In this issue, JCS is pleased to announce the launch of our Article Series on Imaging. Imaging technologies have advanced tremendously in the past decade, and now allow the cell biologist to visualize and follow processes in the cell with unprecedented accuracy and detail, as highlighted in the inaugural Editorial by Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz (p. ). Kicking off the series are two Commentaries. First, Joshua Rappoport and colleagues (p. ) discuss the use of total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy with a particular focus on important applications in cell biology, and also provide advice on experimental setup and troubleshooting. TIRF is particularly useful for obtaining high-contrast images of molecules and events at or close to the plasma membrane, which are not accessible with other fluorescence methods. Second, Daniel Worth and Maddy Parsons (p. ) present the use of different approaches for imaging cell–matrix adhesions, which have important regulatory roles in the dynamic interplay between cells, including wide-field microscopy, photoactivation and photobleaching, as well as FRET and traction force microscopy. Other articles in the Imaging Series, to be published over the coming months, will cover such topics as fluorescent protein spectra, intravital microscopy for tumour imaging and cryo-EM.
