Special Features and New Developments

Abstract

In this issue of Developmental Cell, we are proud to present our latest review feature on the cell biology of the nucleus. We have an exciting series of six reviews covering several aspects of nuclear cell biology. The underlying inspiration behind this collection was the growing realization that the “black box” that nuclear structure once was is now becoming less murky; we are beginning to understand how the various elements of the nucleus are organized and how nuclear components contribute to overall cellular regulation. Our focus is not on DNA and chromatin, but rather on the protein and membrane components that frame the nucleus and the ways in which they interact with the rest of the cell. The series begins at a whole-cell level, with Brian Burke and Kyle Roux discussing how the location of the nucleus within the cell can be regulated by mechanical coupling of nuclear components to the cytoskeleton (Burke and Roux, 2009Burke B. Roux K. Dev. Cell. 2009; 17 (this issue): 587-597Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (118) Google Scholar). Moving to the nucleus itself, Yashuki Hiraoka and Abby Dernberg then describe how attachment of chromosomes to the nuclear envelope affects chromosome organization and movement, with a particular focus on meiosis and the role of SUN- and KASH-domain proteins (Hiraoka and Dernberg, 2009Hiraoka Y. Dernberg A. Dev. Cell. 2009; 17 (this issue): 598-605Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (190) Google Scholar). The next three reviews explore different aspects of nuclear envelope biology. The first is from Martin Hetzer and Susan Wente and covers biogenesis of the nuclear envelope and nuclear pore complexes (Hetzer and Wente, 2009Hetzer M. Wente S. Dev. Cell. 2009; 17 (this issue): 606-616Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (105) Google Scholar). Nikos Xylourgidis and Maarten Fornerod develop this topic further, with a discussion of the diverse mechanisms by which nuclear pore complexes regulate signaling and gene expression (Xylourgidis and Fornerod, 2009Xylourgidis N. Fornerod M. Dev. Cell. 2009; 17 (this issue): 617-625Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (21) Google Scholar). In the third article, William Dauer and Howard Worman outline the growing evidence that alterations in nuclear envelope structure and organization lie at the heart of a number of human diseases (Dauer and Worman, 2009Dauer W. Worman H. Dev. Cell. 2009; 17 (this issue): 626-638Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (166) Google Scholar). To round off the review series, we move entirely inside the nucleus with Gregory Matera and colleagues, who discuss the dynamic organization and functional roles of nuclear bodies (Matera et al., 2009Matera A.G. Izaguire-Sierra M. Praveen K. Rajendra T.K. Dev. Cell. 2009; 17 (this issue): 639-647Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (152) Google Scholar). We have timed the publication of this special feature to enable us to make copies available at the Cell Press booth at the ASCB (American Society for Cell Biology) Annual Meeting being held this year in San Diego, USA, in early December. To mark this major event in the cell biology calendar, we are also making the reviews in our current feature freely accessible until our next issue goes online on December 14th. The “cell biology of the nucleus” reviews join the other two themed groups of reviews featured in Developmental Cell in 2009. In February, we focused on topical aspects of angiogenesis and vascular biology. Over the course of the year, we presented articles that discussed a variety of signaling pathways and formed our signaling series, which has a dedicated website accessible from our home page. Early next year, we will begin a new developmentally oriented article series. Across Cell Press, there are other recent review features that Developmental Cell readers may well find appealing. One of the most relevant is the Trends in Cell Biology special issue on imaging, which appears this month to mark the one year anniversary of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry being awarded for the discovery of GFP. Copies of this special TCB issue will also be available at the Cell press booth at the ASCB meeting, and access to the articles is currently free online. Among our other sister journals, Molecular Cell recently began a popular series of Forum articles giving tips on skills that all scientists need to hone, and Neuron and Immunity jointly featured a very topical area, neural-immune interactions, with articles from both journals brought together in an online digital edition. Other initiatives from across Cell Press will also be having a more specific influence on Developmental Cell early next year, when we will make some changes to the presentation of our research articles. From January 2010, all Cell Press journals will adopt new guidelines for the organization and presentation of Supplemental Information. As outlined by Emilie Marcus in her editorial in Cell last month (Marcus, 2009Marcus E. Cell. 2009; 139: 11Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (11) Google Scholar), the underlying aim of these guidelines is to clarify the organization and interpretation of Supplemental Information in a way that benefits authors, reviewers, and readers. The details of the new organization are described in the Cell editorial and on our website. In essence, all the Supplemental Information accompanying a paper will relate directly to data shown in the main paper and will be presented in a way that makes its relevance to the main paper clear. Our expectation is that for the majority of Developmental Cell papers, following these new guidelines will be quite straightforward. However, we appreciate that occasionally there may be a need for exceptions, for example, if a paper has a particularly strong reliance on movie-based data or a large number of datasets based on genomic analysis, and in such cases we will discuss individual requirements as needed. A second Cell Press project that debuted in 2009 is the “Article of the Future.” This ongoing development initiative aims to redefine the online presentation of scientific articles. The prototype articles went online in July, and we have received a lot of positive feedback. In response, we will be introducing some elements of the design to Developmental Cell and other Cell Press journals in January 2010. In the new online layout, each research article will feature a set of summary “highlights” on the abstract page, designed to outline the key points being made in a concise and accessible format. We will also offer authors the opportunity to submit a graphical abstract to represent the main message of their study in the form of a diagram, and we hope authors and readers will find this an interesting new way to convey information about a paper. Later in the year, we will introduce additional features, such as an opportunity to include video abstracts. If you would like a preview of the new features, I would encourage you to visit our test site at http://beta.cell.com, where, in addition to the “Article of the Future” prototypes, you will find an example of the new Cell Enhanced Snapshot format. At this time, we are also looking for feedback on the Reflect pilot on the Cell website. Reader input will play a major role in shaping how this project develops going forward. One final update that you may have already noticed is a recent change of personnel in the Developmental Cell editorial team. In September, we were very happy to welcome Marie Bao to Developmental Cell as a Scientific Editor. Marie replaces Ilil Carmi, who had a temporary assignment at Developmental Cell and has now moved on to other projects. Marie has joined us from her previous role as an editor on the Leading Edge section of Cell. Before coming to Cell Press, she conducted research at UCSF with a focus on MAPK signaling. Marie will be attending the ASCB meeting as Developmental Cell's representative and looks forward to meeting a number of you there. I hope you will enjoy reading the reviews in our “cell biology of the nucleus” feature, and the other topical review features appearing in our sister journals. As with all our initiatives, we welcome feedback on these articles, the Supplementary Information guidelines, the improvements to our article presentation, or any other aspect of Developmental Cell content on which you have an opinion!