Abstract: Farnesyl pyrophosphate, the metabolically active form of farnesol, is a key precursor in the synthesis of cholesterol, carotenoids, steroid hormones, bile acids and other molecules involved in cellular growth and metabolism. A nuclear receptor has been identified that is transcriptionally activated by farnesol and related molecules. This novel signaling pathway can be modulated by the use of key metabolic intermediates (or analogs and/or derivatives thereof) as transcriptional regulatory signals.

Abstract: Ecdysteroid action in Drosophila melanogaster and other insects is mediated by the dimerization of two nuclear receptors, the ecdysone receptor (EcR) and Ultraspiracle (USP), which regulate the transcription of target genes. Disclosed are nucleic acid constructs to identify insecticides having the ability to modify insect development and growth in a developmental stage-specific and/or species-specific manner.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided expression systems for the production of function glucocorticoid receptor proteins, methods for the recombinant production of glucocorticoid receptor proteins as well as sequences encoding novel members of the steroid/thyroid hormone superfamily of receptors (e.g., glucocorticoid receptor). Invention expression systems comprise host cells containing DNA encoding functional glucocorticoid receptor proteins, wherein the DNA is operably linked to control sequences compatible with host cells, thereby enabling the expression of functional receptor proteins. The invention method is carried out by culturing such recombinant host cells, and recovering the functional glucocorticoid receptor proteins produced thereby.

Abstract: Farnesyl pyrophosphate, the metabolically active form of farnesol, is a key precursor in the synthesis of cholesterol, carotenoids, steroid hormones, bile acids and other molecules involved in cellular growth and metabolism. A nuclear receptor has been identified that is transcriptionally activated by farnesol and related molecules. This novel signaling pathway can be modulated by the use of key metabolic intermediates (or analogs and/or derivatives thereof) as transcriptional regulatory signals.

Abstract: Farnesyl pyrophosphate, the metabolically active form of farnesol, is a key precursor in the synthesis of cholesterol, carotenoids, steroid hormones, bile acids and other molecules involved in cellular growth and metabolism. A nuclear receptor has been identified that is transcriptionally activated by farnesol and related molecules. This novel signaling pathway can be modulated by the use of key metabolic intermediates (or analogs and/or derivatives thereof) as transcriptional regulatory signals.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for screening for compounds that act to modulate insect growth. Bioassays including cell culture and/or transgenic insects engineered with various components of the ecdysoid receptor (EcR) and/or the farsenoid-X receptor (RXR) systems to identify compounds that act as insecticides and/or hormone receptor activators are described. Also described are compounds, and compositions, identified as being putative insecticides based upon their ability to activate EcR and/or FXR mediated transcription.

Abstract: The present invention provides substantially pure DNA's comprised of sequences which encode proteins having the hormone-binding and/or transcription-activating characteristics of a glucocorticoid receptor, a mineralocorticoid receptor, or a thyroid hormone receptor. The invention also provides various plasmids containing receptor sequences which exemplify the DNA's of the invention. The invention further provides receptor proteins, including modified functional forms thereof, expressed from the DNA's (or mRNA's) of the invention. In addition to novel receptor DNA, RNA and protein compositions, the present invention involves a bioassay for determining the functionality of a receptor protein. By using our bioassay system we have discovered that a necessary and sufficient condition for activation of transcription of a gene (G), whose transcription is activated by hormones complexed with receptors, is the presence of the hormone and its receptor in the cell (C) where (G) is located.

Abstract: The present invention provides substantially pure DNA's comprised of sequences which encode proteins having the hormone-binding and/or transcription-activating characteristics of a glucocorticoid receptor, a mineralocorticoid receptor, or a thyroid hormone receptor; various plasmids containing receptor sequences which exemplify these DNA's; receptor proteins, including modified functional forms thereof, expressed from these DNA's (or mRNA's); and a bioassay for determining the functionality of a receptor protein. Use of this bioassay has led to the discovery that a necessary and sufficient condition for activation of transcription of a gene (G), whose transcription is activated by hormones complexed with receptors, is the presence of the hormone and its receptor cell (C) where (G) is located. As a result, two new methods for producing desired proteins in genetically engineered cells were discovered.

