{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"The PAX proteins are important regulators in early development, and alterations in the expression of their genes are thought to contribute to neoplastic transformation. The PAX-5 gene encodes the B-cell lineage specific activator protein (BSAP), a transcription factor essential for the development and maintenance of B cell lineage specification, proliferation, differentiation, and immunoglobulin gene rearrangement. PAX-5 is highly expressed in B cells at all stages of development, from commitment in the bone marrow to the maturation of B cells in the periphery. Its expression has also been detected in developing central nervous system and testis; therefore, PAX-5 may also play an important role in neural development and spermatogenesis. According to literature, PAX-5 is found in most mature and precursor B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas/leukemias."}]}]}