Patent ID: 8227184

Claim:
A method of identifying a compound that is useful in treating and/or preventing dyslipidemia comprising, providing a cell comprising at least one expression construct comprising a DNA molecule encoding an XBP-1 polypeptide and a DNA molecule encoding an IRE-1 polypeptide; a) contacting the cell with each member of a library of test compounds; b) determining the activity of the XBP-1 polypeptide in the presence and absence of the test compound; c) selecting from the library of test compounds a compound of interest that downmodulates the activity of the XBP-1 polypeptide; d) determining the effect of the compound on de novo hepatic lipogenesis; e) selecting a compound of interest that downmodulates de novo hepatic lipogenesis as compared to an appropriate control, thereby identifying a compound that is useful in treating and/or preventing dyslipidemia.