Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Response to Previous Communication
In response to the restriction requirement mailed on 06/30/2026, the Applicant’s attorney, Jeremy Jay, elects Group 1 (i.e. Claims 1-3) without traversal which was filed on 08/26/2026. Applicant further elects the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs:1-2 without traversal.
Priority
This application claims priority to foreign application CN202210316331.0 on 03/29/2022.
Status of the Claims
Claims 1-12, 14, and 17-23 are pending.
Claims 4-12, 14, and 17-23 are withdrawn from consideration for being directed to non-elected invention(s).
Claims 1-3 are examined herein.
Information Disclosure Statement
The specification contains references throughout the document (see paragraphs 11, 35 and 87 for examples) that are not listed on a proper IDS. Unless the references are in the IDS documents filed on 06/15/2026, 02/04/2026, 10/23/2024 or on the PTO-892 form, the references have not been considered.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because it contains an embedded hyperlink and/or other form of browser-executable code. Applicant is required to delete the embedded hyperlink and/or other form of browser-executable code; references to websites should be limited to the top-level domain name without any prefix such as http:// or other browser-executable code. See MPEP §608.01. For example, the specification contains links in paragraphs 2 and 50.
Drawings
Plants do not appear to be labeled in figures 10, 12, and 14 and the labels in the photos are illegible.
Claim Interpretation
Claims 1-3 are drawn to Protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase (PPO) polypeptides or bioactive fragments which have a mutation corresponding to the 422 position of SEQ ID NO: 1 which generates SEQ ID NO: 2 and is shown below with the mutation site highlighted.
Paragraph 67 defines the "bioactive fragment" which refers to a portion of the mutant protein of the present invention which retains the biological activity of the mutant protein of the present invention. For example, a bioactive fragment of a mutant protein may be a portion that has one or more (e.g., 1-50, 1-25, 1-10 or 1-5; e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5) amino acid residues deleted from the N- and/or C-terminus of the protein while still retaining the biological activity of the full-length protein.
Query SEQ ID NO:1
Sbjct SEQ ID NO:2
Query 1 MLSPATTFSSSSSSSSPSRAHARAPTRFAVAASARAARFRPARAMAASDDPRGGRSVAVV 60
MLSPATTFSSSSSSSSPSRAHARAPTRFAVAASARAARFRPARAMAASDDPRGGRSVAVV
Sbjct 1 MLSPATTFSSSSSSSSPSRAHARAPTRFAVAASARAARFRPARAMAASDDPRGGRSVAVV 60
Query 61 GAGVSGLAAAYRLRKRGVQVTVFEAADRAGGKIRTNSEGGFIWDEGANTMTESELEASRL 120
GAGVSGLAAAYRLRKRGVQVTVFEAADRAGGKIRTNSEGGFIWDEGANTMTESELEASRL
Sbjct 61 GAGVSGLAAAYRLRKRGVQVTVFEAADRAGGKIRTNSEGGFIWDEGANTMTESELEASRL 120
Query 121 IDDLGLQGKQQYPNSQHKRYIVKDGAPTLIPSDPIALMKSTVLSTKSKLKLFLEPFLYEK 180
IDDLGLQGKQQYPNSQHKRYIVKDGAPTLIPSDPIALMKSTVLSTKSKLKLFLEPFLYEK
Sbjct 121 IDDLGLQGKQQYPNSQHKRYIVKDGAPTLIPSDPIALMKSTVLSTKSKLKLFLEPFLYEK 180
Query 181 SSRRTSGKVSDEHLSESVASFFERHFGKEVVDYLIDPFVAGTSGGDPESLSIRHAFPALW 240
