An ADAMTS13 mutant protein having an improved escaping rate against an autoantibody and a composition that is suitable for preventing or treating thrombotic diseases are disclosed. By efficiently avoiding autoantibodies known to have high binding affinity to the main domain of ADAMTS13, the ADAMTS13 variant protein of the present invention can be used as an effective therapeutic composition for various thrombotic diseases, such as TTP (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura), in which the presence of such autoantibodies is the main etiology, and can stably maintain the biological activity thereof when administered into a body. In addition, a newly identified site within ADAMTS13, which is recognized by an autoantibody can be used in screening novel ADAMTS13 variants having an improved autoantibody escaping rate by applying a combination of various mutations within the corresponding site.

Chromatographic processes and systems for purifying a botulinum toxin from an APF fermentation medium.

A method of treating an inflammatory disease is disclosed. The method comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a polypeptide comprising a pro-domain of TNF-alpha converting enzyme (TACE), said polypeptide being devoid of a catalytic domain of said TACE, said polypeptide comprising a modification at a site selected from the group consisting of R.sup.58, R.sup.56 and K.sup.57 which renders said polypeptide resistant to furin degradation said polypeptide being capable of downregulating an activity of TACE, thereby treating the inflammatory disease.

The present invention provides compounds, compositions thereof, and methods of using the same.

A transgenic mouse that is engineered by one or more genetic modifications that delete endogenous Adam6a and Adam6b genes in a male mouse, which mouse comprises in its genome only one exogenous Adam6 transgene, and expresses an ADAM6 protein comprising at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2, which Adam6 transgene is functional in a male mouse.

Mice are provided that comprise a reduction or deletion of ADAM6 activity from an endogenous ADAM6 locus, or that lack an endogenous locus encoding a mouse ADAM6 protein, wherein the mice comprise a sequence encoding an ADAM6 or ortholog or homolog or fragment thereof that is functional in a male mouse. In one embodiment, the sequence is an ectopic ADAM6 sequence or a sequence that confers upon a male mouse the ability to generate offspring by mating. Mice and cells with genetically modified immunoglobulin heavy chain loci that comprise an ectopic nucleotide sequence encoding a mouse ADAM6 or functional fragment or homolog or ortholog thereof are also provided.

Mice are provided that comprise a reduction or deletion of ADAM6 activity from an endogenous ADAM6 locus, or that lack an endogenous locus encoding a mouse ADAM6 protein, wherein the mice comprise a sequence encoding an ADAM6 or ortholog or homolog or fragment thereof that is functional in a male mouse. In one embodiment, the sequence is an ectopic ADAM6 sequence or a sequence that confers upon a male mouse the ability to generate offspring by mating. Mice and cells with genetically modified immunoglobulin heavy chain loci that comprise an ectopic nucleotide sequence encoding a mouse ADAM6 or functional fragment or homolog or ortholog thereof are also provided.

Provided is a method for efficiently producing an M23A family protease. The method for producing an M23A family protease includes culturing bacteria of the genus Bacillus having a polynucleotide encoding a proprotein of the M23A family protease introduced thereinto to produce a mature form of the M23A family protease extracellularly from the bacteria of the genus Bacillus.

The use of mitochondrial protease OMA1 as a theranostic marker for breast cancer, tumor progression, metastatis and drug responsiveness is disclosed herein.

Chromatographic processes and systems for purifying a botulinum toxin from an APF fermentation medium.