Journal Guide

Natural Product Reports (NPR) is a critical review journal that stimulates progress in all areas of natural products research, including isolation, structural and stereochemical determination, biosynthesis, biological activity and synthesis. Natural Product Reports covers natural products from marine, plant, fungal and microbial environments. The scope of the journal is very broad, and many reviews discuss the role of natural products in the wider bioinorganic, bioorganic and chemical biology communities. Areas covered include the following: Total synthesis and semi-synthesis; Enzymology and structural biology; Biosynthesis and biotechnology; Nucleic acids; Genetics; Chemical ecology; Carbohydrates; Primary and secondary metabolism; Analytical techniques

The aim of Natural Product Research is to publish important contributions in the field of natural product chemistry. The journal covers all aspects of research in the chemistry and biochemistry of naturally occurring compounds.The communications include coverage of work on natural substances of land and sea and of plants, microbes and animals. Discussions of structure elucidation, synthesis and experimental biosynthesis of natural products as well as developments of methods in these areas are welcomed in the journal. Finally, research papers in fields on the chemistry-biology boundary, eg. fermentation chemistry, plant tissue culture investigations etc., are accepted into the journal.Natural Product Research issues will be subtitled either "Part A - Synthesis and Structure" or "Part B - Bioactive Natural Products". for details on this , see the forthcoming articles section.All published research articles in Natural Product Research have undergone rigorous peer review, based on initial editor screening and anonymized refereeing by expert referees.DisclaimerTaylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the "Content") contained in its publications. However, Taylor & Francis and its agents and licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness or suitability for any purpose of the Content and disclaim all such representations and warranties whether express or implied to the maximum extent permitted by law. Any views expressed in this publication are the views of the authors and are not the views of Taylor & Francis.

Launched in January 2017, Nature Biomedical Engineering publishes original research, reviews and commentary of high significance to the biomedical engineering community, including bench scientists interested in devising materials, methods, technologies or therapies to understand or combat disease; engineers designing or optimizing medical devices and procedures; and clinicians leveraging research outputs in biomedical engineering to assess patient health or deliver therapy across a variety of clinical settings and healthcare contexts.

Like all Nature-branded journals, Nature Biomedical Engineering is run by a dedicated team of professional editors, and provides fair and rigorous peer review, high standards of copy-editing and production, swift publication and editorial independence.

Nature Cell Biology publishes papers of the highest quality from all areas of cell biology, encouraging those that shed light on the molecular mechanisms responsible for fundamental cell biological processes. The journal's scope is broad and includes the following areas (not listed in order of preference):Specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to:* Cellular and molecular mechanisms of development* Stem cell biology* Membrane traffic, protein sorting and organelles* Cell adhesion and migration* Cytoskeletal dynamics* Autophagy* Cell cycle and cell growth* DNA replication and repair* Apoptosis and cell death* Signal transduction* Protein degradation* Organization of the nucleus and nuclear transport* Cellular and molecular mechanisms of human disease, including cancer (provided that the primary focus is on general processes of cell biology).

Nature Chemical Biology is an international monthly journal that provides a high-visibility forum for the publication of top-tier original research and commentary for the chemical biology community. Chemical biology is an emerging field that combines the scientific ideas and approaches of chemistry, biology and allied disciplines to understand and manipulate biological systems with molecular precision. The journal publishes papers from the expanding community of chemical biologists, including contributions from chemists who are applying the principles and tools of chemistry to biological questions and from biologists who are interested in understanding and controlling biological processes at the molecular level.We give priority to studies that report significant conceptual or practical advances in any area where chemistry and biology intersect. The journal is primarily interested in basic research, especially those studies that report new chemical or biological tools or present significant new molecular-level insights into the mechanisms underpinning biological processes. Additionally, because chemical biology approaches have broad utility for manipulating or engineering biological systems, the journal also considers manuscripts describing applied molecular studies at the chemistry-biology interface. Independent of the scientific area, we seek manuscripts that blend chemistry and biology in new ways, particularly those that provide major conceptual or methodological advances that are likely to open up innovative avenues of research in the field. The journal strives for a fair but comprehensive review process that emphasizes rigorous chemical and biological characterization.In addition to publishing original research, Nature Chemical Biology is a forum for the exchange of ideas between scientists in the chemical and life sciences and a community resource for this emerging field. To this end, we publish content including scholarly reviews and perspectives, highlights of research published in our pages and in other journals, correspondence and commentaries that present topics of scientific and community interest.

