Patent ID: 7556926

Claim:
A method of screening an insulin-sensitizing agent, which comprises: (i) preparing a cell line which expresses a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, or a salt thereof; (ii) adding KKA y mouse adipose tissue homogenate or serum to the cell line so as to activate the protein; (iii) adding a test compound to the activated cell line and determining whether or not the test compound inactivates the protein; and (iv) selecting a test compound that inactivates the protein; wherein said inactivation of the protein is verified by monitoring phosphorylation of the protein, phosphorylation of DNAX-activation protein 12 (DAP12) intracellularly interacting with the protein, phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), or expression of TNF-α, wherein decreased phosphorylation or TNF-α expression is indicative of an insulin-sensitizing agent.