The PHSRN sequence of the plasma fibronectin (pFn) cell-binding domain induces human keratinocytes and fibroblasts to invade the naturally serum-free extracellular matricies of sea urchin embryos. The potency of acetylated, amidated PHSRN (Ac-PHSRN-NH₂) is significantly increased, making it more active on a molar basis than the 120-kDa cell-binding domain of pFn. Arginine is important to this activity because PHSAN and PHSEN are inactive, as is a randomized sequence peptide, Ac-HSPNR-NH₂. One treatment with Ac-PHSRN-NH₂ stimulates reepithelialization and contraction of dermal wounds in healing-impaired, obese diabetic C57BL6/KsJ db/db mice. Wound closure is equally rapid in treated db/db and db/+ mice and may be more rapid than in untreated nondiabetic db/+ littermates. In contrast, treatment with either Ac-HSPNR-NH₂ or normal saline (NS) has no effect. Analysis of sectioned db/db wounds shows that, in contrast to treatment with Ac-HSPNR-NH₂ or NS, a single Ac-PHSRN-NH₂ treatment stimulates keratinocyte and fibroblast migration into wounds, enhances fibroplasia and vascularization in the provisional matrix, and stimulates the formation of prominent fibers that may be associated with wound contraction.