Technologies Available for License

2013-036: Enhanced Plant Oil Accumulation through TGD5 Gene Mutation

Invention: 2013-036

Patent Status: U.S. Patent Number 9,850,291 was issued on December 26, 2017

For technical and licensing related questions, email tcp@bnl.gov.

Summary

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Figure: Growth and Developmental Phenotypes of tgd5 Mutants.

Plant oil in the form of triacylglycerols (TAGs) is a major storage compound used as sustainable feedstock for biofuel production. However, the competition between food and biofuel production presents a significant challenge in meeting the growing energy demands without compromising food security. Additionally, conventional biomass has a lower energy density that reduces the efficiency of bioelectricity generation and synthetic fuel production. To provide a solution to these issue, BNL researchers invented a novel gene encoding the transporter protein trigalactosyldiacylglycerol-5 (TGD5), along with its mutations, showed a significant enhancement in TAG production and its retention in plant vegetative tissue.

Description

This invention revolves around the discovery and manipulation of a novel transporter gene, TGD5, identified through forward genetic screening in model plant Arabidopsis. TGD5 encodes a small glycine-rich protein, and its inactivation in plants leads to a significant increase in fatty acid synthesis. When TGD5 is knocked out, plants showed a 3-fold increase in fatty acid synthesis rates, without negatively affecting total lipid content or plant viability. By coexpressing the phospholipid acyltransferase (PDAT) and oleosin genes in the TGD5-deficient background, the accumulation of TAG in vegetative tissues such as leaves and stems is drastically enhanced, reaching up to 8.5% of dry weight in leaves and 3.1% in stems. Importantly, this genetic modification does not hinder plant growth or seed germination.

Journal Publication & Intellectual Property

• US 9,850,291 B2 (.pdf)
• Arabidopsis TRIGALACTOSYLDIACYLGLYCEROL5 Interacts with TGD1, TGD2, and TGD4 to Facilitate Lipid Transfer from the Endoplasmic Reticulum to Plastids (.pdf)