SSRRTSGKVSDEHLSESVASFFERHFGKEVVDYLIDPFVAGTSGGDPESLSIRHAFPALW
Sbjct 181 SSRRTSGKVSDEHLSESVASFFERHFGKEVVDYLIDPFVAGTSGGDPESLSIRHAFPALW 240
Query 241 NLENKYGSVIAGAILSKLSTKGDSVKTGGASPGKGRNKRVSFSFHGGMQSLIDALHNEVG 300
NLENKYGSVIAGAILSKLSTKGDSVKTGGASPGKGRNKRVSFSFHGGMQSLIDALHNEVG
Sbjct 241 NLENKYGSVIAGAILSKLSTKGDSVKTGGASPGKGRNKRVSFSFHGGMQSLIDALHNEVG 300
Query 301 DGNVKLGTEVLSLACCCDGVSSSGGWSISVDSKDAKGKDLRKNQSFDAVIMTAPLSNVQR 360
DGNVKLGTEVLSLACCCDGVSSSGGWSISVDSKDAKGKDLRKNQSFDAVIMTAPLSNVQR
Sbjct 301 DGNVKLGTEVLSLACCCDGVSSSGGWSISVDSKDAKGKDLRKNQSFDAVIMTAPLSNVQR 360
Query 361 MKFTKGGVPFVLDFLPKVDYLPLSLMVTAFKKEDVKKPLEGFGALIPYKEQQKHGLKTLG 420
MKFTKGGVPFVLDFLPKVDYLPLSLMVTAFKKEDVKKPLEGFGALIPYKEQQKHGLKTLG
Sbjct 361 MKFTKGGVPFVLDFLPKVDYLPLSLMVTAFKKEDVKKPLEGFGALIPYKEQQKHGLKTLG 420
Query 421 TLFSSMMFPDRAPNDQYLYTSFIGGSHNRDLAGAPTAILKQLVTSDLRKLLGVEGQPTFV 480
T+FSSMMFPDRAPNDQYLYTSFIGGSHNRDLAGAPTAILKQLVTSDLRKLLGVEGQPTFV
Sbjct 421 TMFSSMMFPDRAPNDQYLYTSFIGGSHNRDLAGAPTAILKQLVTSDLRKLLGVEGQPTFV 480
Query 481 KHVHWRNAFPLYGQNYDLVLEAIA KMENNLPGFFYAGNNKDGLAVGNVIASGSKAADLVI 540
KHVHWRNAFPLYGQNYDLVLEAIA KMENNLPGFFYAGNNKDGLAVGNVIASGSKAADLVI
Sbjct 481 KHVHWRNAFPLYGQNYDLVLEAIA KMENNLPGFFYAGNNKDGLAVGNVIASGSKAADLVI 540
Query 541 SYLESCTDQDN 551
SYLESCTDQDN
Sbjct 541 SYLESCTDQDN 551
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because the terms “PPO2” and “PPO” in line 1 are undefined.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Written Description
Claims 1-3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
The Federal Circuit has clarified the written description requirement. The court stated that a written description of an invention "requires a precise definition, such as by structure, formula, [or] chemical name, of the claimed subject matter sufficient to distinguish it from other materials". University of California v. Eli Lilly and Co., 119 F.3d 1559, 1568; 43 USPQ2d 1398, 1406 (Fed. Cir. 1997). The court also concluded that "naming a type of material generally known to exist, in the absence of knowledge as to what that material consists of, is not description of that material". Id. Further, the court held that to adequately describe a claimed genus, Patent Owner must describe a representative number of the species of the claimed genus, and that one of skill in the art should be able to "visualize or recognize the identity of the members of the genus".
The claims are broadly drawn to PPO2 polypeptides which are tolerant to PPO inhibitors with a Leu to Met mutation corresponding to position 422 of SEQ ID NO:1 as well as all bioactive fragments and sequences with 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1 and 92% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:2.
Applicant describes:
PPO-defective E. coli (ΔhemG) transformants transformed with the wild-type OsPP02 gene are unable to grow in compound A (i.e. a PPO inhibitor) but could grow when expressing the OsPP02 protein which contained the L422M mutation. The resistance could further be improved with the F442M mutation.
Similar results were shown in Arabidopsis thaliana, rice, maize, and soybean plants overexpressing the OsPP02 protein with the L422M and F442M.
