Content Types
To submit one of the following content types, please read the formatting details below, then follow the submission guidelines:
- Article
- Letter
- Brief Communication
- Resource
- Correspondence*
- Review*
- Perspective*
- Metabolic Messenger*
- Comment*
- Matters Arising â see specialist submission process here.
For more information on the subsequent content types, please contact Nature Metabolism:
- News and Views*
- Viewpoint*
- Consensus Statement*
- Books & Arts
- Obituary
*These content types should not include original (previously unpublished) research findings and may only contain minimal new supporting data. As they are non-primary articles they are not eligible for Open Access and can only be published using the subscription-based publishing route.
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Article
An Article is a substantial novel research study, with a complex story often involving several techniques or approaches.
Format
- Main text â up to 5,000 words, excluding abstract, Methods, references and figure legends.
- Abstract â up to 150 words, unreferenced.
- Display items â up to 8 items (figures and/or tables).
- Articles can also contain up to 10 additional Extended Data Figures.
- Article should be divided as follows:
- Introduction (without heading)
- Results
- Discussion
- Methods. â
- Results and Methods should be divided by topical subheadings; the Discussion does not contain subheadings.
- References â as a guideline, we typically recommend up to 50.
- Articles include received/accepted dates.
- Articles may be accompanied by supplementary information.
- Articles are peer reviewed.
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Letter
A Letter discusses an important, novel research result, but is less substantial than an Article.
Format
- Introductory paragraph (not abstract) up to 200 words, summarizing the background, rationale, main results and implications. This paragraph should be referenced, and should be considered part of the main text.
- Main text â up to 2,500 words, excluding the introductory paragraph, Methods, references and figure legends.
- References â as a guideline, we typically recommend up to 40.
- Display items â 2-4 items (figures and/or tables).
- Letters can also contain up to 10 additional Extended Data Figures.
- Letters are not divided by headings, except for the Methods headings.
- Letters include received/accepted dates.
- Letters may be accompanied by supplementary information.
- Letters are peer reviewed.
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Brief Communication
A Brief Communication reports a concise study of high quality and broad interest.
Format
- Brief unreferenced abstract â 3 sentences, up to 70 words.
- Title â up to 10 words (or 90 characters).
- Main text â 1,000-1,500 words, including abstract, references and figure legends, and contains no headings.
- Display items â up to 2 items, although this may be flexible at the discretion of the editor, provided the page limit is observed.
- Online Methods section should be included
- References â as a guideline, we typically recommend up to 20. Article titles are omitted from the reference list.
- Brief Communications should include received/accepted dates.
- Brief Communications may be accompanied by extended data and supplementary information.
- Brief Communications are peer reviewed.
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Resource
A Resource presents a large data set of broad utility, interest and significance to the community.
Format
- Main text â up to 4,000 words (excluding abstract, online Methods, references and figure legends).
- Abstract â 100-150 words, unreferenced.
- Display items â up to 6 items (figures and/or tables).
- Resource should be divided as follows:
- Introduction (without heading)
- Results
- Discussion
- Online Methods - âResults and online Methods should be divided by topical subheadings; the Discussion does not contain subheadings.
- References â as a guideline, we typically recommend up to 50.
- Resources include received/accepted dates.
- Resources may be accompanied by supplementary information.
- Resources are peer reviewed.
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Correspondence
The Correspondence section provides a forum for comment on issues relevant to the journalâs community. This format may not be used for presentation of research data or analysis.
Format
- Correspondence - between 200-500 words.
- Main text starts with âTo the Editor â â
- Display items â 1 item.
- References â up to 10 references. Article titles are omitted from the reference list.
- Correspondence may be peer-reviewed at the editorsâ discretion.
Note that Correspondence pieces are not technical comments on peer-reviewed research papers; these should be submitted as Matters Arising.
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Review
A Review is an authoritative, balanced and scholarly survey of recent developments in a research field. The requirement for balance need not prevent authors from proposing a specific viewpoint, but if there are controversies in the field, the authors must treat them in an even-handed way.
The scope of a Review should be broad enough that it is not dominated by the work of a single laboratory, and particularly not by the authors' own work.
