Key gene regulating plant cell wall recalcitrance

US9994998B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• UT-BATTELLE, LLC · US

Inventors

• Jay Chen · Houston, US
• Lee E. Gunter · Oak Ridge, US
• Sara Jawdy · Oak Ridge, US
• Wellington Muchero · Oak Ridge, US
• Gerald A. Tuskan · Oak Ridge, US
• Jianjun Guo · Sunnyvale, US
• Priya Ranjan · Knoxville, US
• Stephen Difazio · Morgantown, US
• Anthony Christian Bryan · Knoxville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 4, 2015
• Grant date: Jun 12, 2018
• Expiry date: Sep 30, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC D): Textiles; Paper
• CPC primary: D21H11/20
• WIPO field: Textile and paper machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

This disclosure provides plants having desirable levels of lignin synthesis, sugar release, S/G ratio, and resistance to stress and pathogens; methods of selecting plants with such desirable levels of lignin synthesis, sugar release, S/G ratio, and resistance to stress and pathogens; methods of genetically modifying plants to modulate lignin synthesis, sugar release, S/G ratio, and resistance to stress and pathogens; and uses of such plants. The inventors have determined that the expression and/or activity of POPTR_0014s08530, a gene encoding an Angustifolia/CtBP transcription factor, modulates lignin synthesis, sugar release, S/G ratio, and resistance to stress and pathogens in plants. Plants with lignin synthesis, sugar release, S/G ratio, and resistance to stress and pathogens, based on modulation of the expression or activity of the POPTR_0014s08530 gene, have divergent uses including pulp and paper production, and ethanol/biofuel production.