!!! Important information for NIH authors !!!



Submission Checklist
Preparation of illustrations
Reviews
Cells in Focus
Medicine in Focus
Molecules in Focus
Pathogens in Focus
Signalling Networks in Focus

The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology publishes papers containing the results of original research in all areas of contemporary biochemistry and cell biology. The scope includes biochemical, cellular and molecular approaches to the study of cells and subcellular processes, and all areas of biomedical research. The journal also contains a regular series of up-to-the-minute reviews highlighting major developments in modern biochemistry, cell biology and biomedical research written by internationally renowned experts in the field.

Submission of descriptive papers without a clear hypothesis and/or model is not encouraged. In addition, because of the breadth of subjects covered by the journal, the aim and significance of every study must be made clear.

Submission Checklist

It is hoped that this list will be useful during the final checking of an article prior to sending it to the journal's Editor for review. Please consult this Guide for Authors for further details of any item.

Ensure that the following items are present:

• One Author designated as corresponding Author:
• E-mail address
• Full postal address
• Telephone and fax numbers

For Online Submission:

• All necessary files have been uploaded
• Abstract of no more than 250 words
• Keywords
• All figure captions
• References
• Tables

Further considerations

• Manuscript has been "spell-checked"
• Title is short and does not contain acronyms
• References are in the correct format for this journal
• All references mentioned in the Reference list are cited in the text, and vice versa.
• Permission has been obtained for use of copyrighted material from other sources (including the Web)
• Colour figures are clearly marked as being intended for colour reproduction on the Web (free of charge) and in print or to be reproduced in colour on the Web (free of charge) and in black-and-white in print
• If only colour on the Web is required, black and white versions of the figures are also supplied for printing purposes.
• Total word count is less than 5000 excluding references
• Fax numbers and email addresses of three potential referees
• Evidence of submission of nucleic acid sequences to appropriate databanks
• Please suggest 3 or more potential reviewers. We ask that these not be from your own or affiliated institutions, current collaborators/lab members or previous collaborators/lab members with whom you have published in the past 5 years.
Please note that the reviewers must not have co-written papers with the authors of the manuscripts submitted to The International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology during the last two years.

Submission of articles

General

It is essential to give a fax number and e-mail address of the corresponding author when submitting a manuscript. Articles must be written in good English.

Submission of an article implies that the work described has not been published previously (except in the form of an abstract or as part of a published lecture or academic thesis), that it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere, that its publication is approved by all authors and tacitly or explicitly by the responsible authorities where the work was carried out, and that, if accepted, it will not be published elsewhere in the same form, in English or in any other language, without the written consent of the Publisher. A covering letter stating the manuscript title and names of authors should declare "the manuscript has neither been published (except in the form of abstract of in a thesis) nor is it currently under consideration for publication either in whole or in part, by any other journal". This letter should be signed by each of the co-Authors or one of the authors together with the statement that "submission has been approved by (each of) my co-Author(s)."

Upon acceptance of an article, Authors will be asked to transfer copyright (for more information on copyright see http://www.elsevier.com/authorsrights). This transfer will ensure the widest possible dissemination of information. A letter will be sent to the corresponding Author confirming receipt of the manuscript. A form facilitating transfer of copyright will be provided. If excerpts from other copyrighted works are included, the Author(s) must obtain written permission from the copyright owners and credit the source(s) in the article. Elsevier has pre-printed forms for use by Authors in these cases: contact Elsevier's Rights Department, Oxford, UK: phone (44) 1865 843830, fax: (44) 1865 853333, e-mail: permissions@elsevier.com.

Requests may also be completed on-line via the Elsevier homepage ( http://www.elsevier.com/locate/permissions).

US National Institutes of Health (NIH) voluntary posting (? Public Access?) policy Elsevier facilitates author response to the NIH voluntary posting request (referred to as the NIH "Public Access Policy"; see http://www.nih.gov/about/publicaccess/index.htm) by posting the peer-reviewed author?s manuscript directly to PubMed Central on request from the author, 12 months after formal publication. Upon notification from Elsevier of acceptance, we will ask you to confirm via e-mail (by e-mailing us at NIHauthorrequest@elsevier.com) that your work has received NIH funding and that you intend to respond to the NIH policy request, along with your NIH award number to facilitate processing. Upon such confirmation, Elsevier will submit to PubMed Central on your behalf a version of your manuscript that will include peer-review comments, for posting 12 months after formal publication. This will ensure that you will have responded fully to the NIH request policy. There will be no need for you to post your manuscript directly with PubMed Central, and any such posting is prohibited.

Authors' rights
As an author you (or your employer or institution) may do the following: - make copies (print or electronic) of the article for your own personal use, including for your own classroom teaching use - make copies and distribute such copies (including through e-mail) of the article to research colleagues, for the personal use by such colleagues (but not commercially or systematically, e.g., via an e-mail list or list server) - post a pre-print version of the article on Internet websites including electronic pre-print servers, and to retain indefinitely such version on such servers or sites - post a revised personal version of the final text of the article (to reflect changes made in the peer review and editing process) on your personal or institutional website or server, with a link to the journal homepage (on http://www.elsevier.com/authors) - present the article at a meeting or conference and to distribute copies of the article to the delegates attending such a meeting - for your employer, if the article is a ?work for hire?, made within the scope of your employment, your employer may use all or part of the information in the article for other intra-company use (e.g., training) - retain patent and trademark rights and rights to any processes or procedure described in the article - include the article in full or in part in a thesis or dissertation (provided that this is not to be published commercially) - use the article or any part thereof in a printed compilation of your works, such as collected writings or lecture notes (subsequent to publication of your article in the journal) - prepare other derivative works, to extend the article into book-length form, or to otherwise re-use portions or excerpts in other works, with full acknowledgement of its original publication in the journal.

