Nature Protocols has recently launched the Protocol Exchange (http://www.nature.com/protocolexchange), an open access, online repository for protocols designed to serve as a community forum for rapid dissemination of detailed protocols. More details regarding the mission and scope of Protocol Exchange, information about submission and editorial policies, and specific features can be found at About Protocol Exchange.

Traditional Methods sections aim to provide sufficient information to facilitate reproduction of results. However, rather than presenting detailed methods for an individual experiment, information about general techniques used throughout the paper is presented in consolidated sections within the Methods. Papers describing more intricate procedures, such as the identification of new multiprotein complexes or organelles, complex imaging approaches using new tools, or the derivation of new lines for stem cell research, could therefore greatly benefit from a protocol-style description to complement existing Methods sections. Although Methods sections of Nature Cell Biology papers should continue to provide all details necessary for faithful replication of the findings, we strongly encourage authors to upload step-by-step methodologies to the Protocol Exchange as an added resource. Protocols related to findings published in Nature Cell Biology papers can be cited in, and bi-directionally linked with, the published paper.