When is a 'dot com' not a 'dot com'? When it's cellnucleus.com, a new community-driven web site for those interested in the structure and function of the nucleus. The aim is not to make money, but to provide an up-to-date resource for all cell nucleus researchers.

Established and maintained by Michael J. Hendzel from the University of Alberta, cellnucleus.com was officially launched last December. “The principal goal . . . is to freely disseminate information on the cell nucleus in order to stimulate interest in the topic”, says Hendzel.

A core component of the site is an evolving textbook, with several prominent names signed up to contribute chapters. But at the moment, only two 'temporary' reviews are posted. The site also features an antibody database and a list of links to the home pages of various cell nucleus researchers.

One useful tool is a literature update, listing recently published papers in the field. Papers can be viewed by date or by category, and there are links to PubMed. Other features that will be added to the site include job and conference listings, posters and Powerpoint presentations from meetings, as well as a live-cell imaging database. This database should ultimately become a forum for “descriptive observations obtained in live-cell experiments that may be of value to the community but do not fit nicely into any manuscripts derived from ongoing research projects within the laboratories involved”.

To get to the site at the moment you'll need to go to http://www.cellnucleus.org, but it should move to cellnucleus.com around the middle of the year. In the meantime, the site will continue to evolve, and the idea is that it will fuel discussion in the field and provide a useful teaching resource.