Aims & Scope

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 features Reviews, Perspective articles and Comments on a broad range of topics, and highlights important primary papers and technological progress.

Reviews, Perspectives and Comments are commissioned by the editorial team.

The scope of the journal includes:

  • 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 and stem cell biology
  • 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 and nuclear architecture (chromatin, chromosome structure, transposons)
  • Nuclear transport (import and export of molecules to and from the nucleus)
  • Protein structure and metabolism (structure-function relationships, quality control, post-translational modifications, folding, translocation, degradation)
  • Bioenergetics (respiration, photosynthesis, organelle biochemistry)
  • Technology and techniques (imaging, proteomics, systems biology, bioinformatics)