Journal profile · Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Molecular Biology Reports
ISSN 0301-4851 · eISSN 1573-4978 · Springer Netherlands · NETHERLANDS · Quarterly · Founded 1973
Molecular Biology Reports: CAS Zone 4 · Biology (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 3.25; hybrid open access; APC about USD 4,290; median 80 days to acceptance (187 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: about 45.88%; 1,197 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Molecular Biology Reports is published by Springer Netherlands and is in Zone 4 of Biology in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are MicroRNA in disease regulation, Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research and RNA Research and Splicing, together about 20.8% of its articles. Its main subfields are Molecular Biology. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Molecular Biology Reports (MOLE) is a peer-reviewed general molecular biology journal which publishes sound science, original research papers, and review articles in all areas of molecular and cellular biology, including results of both fundamental and translational research, as well as new techniques that advance experimental progress in the field. MOLE publishes papers that unravel molecular and cellular pathways in both eukaryote (animals, plants, algae, fungi) and prokaryote (bacteria and archaea) in vitro and in vivo research. We welcome studies that provide new mechanistic insights into cellular pathways, their relevant protein networks and DNA and RNA mediated consequences. For a manuscript to be considered in Molecular Biology Reports, it needs to incorporate some molecular or cell biology techniques in its methodology. Please note that the journal does not publish purely bioinformatic / in silico papers or studies that report only histological studies. MOLE will consider manuscripts on topics including but not limited to: All aspects of molecular and cellular biology All aspects relating to structures and functions of the cell (eukaryotic and prokaryotic) and its components (DNA, RNA, protein) Cytoskeleton and cell membrane interactions DNA replication Epigenetic modifications Genome regulation Intracellular transport Metabolism Nucleic acid-protein interaction Protein biosynthesis RNA processing Transcription Transport of cellular products between different organelles
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Editor-in-chief Gillian ElizabethPublisher website
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- MicroRNA in disease regulationBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology7.7%
- Cancer-related molecular mechanisms researchBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology6.7%
- RNA Research and SplicingBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology6.4%
- RNA modifications and cancerBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology6.2%
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanismsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology6.1%
- Plant Molecular Biology ResearchAgricultural and Biological Sciences5.1%
- Genetic diversity and population structureBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology5%
- Epigenetics and DNA MethylationBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology4.4%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Biology Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Biology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Biology Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
MEDLINEEmbaseCASCAB AbstractsCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, AGRICOLA, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
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
- 3.25LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 3.2Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 3.2Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 5.8LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.74LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.79LetPub ·
- h-index
- 62LetPub ·
- h-index
- 118OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 7,021OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 3.22OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 0%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 11.74%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 1,172LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 2,900,000Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 15,036 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1,416 | 252 | 453 |
| 2025 | 1,197 | 165 | 3,723 |
| 2024 | 1,217 | 208 | 8,156 |
| 2023 | 771 | 172 | 7,801 |
| 2022 | 1,175 | 226 | 15,869 |
| 2021 | 951 | 185 | 16,738 |
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 Crossref · to
80 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 54 days – 123 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 9 days (187 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 95 days
- Sample
- 187 articles with submission and acceptance dates (2,822 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 6 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 45.88%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 3 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double 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 4,290 / EUR 3,290 / GBP 2,890 | — | — |
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 prepare6 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 5,000 words
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted6, with length limits
- brief reportResearch Research articles should describe original experimental (in vivo and/or in vitro) work. Maximum Word Count: 5,000 words (not including abstract, refere…main text ≤ 2,500 words
- case reportCase Reports must incorporate some molecular or cell biology approaches. They should provide a detailed report of an individual case which meets at least one of…main text ≤ 1,500 words
- correspondenceCorrespondence discussing an article published in Molecular Biology Reports in the past six months are welcome. Correspondences will be sent to the correspondin…Length not stated
- mini reviewResearch Research articles should describe original experimental (in vivo and/or in vitro) work. Maximum Word Count: 5,000 words (not including abstract, refere…main text ≤ 5,000 words
- research articleResearch Research articles should describe original experimental (in vivo and/or in vitro) work. Maximum Word Count: 5,000 words (not including abstract, refere…Length not stated
- reviewResearch Research articles should describe original experimental (in vivo and/or in vitro) work. Maximum Word Count: 5,000 words (not including abstract, refere…main text ≤ 10,000 words
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access
- AI use Generative AI Images
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship principles
These guidelines describe authorship principles and good authorship practices to which prospective authors should adhere to. Authorship clarified The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Disclosures and declarations
All authors are requested to include information regarding sources of funding, financial or non-financial interests, study-specific approval by the appropriate ethics committee for research involving humans and/or animals, informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved animals (as appropriate). The decision whether such …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability statements
All original research must include a data availability statement. This statement should explain how to access data supporting the results and analysis in the article, including links/citations to publicly archived datasets analysed or generated during the study. Please see our full policy here. If it is not possible to share research data publicly, for instance when individual privacy could be com…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics Compliance with Ethical Standards
To ensure objectivity and transparency in research and to ensure that accepted principles of ethical and professional conduct have been followed, authors should include information regarding sources of funding, potential conflicts of interest (financial or non-financial), informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved an…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Open Choice articles do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. In opting for open access, the author(s) agree to publish the article under a Creative Commons license. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on the individual journal website, in the journal's How to publish with us guide. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Molecular Biology Reports, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
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
- Springer Netherlands
- Country or region
- NETHERLANDS
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Quarterly
- Founded
- 1973
- ISSN
- 0301-4851
- Electronic ISSN
- 1573-4978
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Molecular Biology Reports
What CAS zone is Molecular Biology Reports in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Molecular Biology Reports is in Zone 4 of Biology, and in Zone 4 of the minor category Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Biology. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Molecular Biology Reports?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 3.25; CiteScore 5.8, h-index 118.
How long does peer review take at Molecular Biology Reports?
Based on the dates recorded on 187 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 80 days (interquartile range 54–123 days); authors report an average review time of about 6 months; the community-reported acceptance is “about 45.88%”. 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 Molecular Biology Reports?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Manuscript length: ≤ 5,000 words; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Suggested reviewers: Optional; 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.
Which databases index Molecular Biology Reports?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Molecular Biology Reports is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists MEDLINE, Embase, CAS, CAB Abstracts and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Molecular Biology Reports open access, and what is the APC?
Molecular Biology Reports is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 4,290.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; 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 2026-08-24). Last updated: .