2012 gets a new deal

FoxP3 gets a new gig

On page 1141, the one-trick transcription factor FoxP3 reveals a new function. According to Chang and colleagues, FoxP3 does more than just drive regulatory T (T reg) cell development; it also promotes the proliferation of developing thymocytes. FoxP3 is required for the development of CD4 CD25 T reg cells, which subdue the activation of conventional T cells and thus protect against chronic inf...

Utrophin gets a new look

In This Issue In This Issue trophin, a member of the spectrin superfamily of actin-binding proteins ubiquitously expressed in human cells, helps link the actin cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix. Galkin et al. report on page 231 that a newly developed image analysis method identifies two different modes of utrophin binding to F-actin. The findings contradict earlier studies on utrophin–ac...

A New Deal for Globalization

Globalization has brought huge overall benefits, but earnings for most U.S. workers -even those with college degrees -have been falling recently; inequality is greater now than at any other time in the last 70 years. Whatever the cause, the result has been a surge in protectionism. To save globalization, policymakers must spread its gains more widely. The best way to do that is by redistributin...

New Faculty Orientation Gets a Facelift

Cell biology's journal gets a new look

The Journal of Cell Biology was the first scholarly publication devoted entirely to the emerging field of cell biology. Over the years, it has defined the field and provided the pages on which our collective progress has been played out. The JCB has always been the preemi-nent and most highly respected forum for new ideas in cell biology, and my goal since assuming stewardship of the Journal mo...