Heterodimeric nuclear receptors proteins, genes encoding same, and usage thereof

The method of claim 7, wherein the DNA response element is synthetic or natural, having a repetitive core motif, which is purine-GTGTCA or a related sequence, in either orientation.

A method of identifying an agent capable of transactivating a sequence operably linked to a DNA response element comprising the steps of:

• (a) incubating with the agent, a host cell, organism, or cell-free extract thereof containing a reporter sequence operably linked to the DNA response element;
• and
• (b) assaying for expression of the reporter sequence, wherein the host cell, organism, or cell-free extract has been altered to express one or more dimers comprising two subunits, wherein one of the subunits is a first RXR and the other subunit is a second RXR.

A method of identifying an agent capable of transactivating a sequence operably linked to a DNA response element comprising the steps of:

• (a) incubating with the agent, a host cell, organism, or cell-free extract thereof containing a reporter sequence operably linked to the DNA response element;
• and
• (b) assaying for expression of the reporter sequence, wherein the host cell, organism, or cell-free extract has been altered to express one or more dimers comprising two subunits, wherein one of the subunits is a retinoic acid receptor (RAR) or a thyroid receptor (TR) and the other subunit is a retinoid X receptor (RXR), wherein the RXR has the amino acid sequence of human RXR-β as shown in Sequence ID No:4.