The present disclosure provides nucleic acid constructs encoding one or
more polypeptides containing at least one glycosaminoglycan chain, such
as, but not limited to, a proteoglycan polypeptide, and methods for
delivering to the site of a wound or cutaneous injury at least one
nucleic acid construct encoding one or more such polypeptides, such that
the expressed polypeptide is glycated by glycosaminoglycan chains through
the normal physiological processes of the subject at the site of
administration to produce a functional proteoglycan polypeptide for the
healing of the wound or other cutaneous injury. The delivered nucleic
acid construct is transcribed, translated and post-translationally
modified by the addition of glycosaminoglycan chains (referred herein as
"decoration" or "glycation") to produce a decorated polypeptide. The
decorated polypeptide is then secreted from the cell in which it was
produced to provide treatment of wounds and/or cutaneous injury in the
subject and/or prevention of cutaneous injury in a subject.