Format
- Abstract â up to 150 words, unreferenced.
- Main text â 4,000-6,000 words
- Text can be divided by up to three levels of headings/subheadings
- Display items â 3-8 items (figures and/or tables). Illustrations are strongly encouraged.
- References â up to 150 (exceptions are possible in special cases).
- Citations â these should be selective and, in the case of particularly important studies (⤠10% of all the references), we encourage authors to provide short annotations explaining why these are key contributions.
- Reviews include received/accepted dates.
- Reviews are peer reviewed.
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Perspective
A Perspective is a format for scholarly reviews and discussions of the primary research literature that are too technical for a Comment (see below) but do not meet the criteria for a Reviewâeither because the scope is too narrow, or because the author is advocating a controversial position or a speculative hypothesis or discussing work primarily from one group. Two reviews advocating opposite sides in a research controversy are normally published as Perspectives.
Format
- Abstract â up to 150 words, unreferenced.
- Length â up to 4000 words.
- Text can be divided by up to three levels of headings/subheadings.
- Display items â 3-8 items (figures and/or tables). Illustrations are strongly encouraged.
- References â up to 100.
- Perspectives include received/accepted dates.
- Perspectives are peer reviewed.
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Metabolic Messenger
A Metabolic Messenger is a concise, focused article that provides an authoritative, high-level overview of the history, physiology and regulation of metabolically relevant molecules. Metabolic Messengers should be written in such a way that they serve both as an introduction for scientists, who are new to the field, and as a refresher for more experienced researchers.
Format
- Abstract â up to 150 words, unreferenced.
- Length â up to 3,000 words.
- Text can be divided by up to three levels of headings/subheadings.
- Display items â 2-4 items (figures and/or tables). Illustrations should follow specific templates.
- References â up to 100.
- Metabolic Messengers include received/accepted dates.
- Metabolic Messengers are peer reviewed.
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Comment
A Comment is a very flexible format, focusing on the scientific, commercial, ethical, legal, societal, or political issues surrounding research. Comment articles should be topical, readable, provocative and introduce new concepts/points of view, providing a personal perspective on a matter of public or scientific importance, discuss issues of reproducibility of research, or stimulate debate within the scientific community. The main criteria are that they should be of immediate interest to a broad readership and should be written in an accessible, non-technical style.
Format
- Length â varies but typically 1-3 pages.
- Standfirst consisting of up to 35 words (or 330 characters).
- There are no specific structural guidelines.
- Comments do not normally contain primary research data, although they may present 'sociological' data (funding trends, demographics, bibliographic data, etc.).
- References should be used sparingly â up to 15.
- Article titles are omitted from the reference list.
- Peer review is at the editors' discretion.
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Matters Arising
Matters Arising are exceptionally interesting and timely scientific comments and clarifications on original research papers published in Nature Metabolism. These comments should ideally be based on current knowledge rather than subsequent scientific developments.
For detailed information on how to submit a Matters Arising, please follow instructions here.
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News & Views
News and Views articles inform readers about the latest advances in metabolism, as reported in recently published papers or at scientific meetings. They may be linked to articles in Nature Metabolism, or they may focus on papers of exceptional significance that are published elsewhere. Unsolicited contributions will not normally be considered, although prospective authors are welcome to make proposals.
News and Views are not peer reviewed.
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Viewpoint
Viewpoints are short articles reflecting the personal opinion, or experience, of the author on matters of relevance to the readership of Nature Metabolism. Viewpoints are by prior arrangement only and are not peer reviewed.
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Consensus Statement
A consensus statement reports the collective opinions of a group of experts on a scientific or medical issue of relevance to the readership of Nature Metabolism. Consensus statements are peer reviewed and by prior arrangement only, although suggestions are welcome.
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Books & Arts Reviews
The Books & Arts section comprises timely reviews of books and other cultural and pedagogical resources of interest to the metabolism community. They are usually commissioned, though unsolicited contributions will be considered.
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Obituary
Obituaries are by prior arrangement only, although suggestions are welcome. Obituaries are not peer reviewed.