Please submit, with the manuscript, the names and addresses of three potential referees.

Should Authors be requested by the editor to revise the text, the revised version should be submitted within eight weeks. After this period, the article will be regarded as a new submission.

On-line submission to journal

Authors are asked to submit their manuscripts to the journal electronically, by using the Elsevier Editorial System submission tool at http://www.ees.elsevier.com/bc. After registration, Authors will be asked to upload their article and associated artwork. The submission tool will generate a PDF file to be used for the reviewing process.

Full instructions on how to use the online submission tool and a tutorial for Authors are available at the above web address.

Paper submission to the journal

In the event of online submission being impossible, please contact the Editorial Office at BC@elsevier.com

Electronic format requirements for accepted articles

General points
We accept most word-processing formats, but Word, WordPerfect or LaTeX is preferred. An electronic version of the text should be submitted together with the final hardcopy of the manuscript. The electronic version must match the hardcopy exactly. Always keep a backup copy of the electronic file for reference and safety. Label storage media with your name, journal title and software used. Save your files using the default extension of the program used. No changes to the accepted version are permissible without the explicit approval of the Editor. Electronic files can be stored on 31/2-inch diskette, ZIP-disk or CD (either MS-DOS or Macintosh).

Word processor documents

It is important that the file be saved in the native format of the word processor used. The text should be in single-column format. Keep the layout of the text as simple as possible. Most formatting codes will be removed and replaced on processing the article. In particular, do not use the word processor's options to justify text or to hyphenate words. However, do use bold face, italics, subscripts, superscripts etc. Do not embed "graphically designed" equations or tables, but prepare these using the word processor's facility. When preparing tables, if you are using a table grid, use only one grid for each individual table and not a grid for each row. If no grid is used, use tabs, not spaces, to align columns. The electronic text should be prepared in a way very similar to that of conventional manuscripts. Do not import the figures into the text file but, instead, indicate their approximate locations directly in the electronic text and on the manuscript. See also the section on Preparation of electronic illustrations.

To avoid unnecessary errors you are strongly advised to use the "spellchecker" function of your word processor.

Although Elsevier can process most word processor file formats, should your electronic file prove to be unusable, the article will be typeset from the hardcopy printout.

Presentation of manuscript

General
Please write your text in good English (American or British usage is accepted, but not a mixture of these). Italics are not to be used for expressions of Latin origin, for example, in vivo, et al., per se. Use decimal points (not commas); use a space for thousands (10 000 and above).

English language help service. Upon request, Elsevier will direct authors to an agent who can check and improve the English of their paper (before submission). Please contact authorsupport@elsevier.com for further information.

The manuscript should use double spacing and wide (3 cm) margins. (Avoid full justification, i.e., do not use a constant right-hand margin.) Ensure that each new paragraph is clearly indicated. Present tables and figure captions on separate pages at the end of the manuscript. If possible, consult a recent issue of the journal to become familiar with layout and conventions. Number all pages consecutively.

Title Page
Provide the following data in the order given

Classification. Please provide the exact type of the article (original article, full length review, specific In Focus review). Please note that as a general policy, all review articles may be submitted by the Editor's invitation only.

Title. Concise and informative. Titles are often used in information-retrieval systems. Avoid abbreviations and formulae where possible.

Author names and affiliation. Where the family name may be ambiguous (e.g., a double name), please indicate this clearly. Present the Authors' affiliation addresses (where the actual work was done) below the names. Indicate all affiliations with a lower-case superscript letter immediately after the Author's name and in front of the appropriate address. Provide the full postal address of each affiliation, including the country name, and, if available, the e-mail address of each Author.

Corresponding Author. Clearly indicate who is willing to handle correspondence at all stages of refereeing and publication, also post-publication. Ensure that telephone and fax numbers (with country and area code) are provided in addition to the e-mail address and the complete postal address.

Present/permanent address. If an Author has moved since the work described in the article was done, or was visiting at the time, a "Present address" (or "Permanent address") may be indicated as a footnote to that Author's name. The address at which the Author actually did the work must be retained as the main, affiliation address. Superscript Arabic numerals are used for such footnotes.

Abstract. A concise and factual abstract of 250 words is required. The abstract should state the purpose of the research, the principal results and major conclusions. An abstract is often presented separate from the article, so it must be able to stand-alone.

• References should be avoided, but if essential, they must be cited in full, without reference to the reference list.
• Non-standard or uncommon abbreviations and acronyms should be avoided, but if essential they must be defined at their first mention in the abstract itself.

Keywords. Immediately after the abstract, provide a maximum of five keywords, using American spelling and avoiding general and plural terms and multiple concepts (avoid, for example, "and", "of"). Be sparing with abbreviations: only abbreviations firmly established in the field may be eligible. These keywords will be used for indexing purposes.

Abbreviations. Define abbreviations that are not standard in this field at their first occurrence in the abstract and also in the main text of the article. Ensure consistency of abbreviations throughout the article.

