Method to detect functional estrogen receptor expression using estrogen receptor probing compound

A novel method to detect functional estrogen receptor expression with estrogen receptor probing compound (ERPC) has been established. ERPC is composed of estradiol-BSA-biotin. ERPC can be used to detect functional estrogen receptor expression in both Western blot and immunohistochemistry. ERPC based techniques are non-radioactive, sensitive, relatively inexpensive, and can be used with all species. The use of both ERPC and ERalpha- or ERbeta-specific antibodies provides complementary information in characterizing estrogen receptors' expression and functional binding to ligand.