The present invention relates generally to molecular assemblies, more particularly to an assay for the detection of G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) molecular assemblies and bead-based detection of ligand-GPCR complexes and to methods for identifying compounds as agonists, partial agonists or antagonists of the binding of G-protein coupled receptors to G-protein and for use of these compounds in the treatment of conditions or disease states in a mammalian subject or patient, including humans, where G-protein coupled receptor binding to G-protein is implicated.