Nomenclature and units. Follow internationally accepted rules and conventions: use the international system of units (SI). If other quantities are mentioned, give their equivalent in SI. You are urged to consult IUB: Biochemical Nomenclature & Related Documents http://www.chem.qmw.ac.uk/iubmb/ for further information.

Structure of the article

Subdivision of the article. Subheadings should be made clear using uppercase, bold and italics. Any subsection may be given a brief heading. Each heading should appear on its own separate line.

Please use the following headings and in the order given: Introduction. State the objectives of the work and provide an adequate background, avoiding a detailed literature survey or a summary of the results.

Materials and methods. Provide sufficient detail to allow the work to be reproduced. Methods already published should be indicated by a reference: only relevant modifications should be described.

Results. Results should be clear and concise.

Discussion. This should explore the significance of the results of the work, not repeat them. A combined Results and Discussion section is often appropriate. Avoid extensive citations and discussion of published literature.

Acknowledgements. Place acknowledgements, including information on grants received, before the references, in a separate section, and not as a footnote on the title page.

References. The responsibility for the accuracy of the bibliography citations lies entirely with the Authors.

Text: All citations in the text should refer to:
1. Single author: the author's name (without initials, unless there is ambiguity) and the year of publication;
2. Two authors: both authors' names and the year of publication;
3. Three or more authors: first author's name followed by "et al." and the year of publication.
Citations may be made directly (or parenthetically). Groups of references should be listed first alphabetically, then chronologically.

Examples: "as demonstrated in wheat (Allan, 1996a, 1996b, 1999; Allan and Jones, 1995). Kramer et al. (2000) have recently shown ...."

List: References should be arranged first alphabetically and then further sorted chronologically if necessary. More than one reference from the same author(s) in the same year must be identified by the letters "a", "b", "c", etc., placed after the year of publication.

Examples:

Reference to a journal publication:

Van der Geer J, Hanraads JAJ, Lupton RA. The art of writing a scientific article. J Sci Commun 2000;163:51 – 9.

Reference to a book:

Strunk Jr W, White EB. The elements of style. 3rd ed. New York: Macmillan; 1979.

Reference to a chapter in an edited book:

Mettam GR, Adams LB. How to prepare an electronic version of your article. In: Jones BS, Smith RZ, editors. Introduction to the electronic age. New York: E–Publishing Inc; 1994. p. 281 – 304.

Note shortened form for last page number. e.g., 51 – 9, and that for more than 6 authors the first 6 should be listed followed by "et al." For further details you are referred to "Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts submitted to Biomedical Journals" (J Am Med Assoc 1997;277:927 – 934) (see also http://www.nlm.nih.gov/tsd/serials/terms_cond.html)

Additional Components

Figure captions, tables, figures, and schemes. Present these, in this order, at the end of the article. They are described in more detail below under Tables and Preparation of Illustrations.

Tables. Number tables consecutively in accordance with their appearance in the text. Place footnotes to tables below the table body and indicate them with superscript lowercase letters. Avoid vertical rules. Be sparing in the use of tables and ensure that the data presented in tables do not duplicate results described elsewhere in the article.

Mathematical formulae. Present simple formulae in the line of normal text where possible. In principle, variables are to be presented in italics. Use the solidus (/) instead of a horizontal line.

Example:

Xp/Ym rather than Xp Ym Powers of e are often more conveniently denoted by exp. Number consecutively any equations that have to be displayed separate from the text (if referred to explicitly in the text).

DNA sequences and GenBank Accession numbers . Authors wishing to enable other scientists to use the accession numbers cited in their papers via links to these sources, should type this information in the following manner:

For each and every accession number cited in an article, Authors should type the accession number in bold, underlined text. Letters in the accession number should always be capitalised. (See Example below). This combination of letters and format will enable Elsevier's typesetters to recognise the relevant texts as accession numbers and add the required link to GenBank's sequences.

Example:
"GenBank accession nos. AI631510 , AI631511 , AI632198 , and BF223228 ), a B-cell tumor from a chronic lymphatic leukemia (GenBank accession no. BE675048 ), and a T-cell lymphoma (GenBank accession no. AA361117 )".

Authors are encouraged to check accession numbers used very carefully. An error in a letter or number can result in a dead link. In the final version of the printed article, the accession number text will not appear bold or underlined. In the final version of the electronic copy, the accession number text will be linked to the appropriate source in the NCBI databases enabling readers to go directly to that source from the article.

Preparation of supplementary data. Elsevier now accepts electronic supplementary material (e-components) to support and enhance your scientific research. Supplementary files offer the Author additional possibilities to publish supporting applications, movies, animation sequences, high-resolution images, background datasets, sound clips and more. Supplementary files supplied will be published online alongside the electronic version of your article in Elsevier Web products, including ScienceDirect: http://www.sciencedirect.com. In order to ensure that your submitted material is directly usable, please ensure that data is provided in one of our recommended file formats. Authors should submit the material in electronic format together with the article and supply a concise and descriptive caption for each file. For more detailed instructions please visit our artwork instruction pages at http://www.elsevier.com/artworkinstructions.

Files can be stored on 3½ inch diskette, ZIP-disk or CD (either MS-DOS or Macintosh).

Preparation of illustrations Preparation of electronic illustrations. Submitting your artwork in an electronic format helps us to produce your work to the best possible standards, ensuring accuracy, clarity and a high level of detail.

