Patent ID: 7074566

Claim:
A method of testing for hormonal effects of a substance, said method comprising the steps of: a) transfecting cells with two vectors, wherein a first of the two vectors contains a DNA, which codes for a nuclear receptor protein or for a fragment of said nuclear receptor protein having an AF-2 domain as well as nuclear receptor properties and functions, and a second of the two vectors contains a DNA coding for an arginine methyl-transferase co-modulator or a DNA coding for a fragment of said arginine methyltransferase co-modulator, wherein said DNA coding for said arginine methyltransferase co-modulator has a nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and said DNA coding for said fragment of said arginine methyltransferase co-modulator has a nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3; b) exposing said cells transfected with said first of said Two vectors and with said second of said two vectors to said substance; and c) measuring transcription activity indicated by the activity of a reporter gene operably linked to a promoter activated by said nuclear receptor protein or activated by said fragment thereof in the presence of said substance and in the presence of said arginine methyltransferase co-modulator or said fragment of said arglnine methyltransferase co-modulator, wherein said hormonal effects are indicated by elevated or reduced transcription activity due to the presence of the substance, measuring an effect or influence of the substance on an interaction of said nuclear receptor protein or said fragment of said nuclear receptor protein with said arginine methyltransferase co-modulator or said fragment of said arginine methyltransferase co-modulator, wherein the hormonal effects of the substance are indicated by a change in said interaction due to the presence of the substance during the measuring, and said change in said interaction is indicated by the activity of reporter gene operably linked to a promoter which Is activated by the interactcion of said nuclear receptor protein or said frament of said nuclear receptor protein with said arginine methyltransferase co-modulator or said fragement of said arginine methyltransferase co-modulator.