Method for identifying ligand of estrogen receptor beta

A method for identifying functional ligands for a protein comprising an N-terminal domain, a DNA-binding domain and a ligand-binding domain, wherein the DNA-binding domain comprises an amino acid sequence which exhibits at least 80% homology with the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3 and the ligand-binding domain comprises an amino acid sequence which exhibits at least 80% homology with the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:4, and wherein the homology is determined by PCGENE with gaps allowed to obtain maximum alignment of identical residues and is calculated as the percentage of identical residues, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) introducing into a suitable isolated host cell, 1) an isolated DNA encoding the protein, and 2) a suitable reporter gene functionally linked to an operative hormone response element (HRE), said HRE activated by the DNA-binding domain of the protein;
• b) bringing the host cell from step a) into contact with potential ligands which will possibly bind to the ligand-binding domain of the protein;
• and
• c) monitoring expression of protein encoded by the reporter gene of step a), whereby a change in expression of the reporter gene identifies a functional ligand for the protein.