Mutating the equivalent L422 and F442 position in the maize and soybean PPO1 protein also conveyed resistance in E. coli.
Applicant does not describe:
Any bioactive fragment of SEQ ID NOs:1-2.
All possible polypeptide sequences with the equivalent L442M mutation with 80% sequence similarity to SEQ ID NO:1 or 92% similarity to SEQ ID NO:2.
Claims 1-3 encompass a vast genus of polypeptide sequences. With the exception of sequences in the specification, the Applicants have failed to provide working examples of all possible claimed PPO2 polypeptides with the L to M amino acid mutation at the position corresponding to position 422 in SEQ ID NO:1 or bioactive fragments. Blasting SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2 to NCBI BLAST® yielded many hypothetical or unnamed proteins (see below) indicating one of ordinary skill in the art may not know if any given protein with 80 or 92% similarity to SEQ ID NOs: 1-2 is a PPO2 protein. Additionally, the Applicant has not described and reduced to practice a genus of proteins with all possible amino acid sequences with 80 or 92% sequences similarity to SEQ ID NOs:1 and 2. This would require describing a genus of proteins with all possible single amino acid substitutions relative to the 551 amino acid long polypeptides of SEQ ID NOs:1-2 and reducing to practice 20551 amino acid sequences. Protein consisting of a sequence 80% identical to SEQ ID NO:1 would have up to ~110 random amino acid substitutions relative to SEQ ID NO: 1 while protein consisting of a sequence 92% identical to SEQ ID NO:2 would have up to ~44 random amino acid substitutions relative to SEQ ID NO: 2. Accordingly 44 x 20551 to 110 x 20551 amino acid sequences would need to be described and reduced to practice, most of which were not in Applicants’ possession at the time of filing. The instant Specification fails to provide guidance for which exact nucleotides could be modified so the PPO enzyme retains its function. More importantly, all bioactive fragment sequences are also not described and could be interpreted to mean any number, type, and length of sequence(s).
PNG
media_image1.png
1017
1232
media_image1.png
Greyscale
NCBI BLAST® of SEQ ID NO: 1
PNG
media_image2.png
976
1230
media_image2.png
Greyscale
NCBI BLAST® of SEQ ID NO: 2
There is no little description in the specification as to what amino acids can be removed to generate a bioactive fragment. The specification does describe deleting up to 50 amino acid sequences from the C and/or N terminals of the Sequence (see claim interpretation). However, Koch, Michael, et al. "Crystal structure of protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase: a key enzyme in haem and chlorophyll biosynthesis." The EMBO journal 23.8 (2004): 1720 teaches this enzyme requires a FAD cofactor in the abstract and page 1 paragraph 3. Figure 2B describes that amino acids that come into contact with the FAD are located within 50 amino acids of the C and N terminals (and indicated with red/orange arrows), while the Figure 3A shows the 3-dimentional structure of PPO and the how the C and N terminals make up the FAD binding domain which is also demonstrated in supplementary Figure 1.
All possible sequences or bioactive fragments with 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 or 92% identity to SEQ ID NO:2 which are still tolerant to a PPO inhibitor were not described. Additionally, proteins with greater than 80 or 92% similarity remain unnamed, indicating one of ordinary skill in the art may not know if a protein was a PPO2 enzyme. Therefore, given the lack of written description in the instant disclosure with regard to the structural and functional characteristics of the claimed compositions, Applicant does not appear to have been in possession of the claimed genus at the time this application was filed.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-3 directed to PPO2 polypeptides which are tolerant to PPO inhibitors with a mutation corresponding to the L422M mutation in SEQ ID NO:1 as well as all bioactive fragments and sequences with 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1 and 92% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:2 are rejected as being anticipated under 35 U.S.C. § 102 over US 2021/0002662 Al (Aponte) (see IDS filed 10/23/2024).