Preparation checklist for illustrations

1. Please ensure that molecular weight markers are included in all immunoblot and gel figures.
2. For comparative studies, all the protein bands must originate from the same gel.
3. Bar graphs must include standard errors or standard deviations.
4. Please avoid over-complicated coding patterns for bars.
5. Micrographs must include scale bars.
6. Make sure you use uniform lettering and sizing of your original artwork. Appropriately sized numbers, letters, and symbols should be used so they are no smaller than 2.4 mm (10 pt) in size after reduction to a single column width (7.84 cm or 3.085 inches), or a 2-column width (16.5 cm or 6.5 inches). Superscript and subscript characters are included in this rule. Numbers, letters, and symbols used in multi-paneled figures must be consistent.
7. Save text in illustrations as "graphics" or enclose the font.
8. Illustrations should only use regular Arial or Helvetica font.
9. Figures should preferably be drawn to occupy a single column width (7.84 cm or 3.085 inches). Occasionally, the figures may occupy a double column width if such size enhances presentation. Produce images near to the desired size of the printed version.
10. Make sure that the lettering is such that when the figure is in print, the size of the font is the equivalent to, or slightly larger than the text of the journal.
11. Axis labels should be printed with an initial capital letter followed by lower case lettering with units in open brackets. Axis line width should be uniform and 1 pt in thickness.
12. Column and line diagrams should not be boxed or include gridlines.
13. Provide all illustrations as separate files.
14. Number the illustrations according to their sequence in the text.
15. Use a logical naming convention for your artwork files, and supply a separate listing of the files and the software used.
16. Below are examples of well-formatted figures.

Examples well-formatted figures

Files can be stored on 3½ inch diskette, ZIP-disk or CD (either MS-DOS or Macintosh). This journal offers electronic submission, using the Elsevier Editorial System submission tool at http://www.ees.elsevier.com/bc. A detailed guide on electronic artwork is available on our website: http://www.elsevier.com/artworkinstructions

A detailed guide on electronic artwork is available on our website: http://authors.elsevier.com/artwork

You are urged to visit this site; some excerpts from the detailed information are given here.

Formats
Regardless of the application used, when your electronic artwork is finalised, please "save as" or convert the images to one of the following formats (Note the resolution requirements for line drawings, halftones, and line/ halftone combinations given below.):

EPS: Vector drawings. Embed the font or save the text as "graphics".
TIFF: Colour or greyscale photographs (halftones): always use a minimum of 300 dpi.
TIFF: Bitmapped line drawings: use a minimum of 1000 dpi.
TIFF: Combinations bitmapped line/half-tone (colour or greyscale): a minimum of 500 dpi is required. DOC, XLS or PPT: If your electronic artwork is created in any of these Microsoft Office applications please supply "as is".

Please do not:

• Supply embedded graphics in your word processor (spreadsheet, presentation) document;
• Supply files that are optimised for screen use (like GIF, BMP, PICT, WPG); the resolution is too low;
• Supply files that are too low in resolution;
• Submit graphics that are disproportionately large for the content.

Non-electronic illustrations. Provide all illustrations as high-quality printouts, suitable for reproduction (which may include reduction) without retouching. Number illustrations consecutively in the order in which they are referred to in the text. They should accompany the manuscript, but should not be included within the text. Clearly mark all illustrations on the back (or - in case of line drawings - on the lower front side) with the figure number and the Author's name and, in cases of ambiguity, the correct orientation.

Mark the appropriate position of a figure in the article.

Captions. Ensure that each illustration has a caption. Supply captions on a separate sheet, not attached to the figure. A caption should comprise a brief title (not on the figure itself) and a description of the illustration. Keep text in the illustrations themselves to a minimum but explain all symbols and abbreviations used.

Line drawing: Supply high-quality printouts on white paper produced with black ink. The lettering and symbols, as well as other details, should have proportionate dimensions, so as not to become illegible or unclear after possible reduction; in general, the figures should be designed for a reduction factor of two to three. The degree of reduction will be determined by the Publisher. Illustrations will not be enlarged. Consider the page format of the journal when designing the illustrations.

Photocopies are not suitable for reproduction. Do not use any type of shading on computer-generated illustrations.

Photographs (halftones). Please supply original photographs printed on glossy paper, very sharp and with good contrast. Remove non-essential areas of a photograph. Do not mount photographs unless they form part of a composite figure. Where necessary, insert a scale bar in the illustration (not below it), as opposed to giving a magnification factor in the caption.

Note that photocopies of photographs are not acceptable.

Colour illustrations. Submit colour illustrations as original photographs, high-quality computer prints or transparencies, close to the size expected in publication, or as 35 mm slides. Please make sure that artwork files are in an acceptable format (TIFF, EPS or MS Office files) and with the correct resolution. Polaroid colour prints are not suitable. If, together with your accepted article, you submit usable colour figures then Elsevier will ensure, at no additional charge, that these figures will appear in colour on the Web (e.g., ScienceDirect and other sites) regardless of whether or not these illustrations are reproduced in colour in the printed version. For colour reproduction in print, you will receive information regarding the costs from Elsevier after receipt of your accepted article. Please indicate your preference for colour in print or on the Web only. For further information on the preparation of electronic artwork, please see http://www.elsevier.com/artworkinstructions.
Please note: Because of technical complications which can arise by converting colour figures to "grey scale" (for the printed version should you not opt for colour in print) please submit in addition usable black and white versions of all the colour illustrations.

