Abstract: A process for forming a fine pattern comprised of a polyhydroxyalkanoate on a substrate is provided. The process comprises steps of applying a polyhydroxyalkanoate-synthesizing enzyme and a 3-hydroxyacyl CoA to coexist in an intended pattern on a substrate, and polymerizing the 3-hydroxyalkanoate by action of the enzyme to form the polyhydroxyalkanoate in a pattern on the substrate. In particular, the fine pattern can be formed by an inkjet system.

Abstract: A magnetic substance-biosubstance complex structure comprises a magnetic substance-containing carrier and a bio-substance immobilized on the carrier, the biosubstance being immobilized through a spacer comprising an amino acid sequence on a surface of the carrier.

Abstract: Disclosed are a polyhydroxyalkanoate, containing in a polymer molecule thereof a monomer unit represented by the following general formula (1): (wherein R1 represents a substituent to a cyclohexyl group, where R1 is a H atom, a CN group, a NO2 group, a halogen atom, a CH3 group, a C2H5 group, a C3H7 group, a CF3 group, a C2F5 group, or a C3F7 group; and if there are two or more monomer units, R1 may be different from every monomer unit), and a binder resin using the polyhydroxyalkanoate. The binder resin is biodegradable, so that the binder resin is more responsible for the conservation of natural environment or the like. Also, the binder resin facilitates deinking in the deinking process using an alkali, so that the binder resin accelerates recycling of used copying paper. Furthermore, the binder resin satisfies the desired characteristics of a toner for developing an electrostatic charge image.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cell culture treatment device for culturing, treating and collecting cells, which includes a flow path, a cell-retaining section, a solution inlet, a solution outlet, a cell collection port and a lid. The present invention also provides an device for easily, efficiently separating and collecting the cells thereby in a short period of time, and provides a method therefor.

Abstract: Microorganisms showing higher productivity of unusual-polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) than ever by using an inexpensive substrate or under specific conditions are obtained from wild strains and mutant strains. The microorganisms are cultured with such substrates to synthesize an unusual-polyhydroxyalkanoate. The unusual-polyhydroxyalkanoate can be produced with high efficiency at low cost.

Abstract: A magnetic substance-biosubstance complex structure comprises a magnetic substance-containing carrier and a bio-substance immobilized on the carrier, the biosubstance being immobilized through a spacer comprising an amino acid sequence on a surface of the carrier.

Abstract: A structure, which has both a drug holding capability and a sustained release ability utilizing a liposome and mechanical strength of a polyhydroxyalkanoate. This structure is excellent in holding capability for hydrophilic drugs and other water-soluble substances, as well as lipophilic drugs and other hydrophobic substances, and is capable of controlling the sustained release ability. The polyhydroxyalkanoate coats at least a part of the outer wall of the liposome.

Abstract: A structure, comprising a base material, coated with polymer which can be compatible with reduced load against environment and living organisms and various functionalities is provided. The base material is covered with polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). The invention also relates to a method for production of the structure comprising immobilizing the enzyme which synthesize PHA on the surface of the base material, biosynthesizing the PHA and coating the base material. The invention also provides toner containing such the structure and production thereof. Further, the invention relates to an image forming method comprising forming the image by providing such toner to the medium to be recorded.

Abstract: A polyhydroxyalkanoate having a monomer unit composition represented by General Formula (1): AmB(1-m)??(1) wherein A is represented by General Formula (2), B is at least one selected from the group consisting of monomer units represented by General Formula (3) or (4), and m has a value of 0.01 or larger and smaller than 1: wherein n has a value of 0 to 10, k has a value of 3 or 5, and R is at least one group selected from the group consisting of groups represented by General Formulae (5) to (7): in Formula (5) R1 is a group selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom (H), halogen atoms, —CN, —NO2, —CF3, —C2F5.

Abstract: There is provided a construct in which at least a part of the magnetic material is coated with a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), and a method for producing a construct by immobilizing a PHA synthesizing enzyme on the surface of the magnetic material, thereby biosynthesizing and coating a PHA.

Abstract: A construct that comprises a base material and a polyhydroxyalkanoate, wherein at least a part of the base material is coated with the polyhydroxyalkanoate, and the polyhydroxyalkanoate comprises a 3-hydroxyalkanoic acid unit other than 3-hydroxypropionic acid unit, 3-hydroxy-n-butyric acid unit, and 3-hydroxy-n-valeric acid unit. In addition, an electrostatic charge image developing toner allows to design the toner characteristics such as chargeability, flowability, stability in time and environmental stability uniform among the toners of different colors. The toner has a small particle size enough for enabling uniform dispersion and being excellent in color saturation and transparency. The toner also shows higher contribution to the environmental security. The toner includes a coloring agent of which at least a part of the surface is covered with polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA).

