Aims & Scope
International Journal of Structural Biology (IJSB) publishes fundamental research on the three-dimensional architecture of biological macromolecules, their conformational dynamics, and the molecular mechanisms governing cellular processes at atomic and near-atomic resolution.
Tier 1 Core Research Domains
Macromolecular Structure Determination
- X-ray crystallography of proteins and nucleic acids
- Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and single-particle analysis
- Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy for solution structures
- Integrative structural biology combining multiple techniques
- Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) for low-resolution structures
- Neutron scattering and diffraction methods
High-resolution cryo-EM structure of a ribosomal complex revealing conformational states during translation elongation, with detailed analysis of RNA-protein interactions at 2.5 Å resolution.
Protein Architecture & Folding
- Protein domain organization and tertiary structure
- Folding mechanisms and energy landscapes
- Intrinsically disordered proteins and regions
- Protein-protein interaction interfaces
- Allosteric mechanisms and conformational changes
- Chaperone-mediated folding pathways
Structural characterization of a multi-domain kinase showing how ATP binding induces conformational changes that propagate through the activation loop, elucidated through crystallography and molecular dynamics simulations.
Nucleic Acid Structure & Complexes
- DNA and RNA secondary and tertiary structures
- Ribozyme and ribonucleoprotein architecture
- DNA-protein recognition and binding mechanisms
- RNA folding and structural motifs
- Chromatin structure and nucleosome organization
- Non-coding RNA structural biology
Crystal structure of a CRISPR-Cas9 complex bound to target DNA, revealing the molecular basis for sequence recognition and the conformational rearrangements required for DNA cleavage.
Computational Structural Biology
- Molecular dynamics simulations of biomolecular systems
- Protein structure prediction and homology modeling
- Docking studies and binding site analysis
- Free energy calculations and thermodynamic analysis
- AI-driven structure prediction (AlphaFold, RoseTTAFold)
- Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) methods
Microsecond-scale molecular dynamics simulations revealing the complete conformational transition pathway of a membrane transporter, validated against experimental cryo-EM structures of intermediate states.
Tier 2 Secondary Focus Areas
Membrane Protein Structure
- Ion channels and transporters
- G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs)
- Membrane protein crystallization methods
- Lipid-protein interactions
Enzyme Mechanisms
- Active site architecture and catalysis
- Substrate binding and product release
- Enzyme-inhibitor complexes
- Structural enzymology
Structural Bioinformatics
- Sequence-structure-function relationships
- Structural databases and annotation
- Comparative structural analysis
- Structure-based phylogenetics
Supramolecular Assemblies
- Viral capsid architecture
- Cytoskeletal protein assemblies
- Molecular machines and complexes
- Protein fibrils and aggregates
Methodological Advances
- Novel crystallization techniques
- Advanced microscopy methods
- Spectroscopic innovations
- Data processing algorithms
Structure-Based Design
- Rational protein engineering
- Virtual screening approaches
- Fragment-based design
- Molecular design principles
Tier 3 Emerging Research Areas
AI-Integrated Structural Analysis
- Deep learning for structure prediction
- Machine learning in cryo-EM image processing
- Neural network-based refinement methods
Note: Submissions undergo additional editorial review for methodological rigor.
Time-Resolved Structural Biology
- Serial crystallography at synchrotrons and XFELs
- Time-resolved cryo-EM
- Pump-probe spectroscopy
Note: Requires demonstration of temporal resolution advantage.
In-Cell Structural Biology
- Cryo-electron tomography of cellular structures
- In-cell NMR spectroscopy
- Correlative light and electron microscopy
Note: Must provide molecular-level structural insights.
Out of Scope Explicit Exclusions
Clinical Applications
Patient outcomes, clinical trials, diagnostic methods, and therapeutic efficacy studies belong in clinical journals. We focus on fundamental molecular mechanisms, not medical applications.
Cell Biology Without Structure
Studies of cellular processes, signaling pathways, or gene expression without atomic or near-atomic structural data are outside our scope. Structural insight is mandatory.
Purely Computational Predictions
Structure predictions without experimental validation or novel methodological contributions are not considered. Predictions must be validated or present significant algorithmic advances.
Structural Violence & Social Topics
Social science topics using "structural" terminology (structural violence, structural inequality) are completely outside our molecular biology scope.
Medical Imaging
Structural MRI, clinical imaging, and radiological studies are not within scope. We focus on molecular-level structural biology, not medical imaging technologies.
Regenerative Medicine
Stem cell biology, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine applications lack the molecular structural focus required for this journal.
Article Types & Editorial Priorities
Case reports and purely theoretical studies without experimental validation are generally not considered.
Editorial Standards & Requirements
Reporting Guidelines
Adherence to community standards: PDB deposition requirements, validation reports, and transparent methodology reporting.
Data Availability
Mandatory deposition of coordinates and structure factors in public databases (PDB, EMDB) prior to publication.
Ethics Compliance
Institutional approval for recombinant DNA work and biosafety protocols. Animal studies require ARRIVE compliance.
Preprint Policy
Preprints on bioRxiv or arXiv are welcomed and do not affect consideration for publication.
Decision Metrics & Timeline
Ready to Submit Your Research?
If your work provides atomic or near-atomic structural insights into biological macromolecules, their dynamics, or molecular mechanisms, we invite your submission. For scope inquiries, contact our editorial team.
Contact Editorial Office