Proofs

When your manuscript is received by the Publisher it is considered to be in its final form.

One set of page proofs in PDF format will be sent by e-mail to the corresponding Author, to be checked for typesetting/editing. No changes in, or additions to, the accepted (and subsequently edited) manuscript will be allowed at this stage.

Proofreading is solely the responsibility of the corresponding Author.

A form with queries from the copyeditor may accompany the proofs. Please answer all queries and make any corrections or additions required.

The Publisher reserves the right to proceed with publication if corrections are not communicated.

Please return corrections within 15 days of receipt of the proofs. Should there be no corrections, please confirm this.

Elsevier will do everything possible to get your article corrected and published as quickly and accurately as possible. In order to do this we need your help. When you receive the (PDF) proof of your article for correction, it is important to ensure that all of your corrections are sent back to us in one communication. Subsequent corrections will not be possible, so please ensure your first sending is complete. Note that this does not mean you have any less time to make your corrections, just that only one set of corrections can be accepted.

US National Institutes of Health (NIH) voluntary posting ("Public Access") policy.

Elsevier facilitates author response to the NIH voluntary posting request (referred to as the NIH 'Public Access Policy'; see http://www.nih.gov/about/publicaccess/index.htm ) by posting the author?s peer-reviewed manuscript directly to PubMed Central on request from the author, 12 months after formal publication. Upon notification from Elsevier of acceptance, we will ask you to confirm via e-mail (by e-mailing us at NIHauthorrequest@elsevier.com that your work has received NIH funding and that you intend to respond to the NIH policy request, along with your NIH award number to facilitate processing. Upon such confirmation, Elsevier will submit to PubMed Central on your behalf a version of your manuscript that will include peer-review comments, for posting 12 months after formal publication. This will ensure that you will have responded fully to the NIH request policy. There will be no need for you to post your manuscript directly with PubMed Central, and any such posting is prohibited.

Offprints

Twenty-five offprints of regular papers will be supplied free of charge to the corresponding Author.

Additional offprints can be ordered on an offprint order form included with the proofs.

Information about The International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology is available on the World Wide Web at the following address or http://www.elsevier.com/locate/biocel

Presentation of commissioned articles

Reviews

1. General. All Full-length Reviews are commissioned by the Reviews Editor and are written by recognised experts who are active researchers in their field. The intent of the Full-length Reviews Articles section of IJBCB is highlight major developments in modern biochemistry and cell biology and their relevance to physiology and medicine. All Reviews are commissioned and are written by recognised experts who are active researchers in their field. Each Review serves as a vehicle to bring a balanced, rigorous, and accurate appraisal of current knowledge in the area to the broad readership of IJBCB. In surveying the area, open questions, anomalies and directions for future research may be highlighted, such that the Review provides a stimulus for further research.
   
   One free page of colour figure(s) is included with each review. All reviews are peer-reviewed by an Editorial Board member and one to two external reviewers according to the peer-review policies of IJBCB.?In general two Full-length Reviews are published in each regular issue of IJBCB. Authors who contribute a Review in this series cannot be re-invited for at least two years after publication.
   
   
2. Length. The guideline is 5,000-7,000 words excluding references. Prospective authors should consult with the Editor if they think that a shorter - or somewhat longer - format is more appropriate for the topic of their Review.
   
   
3. Title page. The title page should include a running title (maximum 50 characters), list of 5 keywords, the address and email address of the corresponding author, and a list of any abbreviations used in the Review.
   
   
4. Abstract : 250 words maximum. The Abstract should include a clear statement of the scope and purpose of the Review. It should also indicate the context of the topic within the areas of cell biology and biochemistry and its physiological and/or medical relevance.
   
   
5. Introductory section. Each Review should begin with a short Introductory section that provides a background that will make the topic area accessible to non-specialists. Any specific terms or nomenclature essential to understanding the area and the topics to be critically discussed in the main part of the review should be introduced. A historical perspective, or inclusion of a diagram or table, may be appropriate.
   
   
6. The main part of the Review. Use of subheadings to define the main points of the Review is strongly encouraged. Subheadings should be made clear using uppercase, bold and italics. Within each major section, any subsection may be given a brief heading. Each heading should appear on its own separate line. Acronyms should not be used in subheadings. The overall presentation should be clear and succinct. Repetition should be avoided or kept to a minimum. Figures and tables should be brought in as necessary to make current knowledge coherent and accessible, and to assist the clarity and effectiveness of the presentation. All statements of current knowledge should be supported by appropriated citation of the literature. Literature citations should be balanced and unbiased and accurately reflect ongoing research in the area. While one of the purposes of a Review is to discuss with rigor the current uncertainties, ideas, and questions, the text should clearly distinguish experimentally-based knowledge from ideas and speculations. Extended, unsupported lines of speculation are discouraged. The Review should survey current knowledge from published literature, in the public domain (e.g., extracted from public sequence databases), or already in press : it is not appropriate for authors to describe unpublished experiments from their laboratories.
   
   
7. Final section. The Review should end with a short section of "Conclusions" or "Future prospects", in which the main new concepts and conclusions that are emerging on the basis of the current knowledge surveyed in the Review are brought together, along with any major open questions and future prospects or directions. A model figure could be appropriate. The purpose of this section is to make a definite summary and to articulate ongoing or new questions : repetition with the main part of the Review should be kept to a minimum.
   
