FXR receptor-mediated modulation of cholesterol metabolism

This invention provides methods and compositions that are useful for modulating cholesterol levels in a cell, and for identifying compounds that can tested for ability to modulate cholesterol levels in mammals. In vitro assays for prescreening to identify candidate therapeutic agents for modulation of cholesterol metabolism are provided. These methods involve analyzing the effect of a test compound on the binding of FXR to a ligand for FXR. Such ligands include, for example, bile acids, coactivators, and corepressors. The methods and compositions involve modulating FXR-mediated expression of genes involved in cholesterol metabolism.