Patent ID: 7585623

Claim:
A screening method for identifying a compound, or a salt thereof, which enhances human adiponectin promoter activity, comprising the steps of: (1) transforming a first and second cell with (a) a DNA molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 operatively linked to a DNA sequence encoding a reporter, (b) an expression plasmid encoding a human PPARγ protein and (c) an expression plasmid encoding a human RXRα protein; (2) contacting said first cell with a diluent containing a test compound; (3) contacting said second cell with a diluent lacking said test compound; (4) comparing the amount of said reporter that is produced by said first cell and said second cell, and wherein when a greater amount of said reporter is produced by said first cell after contacting with said diluent containing said test compound compared to the amount of said reporter produced by said second cell after contacting with said diluent lacking said test compound, said test compound is identified as enhancing human adiponectin promoter activity.