Patent ID: 7057015

Claim:
A chimeric protein comprising a fusion of at least two functional protein units, wherein each functional protein unit comprises a ligand binding domain, an optional hinge domain a DNA binding domain, and a dimerization domain of a member of the steroid/thyroid hormone nuclear receptor superfamily; wherein said at least two functional protein units are covalently fused into a single polypeptide molecule by (i) fusion of said protein units, or (ii) use of a linker interposed between said protein units; wherein at least one functional protein unit is selected from the group consisting of the retinoid X receptor and the ultraspiracle protein; wherein the other functional protein unit is selected from the group consisting of ecdysone receptors, Vitamin D3 receptors, retinoic acid receptors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, thyroid hormone receptors, steroid and xenobiotic receptors, farnesoid X receptors, and liver X receptors; and wherein said chimeric protein is capable of at least one function selected from the group consisting of DNA binding, ligand binding, transactivation and dimerization.