Aponte is also directed to method for controlling undesired vegetation at a plant cultivation site and a plant that comprises at least one nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) which is resistant or tolerant to a PPO-inhibiting herbicide (see abstract). Paragraphs 35 and 37 teach a herbicide resistant or tolerant PPO polypeptide (i.e. PPO2 of Claim 1) that comprises a motif with the sequence comprising TLGTLFSS, where the Leu at position 5 within said motif is substituted by any other amino acid, and specifically lists methionine in paragraph 1795. The leucine at this position corresponds to position 422 in the amino acid sequence in instant SEQ ID NO:1 and is highlighted below.
Query: Applicant’s SEQ ID NO:1
Sbjct: Applicant’s SEQ ID NO:2
Query 1 MLSPATTFSSSSSSSSPSRAHARAPTRFAVAASARAARFRPARAMAASDDPRGGRSVAVV 60
MLSPATTFSSSSSSSSPSRAHARAPTRFAVAASARAARFRPARAMAASDDPRGGRSVAVV
Sbjct 1 MLSPATTFSSSSSSSSPSRAHARAPTRFAVAASARAARFRPARAMAASDDPRGGRSVAVV 60
Query 61 GAGVSGLAAAYRLRKRGVQVTVFEAADRAGGKIRTNSEGGFIWDEGANTMTESELEASRL 120
GAGVSGLAAAYRLRKRGVQVTVFEAADRAGGKIRTNSEGGFIWDEGANTMTESELEASRL
Sbjct 61 GAGVSGLAAAYRLRKRGVQVTVFEAADRAGGKIRTNSEGGFIWDEGANTMTESELEASRL 120
Query 121 IDDLGLQGKQQYPNSQHKRYIVKDGAPTLIPSDPIALMKSTVLSTKSKLKLFLEPFLYEK 180
IDDLGLQGKQQYPNSQHKRYIVKDGAPTLIPSDPIALMKSTVLSTKSKLKLFLEPFLYEK
Sbjct 121 IDDLGLQGKQQYPNSQHKRYIVKDGAPTLIPSDPIALMKSTVLSTKSKLKLFLEPFLYEK 180
Query 181 SSRRTSGKVSDEHLSESVASFFERHFGKEVVDYLIDPFVAGTSGGDPESLSIRHAFPALW 240
SSRRTSGKVSDEHLSESVASFFERHFGKEVVDYLIDPFVAGTSGGDPESLSIRHAFPALW
Sbjct 181 SSRRTSGKVSDEHLSESVASFFERHFGKEVVDYLIDPFVAGTSGGDPESLSIRHAFPALW 240
Query 241 NLENKYGSVIAGAILSKLSTKGDSVKTGGASPGKGRNKRVSFSFHGGMQSLIDALHNEVG 300
NLENKYGSVIAGAILSKLSTKGDSVKTGGASPGKGRNKRVSFSFHGGMQSLIDALHNEVG
Sbjct 241 NLENKYGSVIAGAILSKLSTKGDSVKTGGASPGKGRNKRVSFSFHGGMQSLIDALHNEVG 300
Query 301 DGNVKLGTEVLSLACCCDGVSSSGGWSISVDSKDAKGKDLRKNQSFDAVIMTAPLSNVQR 360
DGNVKLGTEVLSLACCCDGVSSSGGWSISVDSKDAKGKDLRKNQSFDAVIMTAPLSNVQR
Sbjct 301 DGNVKLGTEVLSLACCCDGVSSSGGWSISVDSKDAKGKDLRKNQSFDAVIMTAPLSNVQR 360
Query 361 MKFTKGGVPFVLDFLPKVDYLPLSLMVTAFKKEDVKKPLEGFGALIPYKEQQKHGLKTLG 420
