Method for Verifying and/or Identifying Hormonally Effective Substances

A method for verifying and/or identifying hormonally effective substances, comprising the steps of:

• a) to a sample that comprises presumably a hormonally active substance a yeast culturing medium or buffer is added,
• b) the sample to which the yeast culturing medium or buffer has been added is contacted with haploid yeast cells that comprise the following features 1 to 3, wherein either all features 1 to 3 are realized by a single type of haploid yeast cells or the features 1 and 2 are realized by a first type of haploid yeast cells and the feature 3 by a second type of haploid yeast cells:
• 1. the DNA sequence that codes for a heterologous hormone receptor is subjected to the control of a constitutive promoter and is functionally expressed;
• 2. the DNA sequence coding for a yeast pheromone is subjected to the control of a promoter that can be regulated by the heterologous hormone receptor;
• 3. a gene that codes for a receptor for the yeast pheromone is constitutively and functionally expressed,
• wherein the activation of the heterologous hormone receptor by the hormonally active substance causes the expression of the DNA sequence coding for the yeast pheromone and the secretion of the pheromone from the haploid yeast cell;
• and
• c) a morphological change and/or a physiological change of the haploid yeast cells are detected.