Assay for PPAR ligand dependent gene modulation

A method of identifying a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) modulator comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining a first level of expression of a protein encoded by a PPAR responsive gene in a cell endogenously expressing one or more PPARs;
• (b) contacting the cell endogenously expressing the one or more PPARs with a test compound known or suspected to bind to the one or more PPARs;
• (c) measuring a second level of expression of the protein encoded by the PPAR responsive gene;
• and
• (e) comparing the second level of expression of the protein encoded by the PPAR responsive gene with the first level of protein encoded by the PPAR responsive gene, wherein, a difference in the first and second levels of expression of the protein encoded by the PPAR responsive gene indicates the test compound is a PPAR modulator.

A method of identifying a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) modulator comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining a baseline level of functional activity of a protein encoded by a PPAR responsive gene in a cell endogenously expressing one or more PPARs;
• (b) contacting the cell endogenously expressing the one or more PPARs with a test compound known or suspected to bind to the one or more PPARs;
• (c) measuring a post-contact level of functional activity of the protein encoded by the PPAR responsive gene;
• and
• (f) comparing the post-contact level of functional activity of the protein encoded by the PPAR responsive gene with the baseline level of functional activity of the protein encoded by the PPAR responsive gene, wherein, a difference in the first and second levels of functional activity of the protein encoded by the PPAR responsive gene indicates the test compound is a PPAR modulator.