Patent ID: 7491503
Filing Date: 2009-02-17
Classification: C12Q,G01N

Abstract:
1. A cell culture comprising: cells comprising DNA encoding a constitutively active wild-type 5-HT2A receptor and DNA encoding a marker, wherein said marker is different from said receptor and is selected from the group consisting of an enzyme which produces a detectable end product, a binding protein and an antigen that may be visualized with labeled antibodies, wherein said DNA encoding said marker has been introduced into said cell, wherein the amount of said marker in said cell culture is indicative of the number of cells expressing said receptor, wherein the rate of transcription of said DNA encoding said marker is not influenced by the extent to which said receptor has been activated and wherein exposure of said receptor to a ligand results in an increase or decrease in the proliferation rate of said first population of cells; and a substance being evaluated to determine whether it is a ligand of said receptor.