Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a red or orange fluorescent protein, which is characterized in that the difference (stokes shift) between an excitation peak value (wavelength of maximum absorption) and a fluorescence peak value (wavelength of maximum fluorescence) is greatened, so that the maximum fluorescence can be obtained by the maximum excitation. The present invention provides a novel fluorescent protein monomerized by introducing a mutation into a florescent protein derived from Fungia sp., and a novel chromoprotein and fluorescent protein derived from Montipora. sp.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a generally cylindrical optical waveguide, an light source emitting a laser beam, and a generally annular photodiode. The optical waveguide is provided at the distal end of the endoscope. The light source is on or near the center axis of the optical waveguide for emitting a laser beam onto a subject, so that light reflected from the subject enters an annular front-end surface of the optical waveguide. The photodiode faces an annular rear-end surface of the optical waveguide. A waterproof covering tube covers the optical waveguide and the photodiode.

Abstract: An optical scanner device, comprising a scanning unit, which casts irradiation light emitted from a light source in an arbitrary direction to scan an observation object, an objective lens system, which converges the irradiation light on the observation object, and a photo-detector unit, which is disposed on an optical axis of the objective lens system to have the irradiation light transmit therethrough, is provided. A position of the irradiation light converged on the observation object is detected based on a position of a light spot of the irradiation light transmitting through the photo-detector unit.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel fluorescent protein derived from organisms other than Aequorea victoria. According to the present invention, there is provided a fluorescent protein derived from Galaxea fascicularis, which has the following properties: (1) the molecular weight is approximately 27,000; (2) a tetramer is formed in an equilibration state; (3) the excitation maximum wavelength is 492 nm, and the fluorescence maximum wavelength is 505 nm; (4) the molar absorption coefficient is 74,100; (5) the quantum yield is 0.625; and (6) the pH sensitivity of the fluorescent property is low in the range between pH 5 and pH 12.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel fluorescent protein derived from organisms other than Aequorea victoria. According to the present invention, there is provided a fluorescent protein derived from Fungia sp., which has the following properties: (1) the excitation maximum wavelength is 455 nm, and the fluorescence maximum wavelength is 488 nm; (2) the molar absorption coefficient at 455 nm is 38700 or 27700; (3) the quantum yield is 0.85 or 0.81; and (4) the pH sensitivity of the fluorescent property is stable at pH 5 to 9; and a fluorescent protein derived from Fungia sp., which has the following properties: (1) the excitation maximum wavelength is 548 nm, and the fluorescence maximum wavelength is 561 nm; (2) the molar absorption coefficient at 548 nm is 75900 or 51000; (3) the quantum yield is 0.44 or 0.50; and (4) the pH sensitivity of the fluorescent property is pKa<5.0.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel fluorescent protein derived from favia favus. The present invention provides a fluorescent protein derived from favia favus having the following properties: (1) an excitation maximum wavelength is 507 nm; (2) a fluorescence maximum wavelength is 517 nm; (3) a molar absorption coefficient at 482 nm is 80,000; (4) a quantum yield is 0.68; and (5) pH sensitivity of the fluorescence maximum is stable at pH 5 to pH 11.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for analyzing the protein interaction, wherein the information about time can be obtained and the movement of protein can be monitored. The present invention provides a method for analyzing interaction between a first test protein and a second test protein which comprises the steps of: splitting a fluorescent protein capable of emitting different color of fluorescence according to passage of time into an N-terminal fragment and a C-terminal fragment; allowing the first test protein to interact with the second test protein by making coexist a fusion protein of the N-terminal fragment with the first test protein and another fusion protein of the C-terminal fragment with the second test protein; and detecting the change in the fluorescent light due to the interaction.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel chromoprotein derived from Cnidopus japonicus. The present invention provides a chromoprotein derived from Cnidopus japonicus having the following properties: (1) the absorption maximum wavelength is 610 nm, and fluorescence is not emitted; (2) the molar absorption coefficient is 66,700 at 610 nm; and (3) the pH sensitivity of light-absorbing property is stable at between pH 4 and pH 10.

Abstract: There is provided a micromirror device, which is provided with a mirror layer including a mirror surface which is supported to be rotatable around a first axis passing through a center of the mirror surface, and an upper substrate having transparency including a first upper electrode part and a second upper electrode part arranged on its surface facing the mirror layer to face each other via a first upper boundary passing through a center of the surface and parallel to the first axis, and a lower substrate including a first lower electrode part and a second lower electrode part arranged on its surface facing the mirror layer to face each other via a first lower boundary passing through a center of the surface and parallel to the first axis.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel chromoprotein and a novel fluorescent protein. The present invention provides chromoproteins derived from Anthopleura inornata, which have certain property, and fluorescent proteins from Trachyphyllia geoffroyi and Scolymia vitiensis, which have certain fluorescent property.

