroyl-CoA:monolignol transferase and to inhibitory nucleic acids adapted to inhibit the expression and/or translation of a p-coumaroyl-CoA:monolignol transferase RNA. Inhibition of p-coumaroyl-CoA:monolignol transferase in plants improves the incorporation of monolignol ferulates into the lignin of plants, giving rise to plant biomass that is more easily processed into useful products such as paper and biofuels.