The invention relates to recombinant nucleic acid and polypeptides encoding collagenase I and collagenase II, methods for the preparation thereof and methods for the use thereof. The invention also encompasses methods related to releasing a composition comprising collagenase prior to therapeutic administration.

It is necessary to establish a purification method effective for the removal of endotoxin, in order to obtain thermolysin containing a reduced amount of contaminant endotoxin. On the premise of the establishment, accurate measurement of the amount of endotoxin that contaminates thermolysin is required. The present invention addresses the problem of providing a novel measurement method which enables accurate measurement of the amount of endotoxin that contaminates thermolysin. The present invention also addresses the problem of providing thermolysin containing a reduced amount of contaminant thermolysin, and the use thereof. There is provided thermolysin containing contaminant endotoxin in an amount of 1 EU/mg or less. There is also provided a method for measuring endotoxin that contaminates thermolysin, the method including pretreatment of deactivating the thermolysin. An enzyme preparation including the thermolysin according to the present invention as an active ingredient has a high utility value in the field of regenerative medicine.

A liquid bioactive composition is provided that includes an enzyme with enzymatic activity toward a component of a biological stain. Also provided is a process for facilitating the removal of a biological stain is provided wherein the enzyme in the liquid bioactive coating material is capable of enzymatically degrading of one or more components of the biological stain to facilitate biological stain removal from a substrate.

Provided are processes for facilitating the removal of a biological stain is provided wherein a substrate or coating including a protease is capable of enzymatically degrading of one or more components of the biological stain to facilitate biological stain removal from the substrate or said coating.

A method for determining the amount of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), in whichif requiredthe erythrocytes in a sample are haemolysed, the haemoglobin that is then releasedif requiredis contacted with a proteolytic agent and the glycated haemoglobin degradation products obtained in this way or otherwise are quantified is disclosed. In order to provide such a process and reagents employable therein that has/have the property of sufficient stability of the chemical compounds that are essential to the reaction, the provision of the requisite proteolytic agent in the form of an inactivated protease is proposed, which is then only reactivated in situ. For the stabilization of the haemoglobin, which is unfolded at a very low pH in the range from 1 to 3, at least one suitable stabilizer should be present in the haemolysis solution, and, where a leuco dye is used in connection with the determination of the amount of HbA1c, it is proposed that the latter be stabilized with particular phosphine compounds and/or thio compounds.

The present invention is directed to topical enzymatic wound debriding compositions with enhanced enzymatic activity. These compositions comprise a dispersed phase comprising at least one proteolytic enzyme and at least one hydrophilic polyol; and a continuous phase comprising a hydrophobic base.

Bioactive coatings that include a base and a protein associated with the base for actively promoting the removal of organic stains are provided. In aspects, bioactive coatings that are stabilized against inactivation by weathering are provided including a base associated with a chemically modified enzyme, and, optionally a first polyoxyethylene present in the base and independent of the enzyme. The coatings are optionally overlayered onto a substrate to form an active coating facilitating the removal of organic stains or organic material from food, insects, or the environment.

The present invention is directed to topical enzymatic wound debriding compositions with enhanced enzymatic activity. These compositions comprise a dispersed phase comprising at least one proteolytic enzyme and at least one hydrophilic polyol; and a continuous phase comprising a hydrophobic base.

A method for determining the amount of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), in whichif requiredthe erythrocytes in a sample are haemolysed, the haemoglobin that is then releasedif requiredis contacted with a proteolytic agent and the glycated haemoglobin degradation products obtained in this way or otherwise are quantified is disclosed. In order to provide such a process and reagents employable therein that has/have the property of sufficient stability of the chemical compounds that are essential to the reaction, for the stabilization of the haemoglobin which is unfolded at a very low pH in the range from 1 to 3, at least one suitable stabilizer is present in the haemolysis solution. Where a leuco dye is used in connection with the determination of the amount of HbA1c, it is proposed that the latter be stabilized with particular phosphine compounds and/or thio compounds, and, in particular embodiments, the requisite proteolytic agent is to be provided in the form of an inactivated protease which is then only reactivated in situ.

The invention relates to recombinant nucleic acid and polypeptides encoding collagenase I and collagenase II, methods for the preparation thereof and methods for the use thereof. The invention also encompasses methods related to releasing a composition comprising collagenase prior to therapeutic administration.