Nature Communications is an online-only, multidisciplinary journal dedicated to publishing high-quality research in all areas of the biological, physical and chemical sciences. Papers published by the journal represent important advances of significance to specialists within each field.The scope of the journal reflects Nature Publishing Group's core strengths in the biological, chemical and physical sciences, including areas in which Nature research journals serve to publish the most outstanding community-focused research papers. In addition, Nature Communications encourages submissions in fields that aren't represented by a dedicated Nature research journal; for example developmental biology, plant sciences, microbiology, ecology and evolution, palaeontology and astronomy. The editors particularly welcome submissions from cross-disciplinary fields, including biophysics, bioengineering, chemical physics and environmental science, although no area is excluded from consideration. In all cases, papers published in Nature Communications will be of high quality, without necessarily having the scientific reach of papers published in Nature and the Nature research journals.Nature Communications is committed to providing an efficient service for both authors and readers. A streamlined peer-review system, together with the support of an Editorial Advisory Panel, allows a team of independent editors to make rapid and fair publication decisions. Prompt dissemination of accepted papers to Nature Publishing Group's wide readership and beyond is achieved through a programme of continuous online publication. Published manuscripts are enhanced by innovative web technologies, including interactive browsing and efficient data- and text-mining.

Nature Genetics publishes the very highest quality research in genetics. It encompasses genetic and functional genomic studies on human traits and on other model organisms, including mouse, fly, nematode and yeast. Current emphasis is on the genetic basis for common and complex diseases and on the functional mechanism, architecture and evolution of gene networks, studied by experimental perturbation.Integrative genetic topics comprise, but are not limited to:* Genes in the pathology of human disease* Molecular analysis of simple and complex genetic traits* Cancer genetics* Epigenetics* Gene therapy* Developmental genetics* Regulation of gene expression* Strategies and technologies for extracting function from genomic data* Pharmacological genomics* Genome evolution.

Nature Medicine is a biomedical research journal devoted to publishing the latest and most exciting advances in biomedical research for scientists and physicians, with an emphasis on clarity of presentation. Articles cover fields such as cancer biology, cardiovascular research, gene therapy, immunology, vaccine development, and neuroscience, aiming to keep Ph.D. and M.D. readers informed of a wide range of biomedical research findings. Original research articles published in Nature Medicine range from basic findings that have clear implications for disease pathogenesis and therapy to the earliest phases of human investigation, and are submitted from research groups at universities, independent research institutions, and biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries world-wide. As a cross-disciplinary journal at the heart of the international biomedical research community, Nature Medicine publishes the most relevant original research articles, news, and commentary that form the foundations of tomorrow's medicine.

Nature Methods is a forum for the publication of novel methods and significant improvements to tried-and-tested basic research techniques in the life sciences. This monthly publication is aimed at a broad, interdisciplinary audience of academic and industry researchers actively involved in laboratory practice. It provides them with new tools to conduct their research and places a strong emphasis on the immediate practical relevance of the work presented.The journal publishes primary research papers as well as overviews of recent technical and methodological developments. We are actively seeking primary methods papers of relevance to the biological and biomedical sciences, including methods grounded in chemistry that have a practical application to the study of biological problems.To enhance the practical relevance of each paper, description of the method must be accompanied by its validation, its application to an important biological question and results illustrating its performance in comparison to available approaches. Articles are selected for publication that present broad interest, thorough assessments of methodological performance and comprehensive technical descriptions that facilitate immediate application.Specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to:* Methods for nucleic acid manipulation, amplification and sequencing* Methods for protein engineering, expression and purification* Methods for proteomics, including mass spectrometry, analysis of binding interactions, microarray-based technologies, display techniques, analysis of post-translational modifications, glycobiology and metabolomics* Methods for systems biology, including proteomics approaches, protein interaction analysis methods and genome wide expression and regulation profiling* Biomolecular structural analysis technologies, including NMR and crystallography* Chemical biology techniques, including chemical labeling, methods for expanding the genetic code and directed evolution* Biophysical methods, including single molecule and lab-on-a-chip technologies* Optical and non-optical imaging technologies, including probe design and labeling methods, microscopy, spectroscopy and in vivo imaging* Techniques for the analysis and manipulation of gene expression, including epigenetics, gene targeting, transduction, RNA interference and microarray-based technologies* Methods for cell culture and manipulation, including stem cells, single cell methods and lab-on-a-chip technologies* Immunological techniques, including production of antibodies, antibody-based assays and immunolabeling* Methods for the study of physiology and disease processes including cancer* Methods involving model organisms and their manipulation and phenotyping* Computational and bioinformatic methods for analysis, modeling or visualization of biological data* Nanotechnology-based methods applied to basic biology.

