BCL6

More reference expression dataBioGPSEnsemblUniProtRefSeq (mRNA)RefSeq (protein)Location (UCSC)Chr 3: 187.72 – 187.75 MbChr 16: 23.78 – 23.81 MbPubMed searchWikidata

Bcl-6 (B-cell lymphoma 6) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the BCL6gene. BCL6 is a master transcription factor for regulation of 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.

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.

Other BCL genes, including BCL2, BCL3, BCL5, BCL7A, BCL9, and BCL10, also have clinical significance in lymphoma.