Polypeptide inhibitors of HSP27 kinase and uses therefor

A polypeptide comprising a sequence according to general formula I

• Z1-X1-LNRQLGVAA-Z2
• (SEQ ID NO:1)
• wherein Z1 and Z2 are independently absent or are transduction domains;
• and
• X1 is selected from the group consisting of KA, KKA, and KKKA (SEQ ID NO:
• 46), or is absent, with the proviso that if X1 is KKKA (SEQ ID NO:
• 46), then at least one of Z1 and Z2 is a transduction domain, and wherein when X1 is absent, then Z1 is a transduction domain ending in KA.