Abstract: Provided is use of a peptide, or a derivative of a peptide, in the manufacture of a medicament effective in stimulating fibroblasts to produce fibrillin, wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence present in an ?-S2 casein precursor, said sequence comprising 3 or more amino acids, and not comprising at its N-terminal amino acid of the full ?-S2 casein precursor. Further provided is use of a peptide, or a derivative of a peptide, in the manufacture of a medicament effective in stimulating fibroblasts to produce fibrillin, wherein the peptide has an ?-S2 casein fragment activity.

Abstract: Provided is use of a peptide, or a derivative of a peptide, in the manufacture of a medicament effective in alleviating or preventing periodontal disease, wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence present in an ?-S2 casein precursor, said sequence comprising 3 or more amino acids, and not comprising at its N-terminus the N-terminal amino acids of the full ?-S2 casein precursor. The peptide may alternatively be any peptide having an ?-S2 casein fragment activity. Further provided is use of a peptide, or a derivative of a peptide, in the manufacture of a medicament effective in alleviating or preventing an effect of aging in skin, wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence present in a n ?-S2 casein precursor, said sequence comprising 3 or more amino acids, and not comprising at its N-terminus the N-terminal amino acid of the full ?-S2 casein precursor. The peptide may alternatively be any peptide having an ?-S2 casein fragment activity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of enhancing the rate of transfection of cells, a method of inserting genetic material into a cell in gene therapy and to a kit containing the components therefor. The method comprises stimulating the cells to be transfected with a growth regulating agent at about the time of transfection. Suitable growth regulating agents include growth promoting agents more particularly still growth factors such as EGF, FGF and NGF.

Abstract: Amino acid sequences substantially identical to the C-terminal end of an .alpha.-S2 casein precursor one shown to act as growth promoters.Disclosed are sequences from Bovine .alpha.-S2 casein including the 9 C-terminal amino acids.LysValIlEProTyrValArgTyrLeu (SEQ ID NO:1)Also disclosed are foodstuffs and medicaments comprising the peptides of the invention and a method of producing same.