Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of screening/selection of a membrane protein in molecular evolutionary engineering (for example, an enzyme evolutionary method). The above-described objective is achieved by providing a unilamellar liposome comprising: (a) a DNA comprising a promoter sequence, a translational initiation sequence, and a sequence encoding a membrane protein; (b) an RNA polymerase; (c) a ribonucleotide; and (d) a cell-free protein synthesis system. In one aspect of the present invention, the membrane protein is a transporter, and the unilamellar liposome further comprises (e) a factor that binds to a ligand transported by the membrane protein.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of screening/selection of a membrane protein in molecular evolutionary engineering (for example, an enzyme evolutionary method). The above-described objective is achieved by providing a unilamellar liposome comprising: (a) a DNA comprising a promoter sequence, a translational initiation sequence, and a sequence encoding a membrane protein; (b) an RNA polymerase; (c) a ribonucleotide; and (d) a cell-free protein synthesis system. In one aspect of the present invention, the membrane protein is a transporter, and the unilamellar liposome further comprises (e) a factor that binds to a ligand transported by the membrane protein.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided with a cell culture container having a cell culture region made of a hole formed on a substrate, a semi-permeable membrane covering a top plane of the cell culture region and a culture medium replacement part provided over the semi-permeable membrane, a mechanism for supplying a cell culture medium into the cell culture container, and a microscopic optical mechanism for enabling long-term observation of the cell within the cell culture region. This apparatus makes it possible to culture a cell group originating from a particular single cell, to perform culture and observation while identifying cells to be subjected to interaction during the process of culturing cells, and observe a difference in variation between the particular cell and other cells. There is also provided a mechanism which makes it possible to collect only a cell assuming a particular state and perform analysis or biochemical measurement of a gene of the cell, an expressed mRNA and the like.

Abstract: Novel technical means is provided with a cell culture container having a cell culture region made of a hole formed on a substrate, a semi-permeable membrane covering a top plane of the cell culture region and a culture medium replacement part provided over the semi-permeable membrane, means for supplying a cell culture medium into the cell culture container, and microscopic optical means for enabling long-term observation of the cell within the cell culture region. The novel technical means makes it possible to culture a cell group originating from a particular single cell, to perform culture and observation, while identifying cells to be subjected to interaction during the process of culturing cells, to spray a substance which interacts with cells, for example, a drug such as a signal substance onto only a particular cell in a cell group which is being cultured so that cells are cultured at a constant cell density, and observe a difference in variation between the particular cell and other calls.

Abstract: This invention provides a seamless capsule for synthesizing biopolymer, comprising: (a) an aqueous mixture for synthesizing biopolymer, (b) a seamless capsule layer encapsulating said aqueous mixture, formed from polysaccharide or protein, and, (c) a viscous liquid intermediate layer, present between said aqueous mixture and said seamless capsule layer, which is immiscible with water, wherein said seamless capsule has a diameter of 0.01 to 10.0 mm. This invention can also provide a method for producing the seamless capsule.