| abstract |
Fusion protein (FP) that comprises: (a) a leptin receptor (LR), having a short intracellular domain; a soluble form of LR containing a leptin-binding sequence, or a substantial part of such a receptor; and (b) a protein (I) that is an energy donor or acceptor, or a substantial, active part of it, is new. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) nucleic acid (II) that encodes FP; (2) nucleic acid (IIa) that is at least 65% identical with (II) or hybridizes to (II) under stringent conditions; (3) cells, or their fragments, lysates and membranes, that contain (II) or (IIa), or express FP; (4) composition containing the cells of (3) and a saponin; (5) determining binding of compounds to LR; (6) screening or detecting compounds suitable for preventing or treating leptin-associated diseases; and (7) screening for agonists and antagonists of LR. |