Short peptides having biological and therapeutic activity are disclosed. Specifically, the activity of the disclosed peptides is directed to reducing or protecting against mutagen-induced cellular/tissue toxicity (i.e., chemopreventive). For example, the disclosed peptides protect against skin toxicity and/or mutagenesis that occurs from ultraviolet (UV) light exposure. The disclosed peptides also block the activation of certain cell cycle regulatory proteins such as Chk2. An example of such a peptide is Ser-Leu-Tyr-Gln-Ser (SEQ ID NO:10). The disclosed peptides are also useful for methods of reducing or protecting against cellular toxicity and mutation accumulation that would otherwise occur following mutagen exposure. One such method is drawn to applying a peptide to the skin to prevent or reduce mutagenic damage resulting from UV light (e.g., sunlight) exposure.本發明係揭示具有生物學及治療活性之短肽。特定言之，所揭示肽之活性係關於減少或防護誘變物誘導之細胞/組織毒性(即化學預防)。例如，所揭示之肽可防護紫外線(UV)暴露所發生之皮膚毒性及/或突變形成。所揭示之肽亦阻斷某些細胞週期調節蛋白質(諸如Chk2)之活化。該肽之一個實例係Ser-Leu-Tyr-Gln-Ser(SEQ ID NO: 10)。所揭示之肽亦適用於減少或防護暴露誘變物後所發生之細胞毒性及突變累積之方法。一種該方法係將肽施用至皮膚以預防或減少UV光(例如太陽光)暴露所引起之突變損傷。