Abstract: Farnesyl pyrophosphate, the metabolically active form of farnesol, is a key precursor in the synthesis of cholesterol, carotenoids, steroid hormones, bile acids and other molecules involved in cellular growth and metabolism. A nuclear receptor has been identified that is transcriptionally activated by farnesol and related molecules. This novel signaling pathway can be modulated by the use of key metabolic intermediates (or analogs and/or derivatives thereof) as transcriptional regulatory signals.

Abstract: Farnesyl pyrophosphate, the metabolically active form of farnesol, is a key precursor in the synthesis of cholesterol, carotenoids, steroid hormones, bile acids and other molecules involved in cellular growth and metabolism. A nuclear receptor has been identified that is transcriptionally activated by farnesol and related molecules. This novel signaling pathway can be modulated by the use of key metabolic intermediates (or analogs and/or derivatives thereof) as transcriptional regulatory signals.

Abstract: Farnesyl pyrophosphate, the metabolically active form of farnesol, is a key precursor in the synthesis of cholesterol, carotenoids, steroid hormones, bile acids and other molecules involved in cellular growth and metabolism. A nuclear receptor has been identified that is transcriptionally activated by farnesol and related molecules. This novel signaling pathway can be modulated by the use of key metabolic intermediates (or analogs and/or derivatives thereof) as transcriptional regulatory signals.

Abstract: The present invention provides recombinant proteins having the hormone-binding and/or transcription-activating characteristics of a mineralocorticoid receptor. The invention also provides proteins expressed from recombinant DNA encoding a naturally occurring receptor having the hormone-binding and/or transcription-activating characteristics of a mineralocorticoid receptor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recombinant expression system for production of functional thyroid hormone receptor protein(s). The invention also provides a method to produce thyroid hormone receptor protein(s) by culturing the cells of the invention recombinant expression system. Also provided are thyroid hormone receptor protein(s) produced by the invention method. In addition, the present invention provides recombinant DNAs comprised of sequences which encode proteins having the hormone-binding and/or transcription-activating characteristics of a thyroid hormone receptor. The invention also provides various plasmids containing receptor sequences which exemplify the DNAs of the invention. The invention further provides complementary mRNAs, cells transformed with invention DNAs, and nucleic acid probes derived from invention DNAs.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for the controlled production of recombinant proteins in cells. Cells employed in the invention method contain a gene encoding the desired recombinant protein, with transcription of the gene maintained under the control of a transcriptional control element which is activated by a ligand/receptor complex. The ligand/receptor complex is formed when a ligand (which is a hormone or/and analog thereof) is complexed with a receptor (which is a hormone receptor or functional analog thereof which has the transcription activating properties of the receptor). Receptor is produced by the expression of non-endogenous DNA which is also present in the cells used for production of recombinant protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides substantially pure DNA's comprised of sequences which encode proteins having the hormone-binding and/or transcription-activating characteristics of a glucocorticoid receptor, a mineralocorticoid receptor, or a thyroid hormone receptor. The invention also provides various plasmids containing receptor sequences which exemplify the DNA's of the invention. The invention further provides receptor proteins, including modified functional forms thereof, expressed from the DNA's (or mRNA's) of the invention. In addition to the novel receptor DNA, RNA and protein compositions, the present invention involves a bioassay for determining the functionality of a receptor protein. By using our bioassay system we have discovered that a necessary and sufficient condition for activation of transcription of a gene (G), whose transcription is activated by hormones complexed with receptors, is the presence of the hormone and its receptor in the cell (C) where (G) is located.

Abstract: The present invention discloses two hormone receptor-related bioassays. The first bioassay is useful for determining whether a protein suspected of being a hormone receptor has transcription-activating properties of a hormone receptor. The second bioassay is useful for evaluating whether compounds are functional ligands for receptor proteins. According to the first bioassay, cells that contain non-endogenous DNA which expresses a protein suspected of being a hormone receptor and which contain a DNA sequence encoding an operative hormone responsive promoter/enhancer element linked to an operative reporter gene, are cultured, the culturing being conducted in a culture medium containing a known hormone, or an analog thereof. The cultured cells are then monitored for induction of the product of the reporter gene as an indication of functional transcription-activating binding between the hormone or hormone analog and the protein suspected of being a hormone receptor.