Since RGC-32 protein expression is not detected in latency I Burkitt's lymphoma cells it is possible that the deregulated expression of c-Myc, resulting from the Myc-Immunoglobulin translocation characteristic of BL, alleviates the requirement for the proliferative advantage potentially provided by RGC-32 protein expression in the EBV transformed LCLs in which it is expressed. The gene discussed is RGCC; the disease is Burkitt lymphoma.