Peptides and their utility in modulation of behavior of cells expressing α3β1 integrins

A retro-inverso synthetic peptide comprising the amino acid sequence, from C-terminal (left) to N-terminal (right):

• ri-R′1—X′1—X′2—X′3—X′4—R′2, wherein ri denotes a retro-inverso peptide sequence and all amino acids are D amino acids;
• X′1 is selected from the group consisting of N, Q, D and S;
• X′2 is selected from the group consisting of V, I and L;
• X′3 is selected from the group consisting of R and K;
• and X′4 is selected from the group consisting of V, I, L and F;
• R′1 is a peptide comprising the sequence selected from FQGVLQ (SEQ ID NO:13), FAGVLQ (SEQ ID NO:14), FQGVAQ (SEQ ID NO:15), FQGVLA (SEQ ID NO:16), and FQGVLN (SEQ ID NO:17);
• and R′2 is from 1 to 3 amino acids, an acyl or an aryl group, wherein the peptide is up to 12 amino acids in length and binds to α3β1 integrin and provided that the peptide does not comprise the sequence FQGVLQNVRFVF (SEQ ID NO:6).

A peptide comprising the sequence R1—X1—X2—X3—X4—R2, or full retro-inverso sequences thereof, wherein X1 is selected from the group consisting of N, Q, D and S;

• X2 is selected from the group consisting of V, I and L;
• X3 is selected from the group consisting of R and K;
• and X4 is selected from the group consisting of V, I, L and F;
• R1 is a peptide comprising the sequence selected from FQGVLQ (SEQ ID NO:13), FAGVLQ (SEQ ID NO:14), FQGVAQ (SEQ ID NO:15), FQGVLA (SEQ ID NO:16), and FQGVLN (SEQ ID NO:17);
• and R2 is from 1 to 3 amino acids, a hydroxide or an amide, wherein the peptide is up to 12 amino acids in length and binds to α3β1 integrin, and provided that the peptide does not comprise the sequence FQGVLQNVRFVF (SEQ ID NO:6).