   
8. Figures and Tables. The use of figures and tables is expected. Figures must conform to the Journal guidelines for preparation of illustrations. In most cases, dense information, (e.g., the sites of expression of a protein or transcript as compiled from multiple publications), can be communicated more effectively in a Table than in the text. The journal will reproduce one page of colour figure(s) free of charge for all commissioned reviews. There is a charge for colour figures above one page. No formal limit is set on the total numbers of figures and tables that can be included with a Review, but the complete article (text, figures, tables and reference list should not take up more than 10 printed pages of the Journal.)

Cells in Focus

Refer to Presentation of Manuscript in this guide for detailed instructions.

Aims and Scope. Cells in Focus (2,000 words) are intended as a reference and teaching aid, highlighting new developments in cell biology. These are written to a strict format, given below, detailing the cell's origins, structure, function and associated pathologies.

Title. This should start with the name of the cell and you should highlight recent discoveries, novel therapeutic potential associated with the given cell, or any other particular themes covered. This should be done with a short phrase after a semi-colon e.g. Fibroblasts: Novel roles in the immune response

Sub-headings

It is vital that authors adhere to the following subheadings. We wish to provide readers with consistency of format, to ensure coverage of key areas and aid accessibility.

Abstract. 150-word summary

Cell Facts. To be listed below the abstract, as a set of bulleted key and interesting facts about the cell. E.g.

• Osteoblasts are the cells responsible for bone formation.
• Osteoblasts indirectly control levels of bone resorption.
• Osteoblasts play a key role in the patholophysiology of osteoporosis and the resulting fractures, which constitute a major public health burden in developed countries.

Introduction. Set the background by giving the name(s) of the cell, its main morphological features and details of its discovery if appropriate.

Cell origin and plasticity. This section details the ontogeny of the cell and differentiation pathways. If appropriate, the capacity of the cell to de-differentiate is described.

Functions. Give details of specialised cell functions, with the emphasis on recent discoveries. A clear diagram highlighting key functions should also be included and referred to in this section.

Associated pathologies. Outline known pathologies associated with the cell in focus. Include history of discovery if appropriate. Review current therapies directed at cell functions and discuss their successes and limitations. Any new approaches to therapy emanating from recent research should be highlighted. This paragraph may be as provocative as you see fit.

References. Two or three recent reviews plus a few original papers should be listed. Maximum of 20 references.

Figures. Each article should have at least two figures of high quality. For example, one figure might be a scanning electron micrograph of the cell and the second a diagram illustrating differentiation pathways or summarising cell functions. Each figure requires a caption that should summarise the main points conveyed by the diagram. The journal will reproduce one colour illustration free of charge. These are intended as a teaching aid around which the rest of the detail can revolve.

Checklist for submission

1.1. Submit online at www.ees.elsevier.com/bc
1.2. The cover page should include the heading "Cells in Focus" followed by the name of the Cell. The author's name and address (including fax, phone and e-mail address), a word count and a list of 3-4 keywords.
1.3. The article should be typewritten, with double spacing and wide margins.
1.4. The article should contain no more than 2000 words (including abstract but excluding reference list) and one or two figures.
1.5. Authors should provide names (with full initials), addresses, telephone and fax numbers of two or three referees to whom their article can be sent for reviewing purposes.
1.6. There should be no acronyms in the title or abstract.
1.7. The overall structure of the article complies with requirements set out in Presentation of manuscript in this Guide for Authors.

Medicine in Focus

Refer to Presentation of Manuscript in this guide for detailed instructions.

'Medicine in Focus' (2,000 words) provides concise information on the pathogenesis of a specific disease. The articles focus on the underlying biochemistry and cell biology of the disease processes. New developments are highlighted as well as any possible therapeutic applications coming from these studies.

Title. Must start with the name of the disease. If you wish to highlight a particular theme covered, this can be done with a short phrase after a semi-colon, e.g. Sepsis: cell signalling as a target for new therapy.

Sub-headings

It is vital that authors adhere to the following subheadings. We wish to provide readers with a consistency of format, to ensure coverage of key areas and aid accessibility.

Abstract. 150 word summary that should begin with the name of the disease. e.g. Mesothelioma is a disease of the.. . . It should outline current concepts of pathogenesis and then describe the novel ideas and themes developed in this review. Finally there should be a sentence of possible implications of these developments for new therapeutic approaches.

Introduction. Set the background by giving the name of the disease and key clinical features. Some history of discovery and/or epidemiology should be included.

Pathogenesis. Give details of current concepts in pathogenesis with information at the protein and gene level. Further sub-headings may well be appropriate for this section. A clear diagram or flow chart, should be referred to in this section. Themes developed should be clearly outlined (diagram), such as 'Recent developments in...'

Therapy. This section should review current therapy, the targets of this and discuss its success and limitations. Any new approaches emanating from recent research should be highlighted. This paragraph may be as provocative as you see fit. A diagram highlighting key functions should also be included and referred to in this section.

References. Two or three recent reviews plus a few original papers should be listed. Maximum of 20 references in total.

Figures. Each article should have at least two figures of high quality. Each figure requires a caption that should summarise the main points conveyed by the figure. The journal will reproduce one colour figure free of charge. These are intended as a teaching aid around which the rest of the detail can revolve.

