Compositions and methods are described for non-viral nucleic acid
delivery. A targeting peptide capable of mediating targeting to a cell or
subcellular compartment is derivatized with a photoaffinity label.
Following an ionic interaction with a polynucleotide, such as DNA, and
photolysis, the bioactive peptide becomes covalently attached to the DNA.
Upon contact with a cell, the peptide facilities uptake of the
peptide-polynucleotide conjugate into the cell or subcellular
compartment. Methods for using this system for delivery of structural
genes, including reporter genes, and detection of expression using
bioluminescence are also described.