MKFTKGGVPFVLDFLPKVDYLPLSLMVTAFKKEDVKKPLEGFGALIPYKEQQKHGLKTLG
Sbjct 361 MKFTKGGVPFVLDFLPKVDYLPLSLMVTAFKKEDVKKPLEGFGALIPYKEQQKHGLKTLG 420
Query 421 TLFSSMMFPDRAPNDQYLYTSFIGGSHNRDLAGAPTAILKQLVTSDLRKLLGVEGQPTFV 480
T+FSSMMFPDRAPNDQYLYTSFIGGSHNRDLAGAPTAILKQLVTSDLRKLLGVEGQPTFV
Sbjct 421 TMFSSMMFPDRAPNDQYLYTSFIGGSHNRDLAGAPTAILKQLVTSDLRKLLGVEGQPTFV 480
Query 481 KHVHWRNAFPLYGQNYDLVLEAIA KMENNLPGFFYAGNNKDGLAVGNVIASGSKAADLVI 540
KHVHWRNAFPLYGQNYDLVLEAIA KMENNLPGFFYAGNNKDGLAVGNVIASGSKAADLVI
Sbjct 481 KHVHWRNAFPLYGQNYDLVLEAIA KMENNLPGFFYAGNNKDGLAVGNVIASGSKAADLVI 540
Query 541 SYLESCTDQDN 551
SYLESCTDQDN
Sbjct 541 SYLESCTDQDN 551
Among the homologues, orthologues and paralogues of PPO polypeptides taught and claimed by Aponte is the OsPPO2 protein (i.e. SEQ ID NO: 637) as well as a L422F mutation (i.e. SEQ ID NO: 634) and was disclosed in paragraphs 39, 1852, and claims 1-2. Alignments of these sequences to Applicant’s SEQ ID NOs:1-2 are below. Furthermore, claim 3 of Aponte also recites the OsPPO2 protein (i.e. SEQ ID NO: 637) which comprises the amino acid corresponding to Leu400 of Aponte’s SEQ ID NO: 1 is substituted by any other amino acid which corresponds to Applicant’s L442 position (see alignment below between applicant’s SEQ ID NO:1 and Aponte’s SEQ ID NO:1). Because Aponte teaches a protein sequence with 100% identity to applicant’s SEQ ID NO:1, mutations at the position corresponding to Applicant’s L442 position, and specifically recites Met in paragraph 1795, Aponte teaches the limitations of Claims 2-3.
Query: Applicant’s SEQ ID NO:1
Sbjct: Aponte’s SEQ ID NO:637
Query 1 MLSPATTFSSSSSSSSPSRAHARAPTRFAVAASARAARFRPARAMAASDDPRGGRSVAVV 60
MLSPATTFSSSSSSSSPSRAHARAPTRFAVAASARAARFRPARAMAASDDPRGGRSVAVV
Sbjct 1 MLSPATTFSSSSSSSSPSRAHARAPTRFAVAASARAARFRPARAMAASDDPRGGRSVAVV 60
Query 61 GAGVSGLAAAYRLRKRGVQVTVFEAADRAGGKIRTNSEGGFIWDEGANTMTESELEASRL 120
GAGVSGLAAAYRLRKRGVQVTVFEAADRAGGKIRTNSEGGFIWDEGANTMTESELEASRL
Sbjct 61 GAGVSGLAAAYRLRKRGVQVTVFEAADRAGGKIRTNSEGGFIWDEGANTMTESELEASRL 120
Query 121 IDDLGLQGKQQYPNSQHKRYIVKDGAPTLIPSDPIALMKSTVLSTKSKLKLFLEPFLYEK 180
