Biological activity of ECM fragments. Fragments derived from a variety of ECM proteins (i.e. matrikines) exert functions that regulate diverse cellular and tissue processes. Proteomics offers a tool for the analysis of known ECM fragments as well as the discovery of previously unknown fragments with functions potentially important for cardiac physiology and putative therapeutic targets. *Indicates putative fragments with activities only characterised after exogenous administration. CO1A1, collagen alpha-1(I) chain; FINC, fibronectin; EDA, extra domain A; TENA, tenascin; FN3, fibronectin type III domain; CO6A3, collagen alpha-3(VI) chain; ELN, elastin; PGS2, decorin; CO4A1, collagen alpha-1(IV) chain; OSTP, osteopontin; LAM332, laminin 332; VTNC, vitronectin; CSPG2, versican; EGF, epidermal growth factor-like domain; HGF, hepatocyte growth factor; COIA1, collagen alpha-1(XVIII) chain; PGBM, perlecan; COFA1, collagen alpha-1(XV) chain; POST, periostin; FAS1, fasciclin-like domain; PGCA, aggrecan; HPLN1, hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 1.