We are interested in the best research from across the field of microbiology, with our broad scope ensuring that the work published reaches the widest possible audience.

Nature Protocols is an online journal of laboratory protocols for bench researchers. Protocols are presented in a 'recipe' style providing step-by-step descriptions of procedures which users can take to the lab and immediately apply in their own research. Protocols on the site are fully searchable and organized into logical categories to be easily accessible to researchers.The content, the Nature Protocols, are high quality, peer-reviewed procedures commissioned by the Nature Protocols editorial team. These protocols must have proven themselves in the laboratory, having been used to acquire data reported in published research papers.Nature Protocols aims to publish the protocols being used to answer outstanding biological and biomedical science research questions, including methods grounded in physics and chemistry that have a practical application to the study of biological problems. Further details of our scope can be found here.Brief details of how to submit can be found at for authors.Nature Protocols is associated with the Protocol Exchange which is an open resource through which researchers can share and discuss their Protocols. Protocols within Protocol Exchange come from both academic and commercial lab groups. They are not styled, peer reviewed or copy edited, but shared live soon after uploading.Together Nature Protocols and Protocol Exchange form an invaluable interactive resource for the active experimentalist.

The ultimate aim of cancer research is to eliminate this common and devastating disease from the human population. To develop more effective prevention methods we need to understand what triggers carcinogenesis. To diagnose precancerous lesions and early-stage cancers quickly and accurately we need to detect the earliest molecular changes leading to each type of cancer. To determine a patient's prognosis we need to appreciate which molecular changes affect tumour growth rate and invasiveness. And to tailor therapies to individual tumours we need to understand the fundamental differences, not only between a cancer cell and a 'normal' cell, but also between one cancer cell and another. All of these goals depend on a combination of basic and applied research. Nature Reviews Cancer will be a gateway from which cancer researchers — from those investigating the molecular basis of cancer to those involved in translational research — access the information that they need to further the ability to diagnose, treat and ultimately prevent cancer.Subjects covered * Genomic instability: chromosomal and microsatellite instabilities; defects in DNA repair pathways. * Growth factor signalling to cell cycle progression: proto-oncogenes and their dysregulation. * Growth inhibitory signals: dysregulation of quiescence and differentiation, tumour suppressors and their inactivation. * Cellular immortality and telomere maintenance. * Cell death: evading apoptosis, including avoidance of immune surveillance systems. * Angiogenesis: sustaining tumour growth by building a vascular system. * Metastasis: moving to and surviving in new environments. * Carcinogenesis and cancer prevention: epidemiology, genetic and environmental triggers, gene–environment interactions and strategies for reducing risk. * Cancer diagnosis and prognosis: molecular markers; diagnostic imaging; defining tumour margins; detecting minimal residual disease. * New approaches to cancer therapy: rational drug design, gene therapy, immunotherapy, combination therapies, combating drug resistance and targeting therapies to the individual. * Experimental systems and techniques: cell culture and animal models, genomic and proteomic approaches to studying cancer. * Cancer-associated disease: cancer pain, cachexia, symptoms associated with treatment (hair loss, anaemia, gastrointestinal disease), psychosocial aspects of cancer. * Ethical, legal and social issues surrounding cancer research: trial design, genetic screening, public and professional education, research policy and advocacy. * Conventional approaches to cancer diagnosis and treatment: how do they perform, what are their drawbacks and how might they be improved in the future?.

Nature Reviews' clinical content is written by internationally renowned clinical academics and researchers and targeted towards readers in the medical sciences, from postgraduate level upwards. While intended to be read by practicing doctors, researchers and academics within a specialty, we aim to make all our articles accessible to readers working in any medical discipline.In-depth Reviews present authoritative, up-to-date information on a topic, placing it in the context of a field's history and development. Topical discussion and opinions are proffered in Perspectives and News & Views articles, and in the Research Highlights section we filter primary research from a range of specialty and general medical journals. Finally, Case Studies enable authors to present novel and interesting cases and discuss the most useful features to bear in mind for treating future cases.

