The grand quest of cell biologists is to understand how cells function and communicate with each other, working together to form tissues, organs and the great variety of life. Fundamental aspects such as cell division, protein sorting, programmed cell death (apoptosis) and the organization of the cell nucleus are less and less studied in isolation. The roles of signalling molecules and complexes, likewise, are increasingly understood in the context of cross-talking networks rather than individual pathways. The pace of discovery is rapid, the need for different areas of expertise to be brought together ever greater: cell biology is both competitive and integrative. That provides fertile ground for a monthly Nature journal intended to serve all those working on cell biological problems.

Whenever a new Nature journal is announced, Nature 's editorial staff are frequently asked several questions. For example, will the community welcome it, given existing specialist publications? Our publishers' positive answer to this is based on two considerations. First, the signs are already good for Nature Cell Biology. Responses by researchers from questionnaires and discussion groups in several countries were positive, advance subscriptions are at a healthy level and, according to Annette Thomas, Nature Cell Biology 's editor, there is a stack of high-quality papers on its way. Second, the journal faces similar publishing challenges to other monthly Nature journals when they were launched; they have all prospered, occupying leading positions in their respective disciplines.

Another FAQ: does this mean that Nature is abandoning the discipline? The answer is, as always, emphatically no — Nature 's policies are unchanged. Our editors will continue to strive to publish the most complete studies providing major conceptual breakthroughs, not least in cell biology. The description of the enzyme (DNase) responsible for the breakdown of DNA during apoptosis (Nature 391, 43–50; 1998) is one celebrated example. A more recent set of papers exemplifies the virtues of multidisciplinary scope: four papers in our 8 April issue (Nature 398, 513–529; 1999) tell the tale of how a major signalling pathway (the Notch pathway) known to regulate cell-fate decisions during development depends on the actions of presenilin-1, a protein involved in processing the amyloid precursor protein implicated in Alzheimer's disease. And this week's issue sees an important step in the understanding of processes in the nucleus regulating the cell cycle (pages 818-823; News and Views, pages 757-758).

From today there are six monthly Nature journals (see http://www.nature.com/author/natureguide.html). Nature Cell Biology is no different from the others in seeking to publish landmark papers within its discipline, as well as authoritative comment. For a full discussion of its scope and ambitions, see the editorial in its first issue, available at http://cellbio.nature.com. Moreover, the journal has the same relationship to Nature itself. The editorial teams act fully independently: Nature Cell Biology 's editor is the final arbiter of what it should publish, and there is no discussion between the journals before either takes a decision on a paper. But if Nature editors decide to reject a paper, for example on the grounds of insufficient breadth of impact, but feel that it would still be of exceptional interest to the cell biology community, they will suggest submission to Nature Cell Biology and offer to pass on all referees' comments to save time. This approach has proved successful with the other monthlies and, for authors, ensures that papers are judged on consistently independent criteria.

We look forward to serving the cell biology community with both journals, as it enjoys an era of unprecedented growth and diversity.

Philip Campbell— Editor, Nature