IDDLGLQGKQQYPNSQHKRYIVKDGAPTLIPSDPIALMKSTVLSTKSKLKLFLEPFLYEK
Sbjct 121 IDDLGLQGKQQYPNSQHKRYIVKDGAPTLIPSDPIALMKSTVLSTKSKLKLFLEPFLYEK 180
Query 181 SSRRTSGKVSDEHLSESVASFFERHFGKEVVDYLIDPFVAGTSGGDPESLSIRHAFPALW 240
SSRRTSGKVSDEHLSESVASFFERHFGKEVVDYLIDPFVAGTSGGDPESLSIRHAFPALW
Sbjct 181 SSRRTSGKVSDEHLSESVASFFERHFGKEVVDYLIDPFVAGTSGGDPESLSIRHAFPALW 240
Query 241 NLENKYGSVIAGAILSKLSTKGDSVKTGGASPGKGRNKRVSFSFHGGMQSLIDALHNEVG 300
NLENKYGSVIAGAILSKLSTKGDSVKTGGASPGKGRNKRVSFSFHGGMQSLIDALHNEVG
Sbjct 241 NLENKYGSVIAGAILSKLSTKGDSVKTGGASPGKGRNKRVSFSFHGGMQSLIDALHNEVG 300
Query 301 DGNVKLGTEVLSLACCCDGVSSSGGWSISVDSKDAKGKDLRKNQSFDAVIMTAPLSNVQR 360
DGNVKLGTEVLSLACCCDGVSSSGGWSISVDSKDAKGKDLRKNQSFDAVIMTAPLSNVQR
Sbjct 301 DGNVKLGTEVLSLACCCDGVSSSGGWSISVDSKDAKGKDLRKNQSFDAVIMTAPLSNVQR 360
Query 361 MKFTKGGVPFVLDFLPKVDYLPLSLMVTAFKKEDVKKPLEGFGALIPYKEQQKHGLKTLG 420
MKFTKGGVPFVLDFLPKVDYLPLSLMVTAFKKEDVKKPLEGFGALIPYKEQQKHGLKTLG
Sbjct 361 MKFTKGGVPFVLDFLPKVDYLPLSLMVTAFKKEDVKKPLEGFGALIPYKEQQKHGLKTLG 420
Query 421 TLFSSMMFPDRAPNDQYLYTSFIGGSHNRDLAGAPTAILKQLVTSDLRKLLGVEGQPTFV 480
TLFSSMMFPDRAPNDQYLYTSFIGGSHNRDLAGAPTAILKQLVTSDLRKLLGVEGQPTFV
Sbjct 421 TLFSSMMFPDRAPNDQYLYTSFIGGSHNRDLAGAPTAILKQLVTSDLRKLLGVEGQPTFV 480
Query 481 KHVHWRNAFPLYGQNYDLVLEAIA KMENNLPGFFYAGNNKDGLAVGNVIASGSKAADLVI 540
KHVHWRNAFPLYGQNYDLVLEAIA KMENNLPGFFYAGNNKDGLAVGNVIASGSKAADLVI
Sbjct 481 KHVHWRNAFPLYGQNYDLVLEAIA KMENNLPGFFYAGNNKDGLAVGNVIASGSKAADLVI 540
Query 541 SYLESCTDQDN 551
SYLESCTDQDN
Sbjct 541 SYLESCTDQDN 551
core
Expect
Method
Identities
Positives
Gaps
1128 bits(2917)
0.0
Compositional matrix adjust.
550/551(99%)
550/551(99%)
0/551(0%)
Query: Applicant’s SEQ ID NO:2
Sbjct: Aponte’s SEQ ID NO:634
Query 1 MLSPATTFSSSSSSSSPSRAHARAPTRFAVAASARAARFRPARAMAASDDPRGGRSVAVV 60
MLSPATTFSSSSSSSSPSRAHARAPTRFAVAASARAARFRPARAMAASDDPRGGRSVAVV
Sbjct 1 MLSPATTFSSSSSSSSPSRAHARAPTRFAVAASARAARFRPARAMAASDDPRGGRSVAVV 60
Query 61 GAGVSGLAAAYRLRKRGVQVTVFEAADRAGGKIRTNSEGGFIWDEGANTMTESELEASRL 120
GAGVSGLAAAYRLRKRGVQVTVFEAADRAGGKIRTNSEGGFIWDEGANTMTESELEASRL
Sbjct 61 GAGVSGLAAAYRLRKRGVQVTVFEAADRAGGKIRTNSEGGFIWDEGANTMTESELEASRL 120