To an extent, all life scientists are geneticists because genetic technology and the accumulation of genomic information have enriched all of biology. You may or may not call yourself a geneticist, but if you work on or with genes you need to know about the latest developments. Nature Reviews Genetics covers the full scientific breadth of modern genetics, capturing its excitement, diversity and implications.Subjects covered * Genomics: genome sequencing, genome projects, bioinformatics, cancer genomics, metagenomics, pharmacogenomics, resources * Functional genomics: transcriptomics, functional genomics screens, bioinformatics * Evolutionary genetics: evo-devo, genome evolution, comparative genomics, population genetics, phylogenetics * Technology: new techniques, experimental strategies, therapy, applied genetics and genomics, computational biology * Gene expression: gene regulatory elements, transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation, regulatory RNAs, broad perspectives on gene regulation, gene expression profiling, gene regulatory networks * Multifactorial genetics: complex traits, mapping strategies, technology, genetic variation * Disease: disease gene identification, relationship between genotype and phenotype, molecular pathology of genetic disease, complex disease, disease susceptibility/resistance * Chromosome biology: DNA elements, telomeres, centromeres, mobile elements, chromosome stability, DNA damage, meiosis and mitosis, nuclear organization, artificial chromosomes * Epigenetics: DNA methylation, histone modification, chromatin structure, imprinting, chromatin remodeling, epigenomics * Developmental biology: patterning, differentiation, stem cells, reproductive technology * Systems and networks: systems biology, biological networks, synthetic biology, modelling * Ethical, legal and social implications of genetics and genomics.

Molecular cell biology is a marriage of two distinct, yet complementary, disciplines. In its traditional sense, the term 'molecular biology' refers to study of the macromolecules essential to life — nucleic acids and proteins. The field of cell biology is a natural extension of this, integrating what we know at the molecular level into an understanding of processes and interactions at the cellular level. Only by combining both fields can we paint a broad picture of essential biological processes such as how cells divide, grow, communicate and die.Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology takes readers on a journey from the nucleus of a cell to its boundaries and beyond. It features Reviews and Perspectives articles on a broad range of topics, and highlights important primary papers and technological progress. The scope of the journal includes:Subjects covered * Cell signalling (signalling networks, ion channels, gap junctions) * Membrane dynamics (membrane organization, endocytosis, exocytosis, organelle biogenesis) * Cell adhesion (adhesion molecules, extracellular matrix) * Cytoskeletal dynamics (cell motility, molecular motors, actin, microtubules, intermediate filaments) * Developmental cell biology (developmental signalling, differentiation, asymmetric cell division, stem cells) * Cell growth and division (cell cycle, cytokinesis, cancer) * Cell death (apoptosis, necrosis, autophagy, ageing) * Cellular microbiology (host–pathogen interactions) * Plant cell biology * Gene expression (transcription, splicing, RNA stability, translation, RNA interference, circadian rhythms) * Nucleic-acid metabolism (DNA repair, recombination and replication, RNA biogenesis) * Chromosome biology (chromatin, chromosome structure, transposons) * Nuclear transport (import and export of molecules to and from the nucleus) * Bioenergetics (respiration, photosynthesis, organelle biochemistry) * Protein structure and metabolism (structure-function relationships, quality control, post-translational modifications, folding, translocation, degradation) * Technology and techniques (imaging, proteomics, systems biology, bioinformatics).

Nature Structural & Molecular Biology is an integrated forum for structural and molecular studies. The journal places a strong emphasis on functional and mechanistic understanding of how molecular components in a biological process work together. Structural data may provide such insights, but they are not a pre-requisite for publication in the journal.Specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to:* Structure and function of proteins, nucleic acids and other macromolecules* Structure and function of multi-component complexes* DNA replication, repair and recombination* Chromatin structure and remodeling* Transcription* RNA processing* Translation* Regulation of transcription and translation* Functions of noncoding RNAs* Protein folding, processing and degradation* Sorting and trafficking of proteins and RNA* Signal transduction and intracellular signaling* Membrane processes* Cell surface proteins and cell-cell interactions* Molecular basis of disease.

This highly respected and frequently cited journal is a prime source of information in the area of fetal and neonatal research. Original papers present research on all aspects of neonatology, fetal medicine and developmental biology. These papers encompass both basic science and clinical research including randomized trials, novel observational studies and epidemiology. Basic science research covers molecular biology, molecular genetics, physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology in fetal and neonatal life. In addition to the classic features the journal accepts papers for sections "Research Briefings", "Sources of Neonatal Medicine" (historical pieces) and "Global Neonatal Research". Papers reporting the results of animal studies should be based upon hypotheses that relate to developmental processes or disorders in the human fetus or neonate.

Neoplasia encourages the free exchange of all clones, cell lines, and biological reagents described in its pages to facilitate the progress of research in order to ultimately provide those fighting neoplastic diseases with new diagnostic, preventative and therapeutic options.