Heat shock protein 20-related polypeptides and uses therefor

1. A composition comprising a polypeptide consisting of an amino acid sequence according to general formula I

polypeptide consisting of an amino acid sequence according to general formula I:

X1-X2-X3

wherein X1 and X3 are independently absent or comprise a transduction domain, provided that at least one of X1 and X3 is a transduction domain; and wherein X2 is [Z1-Z2-RRA-Z3-AP] u , wherein

Z1 is absent or is W;

Z2 is absent or is L;

Z3 is selected from the group consisting of S, T, Y, D, E, phosphoserine analogs and phosphotyrosine analogs; and

u is 1-2, wherein when u is 2, the two copies of X2 are optionally separated by a spacer.

2. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the composition of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.