Patent ID: 7413853

Claim:
An assay for determining whether one or more test compound(s) activate UDP-glucuronosyl transferase (UGT) glucuronidation, said assay comprising: contacting a mammalian kidney host cell containing a xenobiotic nuclear receptor polypeptide and a reporter construct under control of a UGT response element with one or more test compound(s) in an appropriate culture medium, and determining whether test compound(s) promote(s) expression of the reporter, thereby determining whether said test compound activates UGT glucuronidation, wherein said xenobiotic nuclear receptor polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of SXR, PXR, and CAR, wherein said reporter construct comprises: (a) a promoter that is operable in said host cell, (b) a UGT1A6/DR-3 response element, (c) a DNA encoding a reporter protein, wherein said DNA is operatively linked to said promoter for transcription of said DNA, and wherein said promoter is operatively linked to said UGT response element for activation thereof.