Boosting Gene Editing Success in Plants with Special Proteins
This patent describes how to make genetic changes in plant cells much more successful by adding specific 'booster' proteins or their genetic instructions alongside the gene-editing tools.
Original patent title: “Methods for improving genome engineering and regeneration in plant”
This patent describes how to make genetic changes in plant cells much more successful by adding specific 'booster' proteins or their genetic instructions alongside the gene-editing tools. Granted to KWS SAAT SE and Co KGaA in 2024 with 36 claims and 1 forward citation, and it is expected to expire in 2039.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent details methods for significantly improving the success rate of genome engineering in plant cells. It achieves this by introducing specific 'booster polypeptides' (proteins) identified by amino acid sequences like SEQ ID NO: 2 or 48, or nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) that encode these boosters, into the plant cell. These boosters are delivered along with the desired new gene (transgene) or genome engineering components. For example, if a scientist wants to insert a gene for pest resistance into a corn plant cell, adding these booster proteins would make that insertion process much more efficient, leading to more successfully modified cells. The method can also include other helper polypeptides like PLETHORA 5 (PLT5) or PLETHORA 7 (PLT7) to further enhance the modification process.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover genome engineering or genetic modification in non-plant cells, such as animal or human cells.
- Does not cover genetic modification methods that do not use the specific booster polypeptides of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 48, or sequences at least 93% identical to them.
- Does not cover the genome engineering components themselves, only their use in combination with the specified booster polypeptides.
- Does not cover methods where the booster polypeptide or its encoding nucleic acid is not introduced into the plant cell.
- Does not cover genetic modification without the goal of increasing efficiency via these specific boosters.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever bit is the discovery that specific, identified polypeptides, when introduced into plant cells, act as powerful 'boosters' to dramatically increase the success rate of gene editing and the stable integration of new genes. This addresses a major challenge in plant biotechnology, where the efficiency of genetic modification has often been a limiting factor.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Genetically modified corn varieties
Drought-resistant soybean crops
Disease-resistant wheat strains
Plants with enhanced nutrient content
Agricultural biotechnology research and development
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Improving the efficiency of genetic modification in plants is crucial for developing new crop varieties more quickly and cost-effectively. This technology can help scientists create plants that are more resistant to diseases, pests, or harsh environmental conditions like drought, or plants with improved nutritional value. This directly impacts global food security, agricultural productivity, and the ability to adapt crops to changing climates.
Filed
June 14, 2019
Granted
July 23, 2024
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
KWS SAAT SE and Co KGaA, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is a major international plant breeding company actively working on crop improvement. Other companies in the agricultural biotechnology sector, such as Bayer Crop Science, Corteva Agriscience, and Syngenta, are also heavily invested in developing and applying advanced genome engineering techniques for creating new plant varieties.
Market impact
This patent helps accelerate the development of new genetically modified plant varieties by making the gene editing process more efficient. By reducing the time and cost associated with creating improved crops, it can lead to faster market introduction of plants with desirable traits like disease resistance or higher yields. This technology strengthens the capabilities of companies engaged in advanced plant genome engineering, potentially giving them a competitive edge in developing future agricultural products.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent details methods for significantly improving the success rate of genome engineering in plant cells. It achieves this by introducing specific 'booster polypeptides' (proteins) identified by amino acid sequences like SEQ ID NO: 2 or 48, or nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) that encode these boosters, into the plant cell. These boosters are delivered along with the desired new gene (transgene) or genome engineering components. For example, if a scientist wants to insert a gene for pest resistance into a corn plant cell, adding these booster proteins would make that insertion process much more efficient, leading to more successfully modified cells. The method can also include other helper polypeptides like PLETHORA 5 (PLT5) or PLETHORA 7 (PLT7) to further enhance the modification process.
The clever bit
The clever bit is the discovery that specific, identified polypeptides, when introduced into plant cells, act as powerful 'boosters' to dramatically increase the success rate of gene editing and the stable integration of new genes. This addresses a major challenge in plant biotechnology, where the efficiency of genetic modification has often been a limiting factor.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover genome engineering or genetic modification in non-plant cells, such as animal or human cells.
- Does not cover genetic modification methods that do not use the specific booster polypeptides of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 48, or sequences at least 93% identical to them.
- Does not cover the genome engineering components themselves, only their use in combination with the specified booster polypeptides.
- Does not cover methods where the booster polypeptide or its encoding nucleic acid is not introduced into the plant cell.
- Does not cover genetic modification without the goal of increasing efficiency via these specific boosters.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
6/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$216K – $691K
Midpoint $432K · 12.6 yr remaining · industry ×3.0
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
36 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Meng, L. (2024). Boosting Gene Editing Success in Plants with Special Proteins (U.S. Patent No. 12,043,837). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12043837/methods-for-improving-genome-engineering-and-regeneration-in-plant
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Boosting Gene Editing Success in Plants with Special Proteins cover?
This patent describes how to make genetic changes in plant cells much more successful by adding specific 'booster' proteins or their genetic instructions alongside the gene-editing tools.
Who owns patent US 12043837?
KWS SAAT SE and Co KGaA owns this patent, granted in 2024.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on June 14, 2039, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 12043837 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Improving the efficiency of genetic modification in plants is crucial for developing new crop varieties more quickly and cost-effectively. This technology can help scientists create plants that are more resistant to diseases, pests, or harsh environmental conditions like drought, or plants with improved nutritional value. This directly impacts global food security, agricultural productivity, and the ability to adapt crops to changing climates.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover genome engineering or genetic modification in non-plant cells, such as animal or human cells.
Patent monitoring