Patent ID: 8492106

Claim:
A method for identifying and/or obtaining a compound capable of modulating ergothioneine transport comprising: (a) contacting a test compound with a system for measuring ergothioneine transport activity, wherein said system comprises an ergothioneine transporter (ETT) polypeptide or a functional fragment thereof having at least 95% identity to the full length of SEQ ID NO:2, and a substrate for measuring ergothioneine transport by the system, wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of ergothioneine, proline betaine, hydroxyproline betaine or a derivative or analog of any one thereof; and (b) detecting an altered level of the ergothioneine transport activity of the ETT polypeptide or functional fragment in the presence of the test compound compared to the ergothioneine transport activity in the absence of the test compound and/or presence of a control; and (c) correlating an increase or reduction in said level of the ergothioneine transport activity with a compound that functions as an ergothioneine transport modulator.