Cosmetic use of a protein belonging to the ribonuclease family

A method of screening biological or chemical compounds or physical treatments, comprising determining whether said compounds or treatments are able to modulate biological activity and/or the expression of a polypeptide of amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid sequence represented by all or part of a sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:

• 1, an analog of said polypeptide, or a fragment of said polypeptide, and/or interaction of said polypeptide with an element of an extracellular matrix, and/or interaction of said polypeptide with another protein.

A method for treating skin, comprising applying to said skin a composition comprising at least one polypeptide of amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid sequence represented by all or part of a sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:

• 1, an analog of said polypeptide, or a fragment of saidpolypeptide or at least one nucleic acid sequence coding for said polypeptide, or at least one agent that modulates the expression or activity of said polypeptide or its interaction of said polypeptide with an element of the extracellular matrix of said skin.

A method for preparation of an isolated reconstructed skin, comprising contacting a precursor of said isolated reconstructed skin with at least one polypeptide of amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid sequence represented by all or part of a sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:

• 1, an analog of said polypeptide, or a fragment of said polypeptide or at least one nucleic acid se uence coding for said polypeptide, or at least one agent that modulates expression or activity of said polypeptide or interaction of said polypeptide with an element of extracellular matrix.