US 12,454,697 B2
Method of modulating the alkaloid content of a plant
Sara Ben Khaled, London (GB); and Francisco Anastacio De Abreu E Lima, London (GB)
Assigned to BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED, London (GB)
Appl. No. 17/309,153
Filed by BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED, London (GB)
PCT Filed Oct. 31, 2019, PCT No. PCT/GB2019/053101
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 30, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/089645, PCT Pub. Date May 7, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 1817971 (GB), filed on Nov. 2, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0002743 A1, Jan. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. C12N 15/82 (2006.01); A01H 6/82 (2018.01); A24B 15/16 (2020.01); C07K 14/41 (2006.01); C07K 14/415 (2006.01)
CPC C12N 15/8243 (2013.01) [A01H 6/823 (2018.05); A24B 15/16 (2013.01); C07K 14/415 (2013.01); C12Y 207/11001 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
 
1. A method of decreasing the alkaloid content and/or content of a tobacco specific nitrosamine (TSNA) or a precursor of a TSNA of a tobacco plant or a part thereof, the method comprising modifying said plant by increasing the expression of a protein kinase which:
a) comprises the amino acid sequence as set out in SEQ ID No. 3; or a sequence which has at least 95% identity to SEQ ID No. 3 and which comprises a protein kinase domain comprising amino acid residues 281-535 of SEQ ID No. 3; or
b) is encoded by the nucleotide sequence as set out in SEQ ID No. 1 or 2; or a nucleic acid sequence which has at least 95% identity to SEQ ID No. 1 or 2 and comprises a sequence encoding a protein kinase domain comprising amino acid residues 281-535 of SEQ ID No. 3,
wherein the content of one or more alkaloids selected from nicotine, anabasine, and anatabine is decreased,
wherein the alkaloid content and/or content of a tobacco specific nitrosamine (TSNA) or a precursor of a TSNA is decreased, and the expression of the protein kinase is increased, in comparison to a comparable plant or cell culture which has not been modified to increase the expression of the protein kinase.