Structural features of hematopoiesis-specific RhoH/ARHH gene: high diversity of 5'-UTR in different hematopoietic lineages suggests a complex post-transcriptional regulation.

The hematopoiesis-specific RhoH gene is thought to be deregulated in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL), by either a chromosomal translocation or mutations, which affect its 5' regulatory region. The encoded Rho protein, always GTP-bound in vivo, was hypothesized to behave as a Rac antagonist. Extensive expression analysis allowed the detection of RhoH transcripts in all hematopoietic lineages (lymphoid, erythroid, myeloid), with a high level in lymphoid cells.