In normal B cells, the BCR provides a tonic survival signal. This signal is mediated through an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) that is found in the BCR coreceptors CD79a and CD79b. Several tyrosine kinases (eg, Lyn) can bind to the ITAM and initiate a signaling cascade. In EBV-infected B cells, LMP2A may mimic the presence of a functional BCR, as it also contains a cytoplasmatic ITAM, thereby allowing survival of BCR-deficient B cells.