Checklist for submission

1.1. Submit online at www.ees.elsevier.com/bc
1.2. The cover page should include the heading "Medicine in Focus" followed by the name of the disease. The author's name and address (including fax, phone and e-mail numbers), a word count and a list of 3-4 keywords.
1.3. The article should be typewritten, with double spacing and wide margins.
1.4. The article should contain no more than 2000 words (including abstract and excluding reference list) and one or two figures.
1.5. Authors should provide names (with full initials), addresses, e-mail, telephone and fax numbers of two or three referees to whom their article can be sent for reviewing purposes.
1.6. There should be no acronyms in the title or abstract.
1.7. The overall structure of the article complies with requirements set out in Presentation of manuscript in this Guide for Authors.

Molecules in Focus

Refer to Presentation of Manuscript in this guide for detailed instructions.

'Molecules in Focus' (2,000 words) provides concise information on the molecules of contemporary scientific interest. These articles describe the structure and function of important molecules in biochemistry. In most cases these will be recently discovered molecules for which there are rapid developments through molecules discovered some time ago, which are still the subject of research and new discovery, will also be addressed. Articles have a defined structure.

Title. Must start with the name of the molecule or molecule family. If you wish to highlight a particular theme covered, this can be done with a short phrase after a semi-colon, e.g. Radixin: Cytoskeletal adaptor and signalling protein.

Sub-headings

Abstract. 150-word summary, providing information in the sequence outlined below.

Introduction. Set the background by giving the name of the molecule (with synonyms), date and context of its discovery if available.
Structure. Give details with information at the protein and gene level. A clear diagram, professionally drawn should be referred to in this section.

Expression, activation and turnover. Outline pathways of synthesis and degradation and their control. Discuss sites of synthesis (i.e. cells involved) if known.

Biological function. If functions are uncertain, say so, but give current speculations. This paragraph may be as provocative as you see fit. A diagram highlighting key functions should also be included. If data on "knockouts" is available, it should be referred to in this section.

Possible Medical and Industrial Applications (author to change title as appropriate)
Detail pathologies or metabolic disorders associated with the molecule, matched, if appropriate, to a clinical manifestation with the biochemical defect. If the molecule has potential commercial/industrial uses this should be alluded to in this section.

References. Two or three recent reviews plus a few original papers should be listed. Maximum of 20 references in total. Refer to Presentation of Manuscript in this guide for detailed instructions.

Figures. The journal will reproduce one colour figure free of charge. Each article should have two figures, one showing the molecule's structure and one the molecule's function. These are intended as a teaching aid around which the rest of the detail can revolve. The caption should describe the key features and expound on the main messages of the diagram. See Preparation of Illustrations these guidelines for detailed instructions on preparation of artwork.

Checklist for submission 1.1. Submit online at www.ees.elsevier.com/bc
1.2. The cover page should include the heading "Molecules in Focus" followed by the name of the molecule. The author's name and address (including fax, phone and e-mail numbers), A word count and a list of 3-4 keywords.
1.3. The article should be typewritten, with double spacing and wide margins.
1.4. The article should contain no more than 2000 words (including abstract and excluding reference list) and one or two figures.
1.5. Authors should provide names (with full initials), addresses, telephone and fax numbers of two or three referees to whom their article can be sent for reviewing purposes.
1.6. There should be no acronyms in the title or abstract.
1.7. The overall structure of the article complies with requirements set out in Presentation of manuscript in this Guide for Authors.

Pathogens in Focus

Refer to Presentation of Manuscript in this guide for detailed instructions.

'Pathogens in Focus' (2,000 words) provides concise information relevant to human medicine on a microbial pathogen of contemporary scientific interest. These articles describe the structure and function of an important virulence factor or one aspect of disease pathogenesis for a particular pathogen. They focus on the cellular and molecular biology basis of the interaction of the pathogen with the host. All articles should concentrate on pathogens which are the subject of ongoing research and pathogen virulence functions for which there have been recent rapid scientific developments. Articles have a defined structure.

Title. Must start with the name of the pathogen or pathogen family, followed by a short phrase after a semi-colon highlighting the particular theme covered e.g. Salmonella typhimurium: new findings on the role of Salmonella Pathogenicity Island 2.

Sub-headings
Abstract. 150-word summary, providing information in the sequence outlined below.

Introduction. Set the background by giving the name of the pathogen, date and context of its discovery if possible, and a brief description of its microbiology and the associated disease(s).

Overview of pathogenesis. Briefly describe an overview of disease pathogenesis by the pathogen, placing the virulence factor or function that is the subject of the article in context. A figure (diagram or microscopy picture) could be referred to in this section.

Structure of virulence factor. Give details of the genetic or biochemical structure of the virulence factor or underlying the virulence function, supported by a clear diagram or microscopy picture.

Biological function. Describe the molecular and/or cell biology interactions of the virulence factor or function with the host and how this aids microbial virulence. Speculations developing current theories are encouraged. A diagram illustrating the key function(s) should be included. Some discussion of the timing of expression during infection or how the virulence factor or function is regulated should be included if available.

Clinical applications. If appropriate, discuss possible clinical implications or therapeutic advances related to the virulence factor or function under discussion e.g. in an article on the Streptococcus pneumoniae virulence factor PspA, discussion of the development of PspA vaccines would be appropriate.

References. Two or three recent reviews plus a few original papers should be listed. Maximum of 20 references in total. Refer to Presentation of Manuscript in this guide for detailed instructions.