Abstract: The invention provides a novel polyester adapted for use in a charge control agent for a toner for an electrophotographic process, having a charge stability, a high charge amount, an improved dispersibility and a biodegradability, and a producing method and an application technology therefor.

Abstract: A structure containing polyhydroxyalkanoate and a magnetic substance includes an external phase part containing polyhydroxyalkanoate and an internal phase part contained in the external phase part, at least one of the external phase part and the internal phase part containing a magnetic substance. Accordingly, provided is a microcapsule, which can be suitably used for formation of an active ingredient of a sustained release pharmaceutical preparation or an ultrasonic contrast agent.

Abstract: The invention provides a polyhydroxyalkanoate having a bromo group in a unit and being thermally stable and capable of arbitrarily controlling physical properties, and a producing method thereof. According to the invention, there are provided a polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer including a 3-hydroxy-?-bromoalkanoic acid unit represented by a formula—[OCH((CH2)nBr)CH2C(O)]— (n=1 to 8) (1) and a unit represented by a formula —[OCH((CH2)mR)CH2C(O)]— (2) within a same molecule, and a method for producing a polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer by microorganisms, utilizing a ?-bromoalkanoic acid represented by a formula Br(CH2)pCH2CH2COOH (p=1 to 8) (20) and a compound represented by a formula R(CH2)qCH2CH2COOH (21) as raw materials.

Abstract: The invention provides a PHA copolymer including at least a 3-hydroxy-?-carboxyalkanoic acid represented by a formula (19) or (32) and simultaneously at least a unit represented by a formula (2) or a formula (3) in a molecule, a precursor PHA copolymer having a corresponding vinyl group or a corresponding alkoxycarbonyl group, a biosynthesis method thereof by microorganisms, and a method of producing a desired PHA copolymer from the precursor PHA copolymer: (wherein k, m, n are integers; R18 represents H, Na, K, R27? represents (A); R1 represents a substituent on a cyclohexyl group and represents H, CN, NO2, a halogen atom, CH3, C2H5, C3H7, CF3, C2F5, or C3F7; R includes a residue including a phenyl structure or a thienyl structure; these being independent for each unit).

Abstract: A novel polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase derived from a microorganism capable of producing a PHA having a novel side-chain structure and a DNA encoding the amino acid sequence for the synthase are provided. Two PHA synthase proteins (SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 3) derived from Pseudomonas cichorii H45 (FERM BP-7374) and PHA synthase genes encoding these PHA synthases are provided, respectively (SEQ ID NOs: 2 and 4). A recombinant microorganism is endowed with a PHA producing ability.

Abstract: Microorganisms showing higher productivity of unusual-polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) than ever by using an inexpensive substrate or under specific conditions are obtained from wild strains and mutant strains. The microorganisms are cultured with such substrates to synthesize an unusual-polyhydroxyalkanoate. The unusual-polyhydroxyalkanoate can be produced with high efficiency at low cost.

Abstract: A method for producing a polyhydroxyalkanoate using a microorganism capable of substantially reducing unintended monomer units and obtaining the polyhydroxyalkanoate in a high yield. A microorganism capable of synthesizing a novel polyhydroxyalkanoate having 3-hydroxy-substituted benzoylalkanoic acid as a monomer unit, using a substituted benzoylalkanoic acid as a material, is cultured in a medium containing a substituted benzoylalkanoic acid. Then, the polyhydroxyalkanoate produced in the cultured bacteria is extracted and recovered.

Abstract: To provide a toner for developing electrostatic images which is not easily cause the phenomenon of toner-spent, constituent materials are so selected that a charge control resin has hardness which is the same as the hardness of a binder resin or the charge control resin is harder than the binder resin, as measured with a scanning probe microscope in a viscoelasticity evaluation mode in respect to the binder resin and the charge control resin which are present in the particle interiors or particle surfaces of the toner.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of effectively producing polyhydroxyalkanoate having an aromatic substituted residue in its monomer unit. In the method of producing polyhydroxyalkanoate by using microorganisms, microorganisms capable of producing polyhydroxyalkanoate are cultured in a culture medium containing at least one starting compound selected from the group consisting of substituted alkanes represented by formula (1) to produce polyhydroxyalkanoate having, in its molecule, at least one unit selected from the group consisting of 3-hydroxy-substituted alkanoate units represented by formula (2): R—(CH2)n—CH2—CH2—CH3??(1) wherein R represents a residue containing a substituted aromatic ring, and n represents any integer of 1 to 8; wherein R represents a residue containing a substituted aromatic ring, and n represents any integer of 1 to 8. In formulas (1) and (2), a residue R is as described in the specification.