Query 121 IDDLGLQGKQQYPNSQHKRYIVKDGAPTLIPSDPIALMKSTVLSTKSKLKLFLEPFLYEK 180
IDDLGLQGKQQYPNSQHKRYIVKDGAPTLIPSDPIALMKSTVLSTKSKLKLFLEPFLYEK
Sbjct 121 IDDLGLQGKQQYPNSQHKRYIVKDGAPTLIPSDPIALMKSTVLSTKSKLKLFLEPFLYEK 180
Query 181 SSRRTSGKVSDEHLSESVASFFERHFGKEVVDYLIDPFVAGTSGGDPESLSIRHAFPALW 240
SSRRTSGKVSDEHLSESVASFFERHFGKEVVDYLIDPFVAGTSGGDPESLSIRHAFPALW
Sbjct 181 SSRRTSGKVSDEHLSESVASFFERHFGKEVVDYLIDPFVAGTSGGDPESLSIRHAFPALW 240
Query 241 NLENKYGSVIAGAILSKLSTKGDSVKTGGASPGKGRNKRVSFSFHGGMQSLIDALHNEVG 300
NLENKYGSVIAGAILSKLSTKGDSVKTGGASPGKGRNKRVSFSFHGGMQSLIDALHNEVG
Sbjct 241 NLENKYGSVIAGAILSKLSTKGDSVKTGGASPGKGRNKRVSFSFHGGMQSLIDALHNEVG 300
Query 301 DGNVKLGTEVLSLACCCDGVSSSGGWSISVDSKDAKGKDLRKNQSFDAVIMTAPLSNVQR 360
DGNVKLGTEVLSLACCCDGVSSSGGWSISVDSKDAKGKDLRKNQSFDAVIMTAPLSNVQR
Sbjct 301 DGNVKLGTEVLSLACCCDGVSSSGGWSISVDSKDAKGKDLRKNQSFDAVIMTAPLSNVQR 360
Query 361 MKFTKGGVPFVLDFLPKVDYLPLSLMVTAFKKEDVKKPLEGFGALIPYKEQQKHGLKTLG 420
MKFTKGGVPFVLDFLPKVDYLPLSLMVTAFKKEDVKKPLEGFGALIPYKEQQKHGLKTLG
Sbjct 361 MKFTKGGVPFVLDFLPKVDYLPLSLMVTAFKKEDVKKPLEGFGALIPYKEQQKHGLKTLG 420
Query 421 TMFSSMMFPDRAPNDQYLYTSFIGGSHNRDLAGAPTAILKQLVTSDLRKLLGVEGQPTFV 480
T FSSMMFPDRAPNDQYLYTSFIGGSHNRDLAGAPTAILKQLVTSDLRKLLGVEGQPTFV
Sbjct 421 TFFSSMMFPDRAPNDQYLYTSFIGGSHNRDLAGAPTAILKQLVTSDLRKLLGVEGQPTFV 480
Query 481 KHVHWRNAFPLYGQNYDLVLEAIA KMENNLPGFFYAGNNKDGLAVGNVIASGSKAADLVI 540
KHVHWRNAFPLYGQNYDLVLEAIA KMENNLPGFFYAGNNKDGLAVGNVIASGSKAADLVI
Sbjct 481 KHVHWRNAFPLYGQNYDLVLEAIA KMENNLPGFFYAGNNKDGLAVGNVIASGSKAADLVI 540
Query 541 SYLESCTDQDN 551
SYLESCTDQDN
Sbjct 541 SYLESCTDQDN 551
Query: Aponte’s SEQ ID NO:1
Sbjct: Applicant’s SEQ ID NO:1
Query 38 EEPTSAKRVAVVGAGVSGLAAAYKLKSHGLSVTLFEADSRAGGKLKTVKKDGFIWDEGAN 97
++P + VAVVGAGVSGLAAAY+L+ G+ VT+FEA RAGGK++T + GFIWDEGAN
Sbjct 49 DDPRGGRSVAVVGAGVSGLAAAYRLRKRGVQVTVFEAADRAGGKIRTNSEGGFIWDEGAN 108
Query 98 TMTESEAEVSSLIDDLGLREKQQLPISQNKRYIARDGLPVLLPSNPAALLTSNILSAKSK 157
TMTESE E S LIDDLGL+ KQQ P SQ+KRYI +DG P L+PS+P AL+ S +LS KSK
Sbjct 109 TMTESELEASRLIDDLGLQGKQQYPNSQHKRYIVKDGAPTLIPSDPIALMKSTVLSTKSK 168
Query 158 LQIMLEPFLWRK---HNATELSDEHVQESVGEFFERHFGKEFVDYVIDPFVAGTCGGDPQ 214
L++ LEPFL+ K + ++SDEH+ ESV FFERHFGKE VDY+IDPFVAGT GGDP+
