Abstract: This invention relates to the field of biotechnology or genetic engineering. Specifically, this invention relates to the field of gene expression. More specifically, this invention relates to a novel inducible gene expression system and methods of modulating gene expression in a host cell for applications such as gene therapy, large-scale production of proteins and antibodies, cell-based high throughput screetng assays, functional genomics and regulation of traits in transgenic plants and animals.

Abstract: A method for identifying a product involves the steps of: (1) associating with the product a marker ligand; and (2) detecting the marker ligand in the product at a later point in time as a means of identifying the product by contacting the product with a detector composition. The detector composition comprises one or more first nucleotide sequences encoding one or more natural or synthetic ligand-dependent transcription factors, wherein said factors comprise at least one ligand binding domain, at least one DNA binding domain and at least one transactivation domain; and a second nucleotide sequence encoding a reporter gene under the regulatory control of a receptor response element or a modified or synthetic response element, and a second promoter.