Following the indulgences of Easter, some of you might feel like a 'lipid body' — an unusual nomenclature perhaps, but one that is discussed in an Opinion article by Sally Martin and Robert G. Parton on page 373. The storage of lipids in mammalian cells was thought to be a relatively benign process in which excess fatty acids are converted to neutral lipids and deposited in a cytoplasmic organelle. However, it has recently been shown that this organelle can provide a rapidly mobilized lipid source for many important biological processes. Despite its more prominent role, the number of terms that are used to describe this organelle has increased and includes, for example, lipid droplet and lipid body. The authors propose that a unified nomenclature for this field is more important now than it has ever been.

If after your indulgences your lipid body is in need of repair, make a start by taking a look at the two Reviews on DNA repair. Tony T. Huang and Alan D. D'Andrea (page 323) focus on the non-proteolytic functions of ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like modifications in the regulation of various DNA-repair processes. Josef Jiricny (page 335) discusses the mismatchrepair system, which removes errors from newly synthesized DNA to improve the fidelity of DNA replication by several orders of magnitude.

Finally, in an Essay on page 378, Fiona M. Watt continues her observations on women in cell biology, this time looking at how personal lives affect careers. There seems to be no standard route to success — some successful scientists enjoyed parental encouragement, whereas others found that low expectations or a geographical disadvantage spurred them to achieve. However, an enduring passion for science is a universal attribute.