Patent ID: 7276342

Claim:
A method of screening of a candidate agonist for interaction with a polypeptide comprising amino acids 30 to 275 of SEQ ID NO: 2, said method comprising the following steps: a) providing a polypeptide comprising amino acids 30 to 275 of SEQ ID NO: 2; b) obtaining a composition comprising a candidate agonist of the polypeptide comprising amino acids 30 to 275 of SEQ ID NO: 2; c) bringing into contact said polypeptide with said candidate agonist; d) detecting the complexes formed between said polypeptide and said candidate agonist; wherein said detecting comprises: (a) assaying for the stimulation of muscle lipid or free fatty acid oxidation in vitro; (b) assaying, in vitro, for an increase in leptin uptake in a liver cell line.