| abstract |
Small peptide mimics of TGF- beta , having the general sequence AAi-AAi+1-AAi+2 followed by AAi+n shortly thereafter, have been prepared. In this sequence, AAi is alanine, asparagine, or leucine, AAi+1 is valine or isoleucine, AAi+2 is alanine, n is 3, 4, or 5 such that there are n-3 amino acid residues in between AAi+2 and AAi+n, and AAi+n is glutamic acid, aspartic acid, glutamine or asparagine. Because the essential requirement for TGF- beta activity is the peptide's ability to form a stable beta -bend structure under physiologic conditions, the inventive peptides are collectively referred to as beta -bend peptides. Compositions for applications such as tissue repair are also provided that comprise a biocompatible matrix having cytomodulin or a cytomodulin analog admixed with or carried by the matrix. |