DNA Compaction Peptide

**Semantic type:** Amino Acid, Peptide, or Protein|Pharmacologic Substance

**Definition:** A synthetic peptide used to formulate and deliver deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA, usually in plasmid form) in gene therapy. The carrier peptides may condense plasmids into nano-particles with a hydrodynamic diameter ranging from 40 to 200 nm, which are sterically stable for long periods of time. Peptide-based gene delivery systems are used for transfection in a variety of cell lines. (NCI04)