Journal profile · Cell Biology
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology
ISSN 1471-0072 · eISSN 1471-0080 · Springer Nature · ENGLAND · Monthly · Founded 2000
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology: CAS Zone 1 · Biology (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 117.97; subscription journal; review 6–12 weeks (community reports); community-reported acceptance: mostly invited papers; 120 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology is published by Springer Nature 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 RNA Research and Splicing, Microtubule and mitosis dynamics and RNA modifications and cancer, together about 22.5% of its articles. Its main subfields are Molecular Biology and Cell Biology. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology aims to be the premier source of reviews and commentaries for the scientific communities we serve. We strive to publish articles that are authoritative, accessible and enhanced with clearly understandable figures, tables and other display items. We want to provide an unparalleled service to authors, referees and readers, and we work hard to maximize the usefulness and impact of each article. The journal publishes Reviews, Perspectives, Comments and Research Highlights relevant to molecular and cell biologists, with our broad scope ensuring that the articles we publish reach the widest possible audience. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology is part of the Nature Reviews portfolio of journals. To learn more about Nature Reviews, check out this animation and the Nature Reviews page. You can also find a summary of the editorial input and checks here.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Cell Biology
Editorial board by country: none in mainland China; most named United Kingdom 10, Germany 3, United States 1, India 1, Italy 1 (17 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- RNA Research and SplicingBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology8.3%
- Microtubule and mitosis dynamicsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology7.2%
- RNA modifications and cancerBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology7%
- Genomics and Chromatin DynamicsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology6.8%
- Ubiquitin and proteasome pathwaysBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology6.7%
- DNA Repair MechanismsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology5.7%
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanismsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology5.3%
- Cellular transport and secretionBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology4.9%
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 | Cell Biology | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: yes
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Biology Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Cell Biology | 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 | Cell Biology | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: yes
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
Web of SciencePublisher website
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
- 117.97LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 118Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 147Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 165.2LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 35.57LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 20.93LetPub ·
- h-index
- 386LetPub ·
- h-index
- 632OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 1,875OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 44.58OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 0.3%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 1.43%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 48LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 4,166,636Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 5,035 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 91 | 11 | 295 |
| 2025 | 120 | 31 | 2,285 |
| 2024 | 124 | 37 | 12,353 |
| 2023 | 125 | 30 | 17,977 |
| 2022 | 125 | 46 | 23,679 |
| 2021 | 123 | 38 | 33,352 |
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
- Average review time (community reports)
- 6–12 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- Mostly invited papersLetPub ·
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
Subscription journalLetPub
A subscription journal: articles are read by subscription or purchase, and authors usually pay no publication charge.
No source has fee information yet; check the journal's website.
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)
Policy excerpts from the journal's websitePeer review
- Peer review ECR peer-review initiative
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology is committed to facilitating training in peer review and to ensuring that everyone involved in our peer-review process is appropriately recognised. We allow and encourage established referees to involve one early-career researcher in our peer-review process.
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 Nature
- Country or region
- ENGLAND
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 2000
- ISSN
- 1471-0072
- Electronic ISSN
- 1471-0080
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology
What CAS zone is Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology is in Zone 1 of Biology, and in Zone 1 of the minor category Cell Biology; 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 Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 117.97; CiteScore 165.2, h-index 632.
How long does peer review take at Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology?
Authors report an average review time of 6–12 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Mostly invited papers”. 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.
Where are the editorial board members of Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology based?
Of the 17 board members whose country the journal's board page names, none are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United Kingdom (10), Germany (3) and United States (1). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists Web of Science; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology open access, and what is the APC?
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology is a subscription journal. Fee information is not available yet; check the journal's website.
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 2026-08-26). Last updated: .