Figures. The journal will reproduce one colour figure free of charge. Each article should have at least two figures, one showing the structure and one the role during infection of the virulence factor or function. A third figure is encouraged showing the overall pathogenesis of infection by the pathogen. These are intended as a teaching aid around which the rest of the detail can revolve. The diagram and caption should be clear and expound the key messages developed in the text. Diagrams should be useful as a teaching aid to explain the key themes of your article. See Preparation of Illustrations the full Guide to Authors for detailed instructions on preparation of artwork.

Checklist for submission 1.1. Submit online at www.ees.elsevier.com/bc
1.2. The cover page should include the heading "Molecules in Pathogens" followed by the name of the pathogen. The author's name and address (including fax, phone and e-mail numbers), A word count and a list of 3-4 keywords.
1.3. The article should be typewritten, with double spacing and wide margins.
1.4. The article should contain not more than 2000 words (including abstract and excluding reference list) and one or two figures.
1.5. Authors should provide names (with full initials), addresses, telephone and fax numbers of two or three referees to whom their article can be sent for reviewing purposes.
1.6. There should be no acronyms in the title or abstract.
1.7. The overall structure of the article complies with requirements set out in Presentation of manuscript in this Guide to Authors.

For any further information please contact the Author Support Department at authorsupport@elsevier.com.

Signalling Networks in Focus

Refer to Presentation of Manuscript in this guide for detailed instructions.

Aims and Scope. Signalling Networks in Focus (2,000 words) are intended as a reference and teaching aid, highlighting new developments in signalling pathway biology. These are written to a strict format, given below, detailing the pathway's components and important cascades. The article should also cover its function, molecules/inhibitors, cell and tissue type specificity, and associated pathologies. As a distinguishing feature of IJBCB's Signalling Networks in Focus we would request that all authors include a section presenting the signalling network described as a (putative) therapeutic target.

For more detailed instructions regarding presentation of papers, diagrams and online submission please refer to the Guide to Authors which is available on the World Wide Web at the following address http://www.elsevier.com/locate/biocel.

Title. This should start with the name of the signalling network and should highlight any recent discoveries, novel therapeutic potential associated with the given signalling pathway, or any potential targets in the pathway. This should be done with a short and possibly witty phrase after a semi-colon e.g. IGF signalling: From aging flies to dwarf mice.

Sub-headings. It is vital that authors adhere to the following subheadings. We wish to provide readers with consistency of format, to ensure coverage of key areas and aid accessibility.

Abstract. 150 words summary.

Signalling Network Facts. To be listed below the abstract, as a set of bulleted key and interesting facts about the signalling network. The last bullet point should list important websites that give additional insight into crosstalks. E.g.
• MAPK signalling pathways modulate IL-1 expression in human keratinocytes
• MAPKs directly control gene expression by phosphorylating transcription factors
• MAPKs are activated by phosphorylation on Thr and Tyr by dual-specificity MAP kinase kinases (MAPKK), which in turn are activated by Ser/Thr phosphorylation by MAP kinase kinase kinases
• Further insight into MAPK signalling can be found at http://geo.nihs.go.jp/csndb/

Introduction. Set the background by giving the name(s) of the signalling network, it's main features and details of it's discovery if appropriate.

Functions. Give details of specialised pathway functions, with the emphasis on recent discoveries. A clear diagram highlighting key functions should also be included and referred to in this section.

Cascades. Summarise the most crucial cascades or pathways within the network. This section should include recent advances in our understanding of the pathways and cascades and should be accompanied by a figure.

Key Molecules. Discuss the key molecules, hormones, inhibitors and receptors that are important for the regulation of the signalling network, emphasising recent research.

Associated pathologies and therapeutic implications. Outline known pathologies associated with the signalling network. Include history of discovery if appropriate. Review current therapies directed at the network functions and discuss their successes and limitations. Any new approaches to therapy emanating from recent research should be highlighted. This paragraph may be as provocative as you see fit.

References. Two or three recent reviews plus a few original papers should be listed. Maximum of 20 references.

Figures. Each article should have two figures of high quality. The first figure should usually show how the signalling pathway and how it fits into the wider scheme of cell signalling and cell function.. As such it would likely illustrate a complete pathway from the cell surface to the nucleus showing possible affects on gene function. The second figure should focus in more detail on the specific network and the themes covered in the title. Both figures are intended as a teaching aid around which the rest of the detail can revolve and should visually flow from beginning to end. Please see example below:

(Example figures from first accepted article to be send to future authors.)

Ideally, figures should be professionally drawn and submitted at the actual size they should appear in the journal. Figures must be polished and of a standard that is suitable for international meetings. Each figure requires a caption that should summarise the main points conveyed by the diagram. The journal will reproduce one colour illustration free of charge.

Checklist for submission 1. Submit online at http://ees.elsevier.com/bc/
2. The cover page should include the heading "Signalling Networks in Focus" followed by the name of the Signalling Network. The author's name and address (including phone and e-mail address), a word count and a list of 3-4 keywords.
3. The article should be typewritten, with double spacing and wide margins.
4. The article should contain no more than 2,000 words (including abstract but excluding reference list) and at least two figures.
5. Authors should provide names (with full initials), addresses, telephone and fax numbers of two or three referees to whom their article can be sent for reviewing purposes.
6. There should be no acronyms in the title or abstract.
7. The overall structure of the article complies with requirements set out in Presentation of manuscript in this Guide to Authors.

For any further information please contact the Author Support Department at authorsupport@elsevier.com.