Journal profile · Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Metabolic Engineering
ISSN 1096-7176 · eISSN 1096-7184 · Academic Press Inc. · UNITED STATES · Quarterly · Founded 1999
Metabolic Engineering: CAS Zone 1 · Biology (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 7.33; hybrid open access; APC about USD 4,780; median 103 days to acceptance (103 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: fairly hard; 162 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Metabolic Engineering is published by Academic Press Inc. and is in Zone 1 of Biology in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction, Biofuel production and bioconversion and Enzyme Catalysis and Immobilization, together about 49.3% of its articles. Its main subfields are Molecular Biology. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
An official journal of the International Metabolic Engineering Society Metabolic Engineering (MBE) is devoted to the publication of original research papers on the directed modulation of metabolic pathways for metabolite over production or the improvement of cellular properties. Papers describing native pathway engineering and synthesis of heterologous pathways for converting microorganisms into microbial cell factories are also welcome.Experimental, computational, and modelling approaches for the elucidation of metabolic pathways and their manipulation by genetic, media, or other environmental means are presented. Efficient probing of metabolic pathways requires the application of appropriate methods from molecular biology and biochemistry, along with modeling and data analysis techniques from engineering. MBE provides a forum for communicating such interdisciplinary research, as well as relevant results in the constituent areas of biochemistry, molecular biology, applied microbiology, cellular physiology, cellular nutrition in health and disease, and biochemical engineering.Types of papers: Original Research Papers, Review Papers.Authors are also welcome to submit to MBE's companion title, Metabolic Engineering Communications, which publishes shorter articles and those describing key elements of larger metabolic engineering efforts.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Editor-in-chief Sang Yup LeePublisher website
Editorial board by country: 2 in mainland China (about 4%); most named United States 20, Denmark 8, Germany 7, South Korea 4, Mainland China 2 (55 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Microbial Metabolic Engineering and BioproductionBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology29.1%
- Biofuel production and bioconversionEngineering11.1%
- Enzyme Catalysis and ImmobilizationBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology9.1%
- Plant biochemistry and biosynthesisBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology5.3%
- Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in InsectsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology4.8%
- Bacterial Genetics and BiotechnologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology4%
- Microbial Natural Products and BiosynthesisMedicine3.8%
- Fungal and yeast genetics researchBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology3.5%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Biology Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Biology Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Biology Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 7.33LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 7.3Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 13.9LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 13.9Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.84LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.64LetPub ·
- h-index
- 101LetPub ·
- h-index
- 185OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 2,102OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 8.23OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 6.8%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 34.16%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 143LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 2,709 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 117 | 45 | 89 |
| 2025 | 162 | 89 | 1,174 |
| 2024 | 139 | 80 | 2,179 |
| 2023 | 142 | 83 | 3,296 |
| 2022 | 125 | 59 | 4,254 |
| 2021 | 182 | 89 | 7,222 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with PubMed · to
103 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 73 days – 132 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 1 days (103 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 106 days
- Sample
- 103 articles with submission and acceptance dates (310 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 2 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- Fairly hardLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 4 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 32 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 105 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 2 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 4,780 / EUR 4,470 / GBP 3,830 / JPY 592,860 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 4,780 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare5 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 1
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
- Highlights
- Required
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted2
- original research papersTypes of papers: Original Research Papers, Review Papers.Length not stated
- review papersTypes of papers: Original Research Papers, Review Papers.Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Single anonymized review process Model summary
This journal follows a single anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharing allowed Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication.
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Academic Press Inc.
- Country or region
- UNITED STATES
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Quarterly
- Founded
- 1999
- ISSN
- 1096-7176
- Electronic ISSN
- 1096-7184
- Society / sponsor
- International Metabolic Engineering Society
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Metabolic Engineering
What CAS zone is Metabolic Engineering in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Metabolic Engineering is in Zone 1 of Biology, and in Zone 1 of the minor category Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology; it is a Top journal. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 1 of Biology. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Metabolic Engineering?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 7.33; CiteScore 13.9, h-index 185.
How long does peer review take at Metabolic Engineering?
Based on the dates recorded on 103 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 103 days (interquartile range 73–132 days); authors report an average review time of about 2 months; the community-reported acceptance is “Fairly hard”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Metabolic Engineering?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: ≥ 1; Suggested reviewers: Optional; Highlights: Required; Cover letter: Required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Metabolic Engineering based?
Of the 55 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 2 (about 4%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (20), Denmark (8) and Germany (7). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Metabolic Engineering?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Metabolic Engineering is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Metabolic Engineering open access, and what is the APC?
Metabolic Engineering is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 4,780.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-26). Last updated: .