Reporter Gene Assay for Monitoring BCL6 Reactivation.

Transcription factors are an exciting class of drug targets. Recent developments in small molecule-induced proximity allow for small molecule control of their activity by recruitment of epigenetic proteins. In this chapter, we describe the development of a transcriptional activity assay for the transcription factor BCL6 with a small molecule activator, TCIP1, in HEK293T cells [1]. The assay is based on the Bio-Glo Luciferase assay system and uses transient transfection of a BCL6-expressing plasmid, as well as a reporter plasmid where a BCL6 DNA-binding sequence controls expression of a luciferase protein. The method described here is specific to BCL6 but can easily be optimized to monitor the activity of other transcription factors by altering the DNA-binding sequence of the reporter.