Abstract: The invention relates to a complex comprising a Cell Penetrating Peptide and one or more nucleic acids which can be applied to a plant by spraying and which can trigger a physiological outcome. Hereto, the one or more nucleic acids complex with a Cell Penetrating Peptide can be dissolved in water without the presence of additional components in the solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified fibroin including a domain sequence represented by Formula 1: [(A)nmotif-REP]m or Formula 2: [(A)nmotif-REP]m?(A)n motif, in which the domain sequence has an amino acid sequence with a reduced content of a glutamine residue equivalent to an amino acid in which one or a plurality of glutamine residues in REP are deleted or substituted with other amino acid residues, as compared with a naturally occurring fibroin.

Abstract: The present application provides: a polypeptide characterized by having an ability of penetrating into a cell and the structure represented by Formula (I) wherein n is a number of 2 to 20; R1 and R2 may independently represent a C1-C4 alkyl group or may bind to each other to form a ring; R3 represents a C1-C10 primary aminoalkyl group; R4 represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-C10 hydrocarbon group; the “n” number of R1, R2, R3, and R4 may independently be the same with or different from each other; and the N-terminus and the C-terminus may or may not be modified independently; and a cell-invasive composition comprising the polypeptide and a substance of interest.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for introducing a protein into a plant, which is simple and extensively applicable to various types of plant cells and proteins. The above object is achieved by the present invention to provide a complex comprising a protein of interest to be introduced into a target plant cell and a carrier peptide, a method for introducing a protein of interest into a target plant cell using the complex, and a kit comprising a protein of interest to be introduced into a target plant cell and a carrier peptide.

Abstract: Provided are a composite molding composition such as a composite film and a composite fiber that have properties such as an improved tensile strength, strain and toughness as a result of blending a peptide or polyamino acid having a ?-sheet structure with a natural or artificially modified fibroin-derived protein; a method for producing such composite molding composition; and a method for improving the physical properties of a composite molding composition containing a fibroin-derived protein.

Abstract: The present application provides: a polypeptide characterized by having an ability of penetrating into a cell and the structure represented by Formula (I) wherein n is a number of 2 to 20; R1 and R2 may independently represent a C1-C4 alkyl group or may bind to each other to form a ring; R3 represents a C1-C10 primary aminoalkyl group; R4 represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-C10 hydrocarbon group; the “n” number of R1, R2, R3, and R4 may independently be the same with or different from each other; and the N-terminus and the C-terminus may or may not be modified independently; and a cell-invasive composition comprising the polypeptide and a substance of interest.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for introducing a protein into a plant, which is simple and extensively applicable to various types of plant cells and proteins. The above object is achieved by the present invention to provide a complex comprising a protein of interest to be introduced into a target plant cell and a carrier peptide, a method for introducing a protein of interest into a target plant cell using the complex, and a kit comprising a protein of interest to be introduced into a target plant cell and a carrier peptide.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method of introducing a nucleic acid into plant cells, which is simple and widely applicable to various types of plant cells and nucleic acids. The present invention relates to a method of introducing a nucleic acid into a target plant cell, comprising a step of forming a complex by bringing a carrier peptide, wherein the carrier peptide comprises a cell-penetrating sequence and a polycationic sequence, into contact with a nucleic acid and a step of bringing the obtained complex into contact with a target plant cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified fibroin including a domain sequence represented by Formula 1: [(A)n motif-REP]m or Formula 2: [(A)n motif-REP]m-(A)n motif, in which the domain sequence has an amino acid sequence with a reduced content of a glutamine residue equivalent to an amino acid in which one or a plurality of glutamine residues in REP are deleted or substituted with other amino acid residues, as compared with a naturally occurring fibroin. [In Formula 1 and Formula 2, (A)n motif represents an amino acid sequence consisting of 4 to 27 amino acid residues, and the number of alanine residues with respect to the total number of amino acid residues in the (A)n motif is 80% or more. REP represents an amino acid sequence consisting of 10 to 200 amino acid residues. m represents an integer of 10 to 300. A plurality of (A)n motifs may be the same amino acid sequence or different amino acid sequences.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a plant transformation method that is convenient and is widely applicable to various types of plant cells and nucleic acids. The present invention relates to a method for transforming a target plant, comprising the steps of: a) contacting a carrier peptide comprising a cell-penetrating sequence and a polycation sequence with a nucleic acid to form a complex; b) contacting the obtained complex with a cell of a meristem of the target plant to transfer the nucleic acid to the genome; c) allowing the meristem to grow; and d) selecting a plant harboring the transferred nucleic acid.

Abstract: Provided are a composite molding composition such as a composite film and a composite fiber that have properties such as an improved tensile strength, strain and toughness as a result of blending a peptide or polyamino acid having a ?-sheet structure with a natural or artificially modified fibroin-derived protein; a method for producing such composite molding composition; and a method for improving the physical properties of a composite molding composition containing a fibroin-derived protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in one aspect, a method for producing a molded article, the method comprising exposing a molded article precursor comprising a protein to an environment with a relative humidity of 80% or more to obtain the molded article.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in one aspect, a method for producing a molded article, the method comprising exposing a molded article precursor comprising a protein to an environment with a relative humidity of 90% or more to obtain the molded article.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for preventing a thermal deformation of a molded article and a film produced by molding a structural protein, and the molded article and film prevented from thermal deformation. The thermal deformation of the molded article which is produced by molding the structural protein and has a birefringence of 1.0×10?5 to 10.0×10?5 can be prevented by keeping a water content of the molded article within a range from 0 to 8.5% by mass.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a plant transformation method that is convenient and is widely applicable to various types of plant cells and nucleic acids. The present invention relates to a method for transforming a target plant, comprising the steps of: a) contacting a carrier peptide comprising a cell-penetrating sequence and a polycation sequence with a nucleic acid to form a complex; b) contacting the obtained complex with a cell of a meristem of the target plant to transfer the nucleic acid to the genome; c) allowing the meristem to grow; and d) selecting a plant harboring the transferred nucleic acid.

Abstract: A polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer of 3HB (3-hydroxybutyrate), 3HP (3-hydroxypropionate) and 5HV (5 -hydroxyvalerate) disclosed. The polyhydroxyalkanoate can be used for bioplastic or biomaterial. A method for producing the polyhydroxyalkanoate comprises culturing a microorganism belonging to Ralstonia genus in a culture medium that comprises lactone and/or hydroxy acid or salt of hydroxy acid as a carbon source.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method of introducing a nucleic acid into plant cells, which is simple and widely applicable to various types of plant cells and nucleic acids. The present invention relates to a method of introducing a nucleic acid into a target plant cell, comprising a step of forming a complex by bringing a carrier peptide, wherein the carrier peptide comprises a cell-penetrating sequence and a polycationic sequence, into contact with a nucleic acid and a step of bringing the obtained complex into contact with a target plant cell.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a polyhydroxyalkanoate which forms a useful bioplastic or biomaterial. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for producing a polyhydroxyalkanoate that includes at least a 5-hydroxyvalerate unit, in which the method for producing a polyhydroxyalkanoate includes culturing a microorganism belonging to Ralstonia genus in a culture medium that includes lactone and/or hydroxy acid or salt of hydroxy acid as a carbon source.

Abstract: Nucleic acid transfer is achieved using a silk-based delivery system which releases nucleic acids from silk-based complexes. The silk-based complexes, which are composed, for example, of plasmid DNA (pDNA) and recombinant silk containing polycation and specific polypeptides sequences, can show high biocompatibility, high delivery efficiency, cell selectivity and controlled release of nucleic acid for nucleic acid transfection.