Screening method using the RZR receptor family

A method for identifying compounds which modify the RZR/ROR receptor family comprising the steps of:

• contacting a compound of formula (1), (2) or (3) ##STR18## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.5 are C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alk-2-en-1-yl or C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alk-2-yn-1-yl;
• and especially allyl, methallyl and propinyl;
• R.sub.2 and R.sub.6 are hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alk-2-en-1-yl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alk-2-yn-1-yl, aryl, aryl lower alkyl, saturated or unsaturated heterocyclyl lower alkyl or lower alkoxy carbonyl lower alkyl;
• R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each independently of the other hydrogen, lower alkyl or together form lower alkylidene;
• X is oxo or sulfo;
• R.sub.34 and R.sub.35 are independent of the other hydrogen, methoxy, or fluoro;
• R.sub.35 is hydrogen or methoxycarbonyl,
• R.sub.37 is oxo or sulfo;
• R.sub.38 is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, cyclopropyl, cycloputyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl substituted by Br, Cl, F or I, phenyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl-benzene, substituted or unsubstituted by halogen, indolyl, morpholino, methylmorpholino, amino, amino substituted with C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or 1-(2', 3', 4'-trimethoxybenzyl)piperazine-methyl, 2-pyrrolidinone;
• R.sub.39 is hydrogen, methyl or fluoro;
• R.sub.40 is a carbon or nitrogen atom;
• R.sub.41 is a carbon or nitrogen atom or a carbonyl group;
• R.sub.42 is a carbon, nitrogen or sulfur atom or a vinylene group;
• the bond between R.sub.40 and R.sub.41 may be a single or double bond, with the proviso that it is a single bond if R.sub.41 is a carbonyl group or R.sub.40 is a nitrogen atom, with a receptor of the RZR/ROR receptor family, said receptor being combined with a response element;
• and
• measuring a signal produced by the response element in response to the binding of the compound to the receptor, wherein the compounds are identified.