We have constructed a “nuclear receptor reporter assay” by introducing a luciferase gene linked downstream of the DNA sequence to which the activated nuclear receptor binds in cultured cells. When the food component is an agonist, or a substance showing various physiological actions due to binding with a receptor, of nuclear receptors, activation of transcription occurs and luciferase is synthesized. Therefore, it is possible to evaluate the amount of nuclear receptor activation by quantifying the amount of luminescence by luciferase.

In addition, we are developing more convenient nuclear receptor reporter assay system that is easier to use, in order to increase the throughput of “nuclear receptor reporter assay”.