A system for preparing a sample containing hemoglobin HbA1c for measurement by an electrochemical sensor includes a lysing formulary, the lysing formulary including a zwitterionic surfactant. The system further includes a oxidizing formulary, the oxidizing formulary including a cationic surfactant and a isothiazoline derivative and a protease formulary, the protease formulary including a molecule including an azole.

A system for preparing a sample containing hemoglobin HbA1c for measurement by an electrochemical sensor includes a lysing formulary, the lysing formulary including a zwitterionic surfactant. The system further includes a oxidizing formulary, the oxidizing formulary including a cationic surfactant and a isothiazoline derivative and a protease formulary, the protease formulary including a molecule including an azole.

A2M polypeptide compositions containing a non-natural bait region are disclosed. Methods of producing wild-type and variant A2M polypeptides and polynucleotides containing a non-natural bait region are also disclosed. The bait regions of the variant A2M polypeptides demonstrate enhanced protease inhibitory characteristics compared to wild-type A2M. Variant A2M polypeptides that demonstrate longer half-lives upon administration to an organism compared to wild-type A2M are disclosed. The A2M compositions are useful in treating a number of diseases and conditions including inflammation, chronic wounds, and diseases with a pathology associated with proteases.

A2M polypeptide compositions containing a non-natural bait region are disclosed. Methods of producing wild-type and variant A2M polypeptides and polynucleotides containing a non-natural bait region are also disclosed. The bait regions of the variant A2M polypeptides demonstrate enhanced protease inhibitory characteristics compared to wild-type A2M. Variant A2M polypeptides that demonstrate longer half-lives upon administration to an organism compared to wild-type A2M are disclosed. The A2M compositions are useful in treating a number of diseases and conditions including inflammation, chronic wounds, and diseases with a pathology associated with proteases.

Provided herein are methods of normalizing a population of nucleic acid samples. Methods herein can comprise: contacting a plurality of nucleic acid samples to a normalizing agent, wherein each nucleic acid of the plurality comprises a sample-specific barcode, and wherein the normalizing agent comprises a plurality of labeled enzymes capable of binding to each sample specific barcode; contacting the product to a capture agent to capture the nucleic acids that are bound to the normalizing agent; and treating the product with a protease to release the bound nucleic acids, thereby creating a normalized library having more even representation of each nucleic acid sample than the plurality of nucleic acid samples before normalization.

Provided herein are methods of normalizing a population of nucleic acid samples. Methods herein can comprise: contacting a plurality of nucleic acid samples to a normalizing agent, wherein each nucleic acid of the plurality comprises a sample-specific barcode, and wherein the normalizing agent comprises a plurality of labeled enzymes capable of binding to each sample specific barcode; contacting the product to a capture agent to capture the nucleic acids that are bound to the normalizing agent; and treating the product with a protease to release the bound nucleic acids, thereby creating a normalized library having more even representation of each nucleic acid sample than the plurality of nucleic acid samples before normalization.

A method for making a population of cells that are highly sensitive to clostridial neurotoxin, the method comprising: (a) contacting recombinant cells that express an indicator protein with clostridial neurotoxin; and (b) following such contact, selecting the cells that exhibit cleavage of the indicator protein. A cell from the population produced using the aforementioned method. An assay for determining the activity of a modified or recombinant neurotoxin comprising contacting such a cell with the modified or recombinant neurotoxin under conditions and for a period of time sufficient to allow the protease domain of a wild-type clostridial neurotoxin to cleave the indicator protein in the cell and determining the presence of product resulting from the cleavage of the indicator protein.

A method for making a population of cells that are highly sensitive to clostridial neurotoxin, the method comprising: (a) contacting recombinant cells that express an indicator protein with clostridial neurotoxin; and (b) following such contact, selecting the cells that exhibit cleavage of the indicator protein. A cell from the population produced using the aforementioned method. An assay for determining the activity of a modified or recombinant neurotoxin comprising contacting such a cell with the modified or recombinant neurotoxin under conditions and for a period of time sufficient to allow the protease domain of a wild-type clostridial neurotoxin to cleave the indicator protein in the cell and determining the presence of product resulting from the cleavage of the indicator protein.

The present invention provides a method for screening a substance that controls APP669 N-terminal cleavage activity, the method comprising: causing a candidate substance to act on a cultured cell; measuring an AP-related peptide produced from the cultured cell; and evaluating APP669 N-terminal cleavage activity. The candidate substance is selected, for example, from the group consisting of a low molecular weight compound, a peptide, a protein, and a nucleic acid. The present invention also provides an APP669 N-terminal cleavage enzyme containing ADAMTS4.

The present invention provides a method for screening a substance that controls APP669 N-terminal cleavage activity, the method comprising: causing a candidate substance to act on a cultured cell; measuring an AP-related peptide produced from the cultured cell; and evaluating APP669 N-terminal cleavage activity. The candidate substance is selected, for example, from the group consisting of a low molecular weight compound, a peptide, a protein, and a nucleic acid. The present invention also provides an APP669 N-terminal cleavage enzyme containing ADAMTS4.