RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Anderson, Leah J. A1 Longnecker, RichardYR 2008 T1 EBV LMP2A provides a surrogate pre-B cell receptor signal through constitutive activation of the ERK/MAPK pathway JF Journal of General Virology, VO 89 IS 7 SP 1563 OP 1568 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.2008/001461-0 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2099, AB Latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A) of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) provides developmental and survival signals that mimic those of a B-cell receptor (BCR). Expression of LMP2A during B-cell development results in the ability of B cells to exit the bone marrow in the absence of a BCR and persist in the periphery, where they would normally undergo apoptosis. This study extends the current knowledge of LMP2A function by examining the growth properties of bone marrow B cells from TgE LMP2A mice. Despite the lack of pre-BCR expression, bone marrow B cells from TgE LMP2A mice proliferate and survive in low concentrations of interleukin 7, similar to wild-type cells. Constitutive phosphorylation of ERK/MAPK and PI3K/Akt in TgE LMP2A bone marrow B cells is also reminiscent of signalling through the pre-BCR, altogether demonstrating that LMP2A provides a pre-BCR-like signal to developing B cells., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.2008/001461-0