AbstractMembers of the Y‐box (YB) family of transcription factors are expressed in a wide range of cell types and are implicated in the regulation of a rapidly increasing number of genes. Although the biological activities of YB proteins appear to be varied, distinct patterns, relating to the timing of their expression and the identity of their target genes, are beginning to emerge. A recent report by Itoet al.(1)focusses attention on cell proliferation and adds support to earlier suggestions(2, 3)that a primary function of YB proteins is to help activate growth‐associated ge