Animal model for studying hormone signalling and method of modulating the signalling

A genetically manipulated non-human animal exhibiting increased or decreased levels of a SOCS protein or a derivative or homologue thereof wherein the SOCS protein, in a generally unaltered animal, comprises a protein:molecule interacting portion, N-terminal of a SOCS box, which SOCS box comprises the amino acid sequence:

• X1 X2 X3 X4 X5 X6 X7 X8 X9 X10 X11 X12 X13 X14 X15
• X16 [Xi]n X17 X18 X19 X20
• X21 X22 X23 [Xj]n X24 X25 X26
• X27 X28
• wherein:
• X1 is L, I, V, M, A or P;
• X2 is any amino acid residue;
• X3 is P, T or S;
• X4 is L, I, V, M, A or P;
• X5 is any amino acid;
• X6 is any amino acid;
• X7 is L, I, V, M, A, F, Y or W;
• X8 is C, T or S;
• X9 is R, K or H;
• X10 is any amino acid;
• X11 is any amino acid;
• X12 is L, I, V, M, A or P;
• X13 is any amino acid;
• X14 is any amino acid;
• X15 is any amino acid;
• X16 is L, I, V, M, A, P, G, C, T or S;
• [Xi]n is a sequence of n amino acids wherein n is from 1 to 50 amino acids and wherein the sequence Xi may comprise the same or different amino acids selected from any amino acid residue;
• X17 is L, I, V, M, A or P;
• X18 is any amino acid;
• X19 is any amino acid;
• X20 is L, I, V, M, A or P;
• X21 is P;
• X22 is L, I, V, M, A, P or G;
• X23 is P or N;
• [Xj]n is a sequence of n amino acids wherein n is from 0 to 50 amino acids and wherein the Xj may comprise the same or different amino acids selected from any amino acid residue;
• X24 is L, I, V, M, A or P;
• X25 is any amino acid;
• X26 is any amino acid;
• X27 is Y or F;
• X28 is L, I, V, M, A or P.
• wherein the SOCS protein is SOCS-2.