BCL6

Also known as BCL5, BCL6A, LAZ3, ZBTB27, ZNF51, B-cell CLL/lymphoma 6, B cell CLL/lymphoma 6, BCL6, transcription repressor

Bcl-6 (B-cell lymphoma 6) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the BCL6 gene. BCL6 is a master transcription factor for regulation of T follicular helper cells (TFH cells) proliferation. BCL6 has three evolutionary conserved structural domains. The interaction of these domains with corepressors allows for germinal center development and leads to B cell proliferation.

Gene data

BCL6

Name: BCL6 transcription repressor
Type: protein-coding
Position: 187,721,377–187,745,725 (−)
Aliases: BCL5, BCL6A, LAZ3, ZBTB27, ZNF51
Ensembl: ENSG00000113916
RefSeq RNA: NM_001130845.2, NM_001134738.2, NM_001706.5, NM_138931.1, XM_005247694.5
RefSeq protein: NP_001124317.1, NP_001128210.1, NP_001697.2, XP_005247751.1, XP_047304611.1

The protein encoded by this gene is a zinc finger transcription factor and contains an N-terminal POZ domain. This protein acts as a sequence-specific repressor of transcription, and has been shown to modulate the transcription of STAT-dependent IL-4 responses of B cells. This protein can interact with a variety of POZ-containing proteins that function as transcription corepressors. This gene is found to be frequently translocated and hypermutated in diffuse large-cell lymphoma (DLCL), and may be involved in the pathogenesis of DLCL. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different protein isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2015].

Gene Ontology

Biological process

Article

13 sections

Contents

Normal physiological function
Structure
Function
Differentiation of T<sub>FH</sub> Cells
Clinical Value
Role in B Cell Lymphomas
Diagnostic Ability
Targeted Therapies
Interactions
See also
References
Further reading
External links

The deletion of BCL6 is known to lead to failure of germinal center formation in the follicles of the lymph nodes, preventing B cells from undergoing somatic hypermutation. Mutations in BCL6 can lead to B cell lymphomas because it promotes unchecked B cell growth. Clinically, BCL6 can be used to diagnose B cell lymphomas and is shown to be upregulated in a number of cancers.