Abstract: There is provided a micromirror device, which is provided with a mirror layer including a mirror surface which is supported to be rotatable around a first axis passing through a center of the mirror surface, and an upper substrate having transparency including a first upper electrode part and a second upper electrode part arranged on its surface facing the mirror layer to face each other via a first upper boundary passing through a center of the surface and parallel to the first axis, and a lower substrate including a first lower electrode part and a second lower electrode part arranged on its surface facing the mirror layer to face each other via a first lower boundary passing through a center of the surface and parallel to the first axis.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel chromoprotein derived from Cnidopus japonicus. The present invention provides a chromoprotein derived from Cnidopus japonicus having the following properties: (1) the absorption maximum wavelength is 559 nm and the fluorescence maximum wavelength is of 578 nm; (2) the molar absorption coefficient is 61,150 at 559 nm; (3) the quantum yield is less than 0.01; and (4) the pH sensitivity of light-absorbing properties is stable at between pH 4 and pH 10.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fluorescent protein derived from organisms other than Aequorea victoria and having a novel primary structure. According to the present invention, there is provided a fluorescent protein derived from Halcurias sp. L, which has the following properties: (1) the excitation maximum wavelength is 494 nm, and the fluorescence maximum wavelength is 506 nm; (2) the molar absorption coefficient at 494 nm is 94600 M?1cm?1; (3) the quantum yield is 0.65; and (4) the pH sensitivity of the fluorescent property is low in the range between pH 4 and pH 11.

Abstract: There is provided a micromirror device, which is provided with a mirror layer including a mirror surface which is supported to be rotatable around a first axis passing through a center of the mirror surface, and an upper substrate having transparency including a first upper electrode part and a second upper electrode part arranged on its surface facing the mirror layer to face each other via a first upper boundary passing through a center of the surface and parallel to the first axis, and a lower substrate including a first lower electrode part and a second lower electrode part arranged on its surface facing the mirror layer to face each other via a first lower boundary passing through a center of the surface and parallel to the first axis.

Abstract: A driving mechanism configured to turn a plate member with respect to a frame member around a predetermined turning axis includes a pair of supporting members supporting the plate member, a pair of actuators provided on both sides with respect to the turning axis and on the same surface side of the plate member. Each of the actuators includes a fixed electrode unit fixed to the frame member and a movable electrode unit fixed to the plate member. The fixed electrode unit includes a substrate, a pair of fixed comb electrodes provided on both surface sides of the substrate. The movable electrode unit includes a pair of movable comb electrodes, each of which engages with the corresponding fixed comb electrode with a gap therebetween. Both pairs of the fixed comb electrode and the corresponding movable comb electrode are configured such that a voltage can be applied therebetween independently.

Abstract: There is provided a micromirror device, which is provided with a mirror layer including a mirror surface which is supported to be rotatable around a first axis passing through a center of the mirror surface, and an upper substrate having transparency including a first upper electrode part and a second upper electrode part arranged on its surface facing the mirror layer to face each other via a first upper boundary passing through a center of the surface and parallel to the first axis, and a lower substrate including a first lower electrode part and a second lower electrode part arranged on its surface facing the mirror layer to face each other via a first lower boundary passing through a center of the surface and parallel to the first axis.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel fluorescent protein derived from organisms other than Aequorea victoria. According to the present invention, there is provided a fluorescent protein derived from Galaxea fascicularis, which has the following properties: (1) the molecular weight is approximately 27,000; (2) a tetramer is formed in an equilibration state; (3) the excitation maximum wavelength is 492 nm, and the fluorescence maximum wavelength is 505 nm; (4) the molar absorption coefficient is 74,100; (5) the quantum yield is 0.625; and (6) the pH sensitivity of the fluorescent property is low in the range between pH 5 and pH 12.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel fluorescent protein derived from organisms other than Aequorea Victoria. According to the present invention, there is provided a fluorescent protein derived from Fungia sp., which has the following properties: (1) the excitation maximum wavelength is 455 nm, and the fluorescence maximum wavelength is 488 nm; (2) the molar absorption coefficient at 455 nm is 38700 or 27700; (3) the quantum yield is 0.85 or 0.81; and (4) the pH sensitivity of the fluorescent property is stable at pH 5 to 9; and a fluorescent protein derived from Fungia sp., which has the following properties: (1) the excitation maximum wavelength is 548 nm, and the fluorescence maximum wavelength is 561 nm; (2) the molar absorption coefficient at 548 nm is 75900 or 51000; (3) the quantum yield is 0.44 or 0.50; and (4) the pH sensitivity of the fluorescent property is pKa<5.0.

Abstract: An acceleration-detecting type gyro apparatus of an electrostatic supporting type, in which displacements of a gyro rotor are actively made zero is proposed. The acceleration-detecting type gyro apparatus includes: a gyro case; a gyro rotor which is supported within the gyro case by electrostatic supporting forces such that the gyro rotor is not in contact with the gyro case; electrostatic supporting electrodes for generating the electrostatic supporting forces; a rotor drive system for rotating the gyro rotor around the spin axis at high speed; a displacement-detection system for detecting displacements of the gyro rotor; and a restraining system having a feedback loop for correcting control voltages applied to the electrostatic supporting electrodes so that displacements of the gyro rotor become zero, the gyro rotor is annular-shaped, and the electrostatic supporting electrodes are disposed in a manner of surrounding the gyro rotor.

Abstract: An acceleration-detecting type gyro apparatus of an electrostatic supporting type, in which displacements of a gyro rotor are actively made zero is proposed. The acceleration-detecting type gyro apparatus includes: a gyro case; a gyro rotor which is supported within the gyro case by electrostatic supporting forces such that the gyro rotor is not in contact with the gyro case; electrostatic supporting electrodes for generating the electrostatic supporting forces; a rotor drive system for rotating the gyro rotor around the spin axis at high speed; a displacement-detection system for detecting displacements of the gyro rotor; and a restraining system having a feedback loop for correcting control voltages applied to the electrostatic supporting electrodes so that displacements of the gyro rotor become zero, the gyro rotor is annular-shaped, and the electrostatic supporting electrodes are disposed in a manner of surrounding the gyro rotor.