Sbjct 169 LKLFLEPFLYEKSSRRTSGKVSDEHLSESVASFFERHFGKEVVDYLIDPFVAGTSGGDPE 228
Query 215 SLSMHHTFPEVWNIEKRFGSVFAGLIQSTLLSKKE--KGGENASIKKPRVRGSFSFQGGM 272
SLS+ H FP +WN+E ++GSV AG I S L +K + K G + K R SFSF GGM
Sbjct 229 SLSIRHAFPALWNLENKYGSVIAGAILSKLSTKGDSVKTGGASPGKGRNKRVSFSFHGGM 288
Query 273 QTLVDTMCKQLGEDELKLQCEVLSLSYNQKGIPSLGNWSVSSMSNNTS-----EDQSYDA 327
Q+L+D + ++G+ +KL EVLSL+ G+ S G WS+S S + ++QS+DA
Sbjct 289 QSLIDALHNEVGDGNVKLGTEVLSLACCCDGVSSSGGWSISVDSKDAKGKDLRKNQSFDA 348
Query 328 VVVTAPIRNVKEMKIMKFGNPFSLDFIPEVTYVPLSVMITAFKKDKVKRPLEGFGVLIPS 387
V++TAP+ NV+ MK K G PF LDF+P+V Y+PLS+M+TAFKK+ VK+PLEGFG LIP
Sbjct 349 VIMTAPLSNVQRMKFTKGGVPFVLDFLPKVDYLPLSLMVTAFKKEDVKKPLEGFGALIPY 408
Query 388 KEQH-NGLKTLGTLFSSMMFPDRAPSDMCLFTTFVGGSRNRKLANASTDELKQIVSSDLQ 446
KEQ +GLKTLGTLFSSMMFPDRAP+D L+T+F+GGS NR LA A T LKQ+V+SDL+
Sbjct 409 KEQQKHGLKTLGTLFSSMMFPDRAPNDQYLYTSFIGGSHNRDLAGAPTAILKQLVTSDLR 468
Query 447 QLLGTEDEPSFVNHLFWSNAFPLYGHNYDSVLRAIDKMEKDLPGFFYAGNHKGGLSVGKA 506
+LLG E +P+FV H+ W NAFPLYG NYD VL AI KME +LPGFFYAGN+K GL+VG
Sbjct 469 KLLGVEGQPTFVKHVHWRNAFPLYGQNYDLVLEAIA KMENNLPGFFYAGNNKDGLAVGNV 528
Query 507 MASGCKAAELVISYLDS 523
+ASG KAA+LVISYL+S
Sbjct 529 IASGSKAADLVISYLES 545
Accordingly, Aponte anticipated the claimed invention.
Citation of Relevant Prior Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon but is considered pertinent to the Applicant’s disclosure.
US 12655441 B2 is drawn to mutations in PPO enzymes for herbicide resistance.
US 20230287389 A1 is also drawn to mutating PPO1 enzymes for herbicide resistance.
Conclusion
No claims are allowed.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GEORGE W MEYER whose telephone number is (571)272-3733. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8:00 am- 5:00 pm.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Bratislav Stankovic can be reached at (571) 270-0305. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/GEORGE W MEYER/Examiner, Art Unit 1662
/BRATISLAV STANKOVIC/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Units 1661 & 1662
Prosecution Insights