Abstract: The NER receptor is a novel member of the steroid hormone receptor superfamily and has been prepared by cDNA cloning from a human osteosarcoma SAOS-2/B10 cell library. The complete sequence of human NER complementary DNA (Seq. ID No. 1), expression systems including a COS stable expression system, the expressed protein (SEQ. ID No. 2) and an assay using the COS expression system are disclosed. The assay may be used to identify agents which activate transcription mediated by the NER receptor, and which are useful for potentiating the activity of a modulator of a G-protein coupled receptor wherein the G-protein coupled receptor is a member of the steroid hormone receptor superfamily.