Abstract

This month marks the 25th anniversary of Trends in Cell Biology. As an editor, I am often asked ‘What is cell biology?’ My most common response: ‘What isn’t cell biology?’ I say this because one of the best things about cell biology is its enthusiasm for change. Cell biologists have always been eager to embrace new technologies and break down disciplinary divides, which has allowed it to become a melting pot of diverse fields in which physical, chemical, genetic, developmental, and other investigations are integrated to understand the inner workings of the cell. First a descriptive science that identified components of cells, cell biology embraced the tools of molecular biology to propel it into a mechanistic science in the 1950s. Today, the melting pot has grown to include the domains of biochemistry, genetics, engineering, and computer science.Decades ago the landscape of cell biology was ripe for exploration. Many of the molecular players had yet to be discovered, offering scientists an opportunity to build a parts list for some of today's most well-established cell processes. As the parts lists grew, a journal that could synthesize the latest insights into the field was needed – enter Trends in Cell Biology. For 25 years Trends in Cell Biology has kept its readers up to date on the latest research advances by publishing timely, forward-looking reviews in a concise and accessible manner. In honor of our 25th anniversary, this special issue is devoted to highlighting the ever-changing and expanding field of cell biology.Today, some may view cell biology as a mature field. Indeed, a look back at the articles published in Trends in Cell Biology reveals how much the field has advanced: the mechanisms and functions of many cell processes are now well established. But as the issue reveals, there is still plenty of room for exploration. Several Editorial Board members share their perspective on how cell biology has evolved and the outstanding questions that remain. We continue to reflect on these changes both in this issue and throughout the upcoming year in a series entitled ‘From the Archive’. Authors of some of the most influential reviews published in Trends in Cell Biology share their thoughts on how their own field of study has grown since publication of their review.The melting pot is also expanding. Cell biologists are exploring new fields and outside scientific disciplines are applying principles and tools from their domain to address cell biological problems – providing the field with a renewed perspective on age-old questions. Several reviews in this issue provide compelling examples of the benefits of melding diverse scientific cultures. Adriano Aguzzi and Matthias Altmeyer reveal how classical concepts from the physics of polymeric phase transitions are unlocking keys to the assembly of intracellular membraneless compartments. Principles from biomechanics are also providing a platform to better understand the impact of the microenvironment on cell function. Valerie Weaver and colleagues propose that diverse pathological states exploit conserved mechanical properties to influence cell migration and invasion and drive disease progression. Since many cellular structures are conserved across species, scientists are able to address their function from an evolutionary perspective. Among these functionally conserved machines is the kinetochore, and Harmit Malik and colleagues review signatures of evolutionary turnover to describe the divergence of kinetochore proteins.Cell biological principles and tools are also being applied to disciplines such as genetics, development, metabolism, and disease. For example, Buzz Baum and colleagues reveal the power of cell biology in understanding eukaryotic evolution. Meanwhile, Giacomo Cavalli and colleagues discuss how understanding the cell biology of the genome can inform the regulation of gene expression and cell identity. The recent discovery of thin membrane bridges that function in cell–cell signaling and intercellular transport has opened new doors to understanding tissue dynamics and stem cell–niche interactions. Yukiko Yamashita and colleagues describe three classes of cellular protrusions that specify cell signaling during development. Lastly, Tobias Walther and colleagues propose that elucidating the cell biology of lipid droplets can highlight their importance in physiology and disease.There may be no better example of a scientific discipline that has managed to fuse vastly different fields into a harmonious culture than that of cell biology. I hope that these reviews underscore the importance of creating a melting pot to provoke new ideas and inspire scientists to embrace the principles and tools of other fields for their own scientific pursuits. As more ingredients are added to the melting pot, the next 25 years of cell biology will be no less flavorful, and as our name suggests, Trends in Cell Biology will be right there to deliver the latest developments to our readers.I would like to end this editorial with a sincere thank you to the many authors, reviewers, and Editorial Board members whose efforts have ensured that Trends in Cell Biology publishes high-quality articles, to past and present editors and production staff, who have kept the journal running smoothly for so many years, and to you, the readers, for your continued support.

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