Content Types

Brief Communication

A Brief Communication reports a concise study of high quality and broad interest to the chemical biology community. This format generally does not exceed 3 printed journal pages. Brief Communications begin with a brief unreferenced abstract (3 sentences, no more than 70 words). The main text is typically 1,600–1,800 words (not including abstract, figure legends, Online Methods or references) and contains no headings. Brief Communications have no more than 3 display items (figures and/or tables). As a guideline, Brief Communications allow up to 25 references. Brief Communications include an Online Methods section.

Brief Communications include received/accepted dates. They may be accompanied by supplementary information. Brief Communications are peer reviewed.

Article

An Article is a substantial research study of high quality and general interest to the chemical biology community. Articles are generally 5-8 printed journal pages. The main text (not including abstract, Online Methods, references and figure legends) is typically no more than to 4,000 words. The abstract is no more than 150 words and may not contain references. Articles typically have up to 6 display items (figures and/or tables). An introduction is followed by sections headed Results, Discussion and Online Methods. The Results and Online Methods should be divided by topical subheadings; the Discussion should be succinct and may not contain subheadings. As a guideline, Articles allow up to 50 references.

Articles include received/accepted dates. They may be accompanied by supplementary information. Articles are peer reviewed.

Correspondence

The Correspondence section provides a forum for comment on papers or discussion of issues relevant to the journal’s community. A Correspondence should not exceed more than one printed page and is typically 250–500 words; it is limited to one display item and, as guideline, Correspondence allows up to 10 references. Article titles are omitted from the reference list. Titles for Correspondences are supplied by the editors. Correspondence may be peer-reviewed at the editors’ discretion. Note that Correspondence pieces are not technical comments on peer-reviewed research papers which would be considered Matters Arising.

Matters Arising

Matters Arising are exceptionally interesting and timely scientific comments and clarifications on original research papers published in Nature Chemical Biology. These comments should ideally be based on knowledge contemporaneous with the original paper, rather than subsequent scientific developments.

For detailed information on how to submit a Matters Arising, please follow instructions here.

Comment

Comment articles focus on policy, science and society or purely scientific issues related to chemical biology. They should be of immediate interest to a broad readership and should be written in an accessible, nontechnical style. Comments are approximately 2,000-3,000 words and typically occupy 3-4 printed journal pages. These pieces generally contain 2-3 display items (figures, tables and/or boxes). As a guideline, Comments allow up to 25 references. Article titles are omitted from the reference list. Comments may not contain primary research data, although they may present 'sociological' data (funding trends, demographics, bibliographic data, etc.).

Comments may be peer reviewed at the editor's discretion and do not include received/accepted dates.

Books & Arts

The Books & Arts section section of Nature Chemical Biology publishes timely reviews of books and other technological or cultural resources of interest to chemical biologists; the section also runs comment pieces on trends in these areas. These pieces are generally limited to one page in the journal. Articles in this section are commissioned, and unsolicited contributions are not accepted.

Books & Arts pieces are not peer reviewed and do not contain received/accepted dates.

News and Views

News and Views are by prior arrangement only. They may be linked to articles in Nature Chemical Biology, or they may focus on papers of exceptional significance that are published elsewhere. Although unsolicited contributions will not normally be considered, prospective authors may propose topics.

News and Views are not peer reviewed, but undergo editing in consultation with the editorial team.

Review Article

A Review Article is an authoritative, balanced and scholarly survey of recent developments in a research field. The requirement for balance need not prevent authors from proposing a specific viewpoint, but if there are controversies in the field, the authors must treat them in an even–handed way. Reviews begin with an unreferenced abstract of no more than 120 words. They are normally 4,000–5,000 words long, and typically include 4–6 display items (figures, tables or boxes); illustrations are strongly encouraged. As a guideline, Reviews allow up to 100 references, with exceptions possible in special cases. Citations should be selective. The scope of a Review should be broad enough that it is not dominated by the work of a single laboratory, and particularly not by the authors' own work.

Reviews articles are always peer-reviewed to ensure factual accuracy, appropriate citations and scholarly balance. They include received/accepted dates.

Perspective

Perspectives are a second format for scholarly reviews and discussions of the primary research literature. Perspectives differ from Reviews and Commentaries in that they frequently present a focused review of a rapidly moving area of science. They also may advocate a controversial position or present a speculative hypothesis. Two reviews advocating opposite sides in a research controversy are normally published as Perspectives. Perspectives are usually 8-10 printed journal pages. Perspectives include a 150-word abstract written for a general audience, a main text of 4,000-5,000 words and 6-8 display items (figures, tables and/or boxes). As a guideline, Perspectives allow up to 100 references. Unpublished primary research data are not permitted in Perspectives.

Perspectives include received/accepted dates. Perspectives are always peer reviewed to ensure factual accuracy and appropriate citations, and they are edited in consultation with the editor.