Academic Journal
Q1Nature Chemical Biology
About Nature Chemical Biology
Nature Chemical Biology is a scholarly journal published by Nature Research. SCImago 2025 places it in Q1 with an SJR of 6.032 and an H-index of 282.
Its listed coverage is 2005-2026 and its research categories include Cell Biology (Q1); Molecular Biology (Q1). The 2025 dataset reports 311 documents and 6411 citations across the latest three-year reporting window.
Nature Chemical Biology: Bridging Chemistry and Biology for Groundbreaking Discoveries
Nature Chemical Biology is a prestigious, peer-reviewed scientific journal that stands at the intersection of chemistry and biology. Published by the renowned Nature Publishing Group, the journal has become a leading platform for high-impact research that explores the chemical basis of biological processes and the biological functions of chemical molecules. Since its launch in 2005, Nature Chemical Biology has served as a vital resource for researchers, academics, and industry professionals interested in the latest advancements in chemical biology.
What Is Nature Chemical Biology?
Nature Chemical Biology focuses on research that integrates the principles of chemistry with the complexities of biology. The journal publishes a wide range of content, including original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and commentaries. Topics commonly featured include enzyme mechanisms, chemical probes, synthetic biology, drug discovery, and systems biology, among others. The journal emphasizes studies that reveal novel insights into biological function through chemical approaches or provide new tools that enable biological discovery.
Why Is Nature Chemical Biology Important?
In the modern era of interdisciplinary science, the fusion of chemistry and biology is more crucial than ever. Nature Chemical Biology plays a key role in advancing this convergence by highlighting innovative research that uses chemical tools and methods to understand biological systems. This approach not only enhances our understanding of life at the molecular level but also leads to the development of new therapeutics, diagnostic tools, and biotechnological applications.
The journal's high standards for publication ensure that only the most rigorous and impactful studies are featured, making it a trusted source for cutting-edge scientific knowledge. As a result, articles published in Nature Chemical Biology are widely cited and have significant influence across multiple disciplines.
Key Features of Nature Chemical Biology
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High-Impact Research: The journal is known for publishing influential studies that push the boundaries of current scientific understanding.
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Interdisciplinary Focus: It brings together chemists, biologists, and biophysicists to solve complex biological problems.
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Rigorous Peer Review: Each submission undergoes a stringent peer-review process to maintain scientific integrity and excellence.
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Global Reach: With a diverse authorship and readership, the journal has a strong international presence.
Topics Covered
Some of the common themes in Nature Chemical Biology include:
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Small molecule modulation of biological systems
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Mechanistic enzymology and protein engineering
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Chemical genetics and proteomics
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Development of new chemical tools for biological investigation
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Interactions between synthetic molecules and cellular pathways
Journal Metrics
Metrics can change by reporting year. Verify time-sensitive values with the publisher or indexing service.
Aims & Scope
Scope of Nature Chemical Biology
Nature Chemical Biology is a leading peer-reviewed journal that sits at the dynamic intersection of chemistry and biology. Its scope encompasses a wide range of interdisciplinary research, with a focus on the application of chemical approaches to the understanding and manipulation of biological systems. As part of the prestigious Nature Portfolio, Nature Chemical Biology maintains a high editorial standard, publishing innovative and impactful studies that advance the frontiers of chemical biology.
Interdisciplinary Focus
The journal encourages submissions that bridge the gap between chemistry and biology. Research areas covered include chemical genetics, molecular pharmacology, synthetic biology, bioorthogonal chemistry, and chemical proteomics. Studies that introduce novel chemical tools, methods, or conceptual frameworks to explore biological questions are especially welcomed.
A hallmark of Nature Chemical Biology is its emphasis on originality and mechanistic insight. Whether it’s the development of small molecules to probe biological pathways or the engineering of biomolecules for therapeutic purposes, the journal showcases work that not only reveals new biology but also provides foundational chemical knowledge.
Types of Articles Published
Nature Chemical Biology publishes a variety of content formats, including:
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Research Articles: Full-length reports of original research that provide significant advances in the field.
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Brief Communications: Shorter articles that describe important new findings.
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Reviews and Perspectives: In-depth discussions that synthesize current knowledge and offer expert insights into emerging trends in chemical biology.
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Technical Reports: Descriptions of novel methodologies or technologies with broad applicability.
All submissions undergo rigorous peer review to ensure scientific accuracy, reproducibility, and relevance to the broader community.
Target Audience
The journal serves a global audience of researchers, educators, and professionals working in academic institutions, biotech companies, and pharmaceutical industries. Chemists, biologists, bioengineers, and pharmacologists all find value in the curated content of Nature Chemical Biology, making it a critical resource for those developing new drugs, diagnostic tools, or understanding cellular processes at the molecular level.
Impact and Relevance
With a high impact factor and a strong citation record, Nature Chemical Biology is recognized as a premier journal in its field. Its articles often set the stage for new research directions and influence funding and policy decisions in science and healthcare. Researchers looking to gain visibility and contribute meaningfully to the scientific discourse frequently aim to publish in this journal.
Recent Research Articles
Latest publications matched automatically by ISSN.
Chemogenomic maps reveal a PRDX1-dependent iron–damage axis in the DNA damage response
Thomas A. O’Loughlin, Abolfazl Arab, Sara Misiukiewicz, Elizabeth Montesano et al.
2026-09-08 · DOI: 10.1038/s41589-026-02312-zDetermining the dark proteome
Maja Bencun, Etienne Boileau, Christoph Dieterich
2026-09-08 · DOI: 10.1038/s41589-026-02320-zMacrophages transfer functional proteins to their surface during live-cell uptake
Regan F. Volk, Amy C. Fan, Sara W. Casebeer, Vishnu R. Tejus et al.
2026-09-08 · DOI: 10.1038/s41589-026-02292-0Macrophages are what they eat
Jacob Geri
2026-09-08 · DOI: 10.1038/s41589-026-02311-0Evolving faster proximity chemistry
Shubhashree Pani, Bryan C. Dickinson
2026-09-07 · DOI: 10.1038/s41589-026-02296-wDirected evolution of Lantern enables rapid RNA and protein proximity labeling
Yuxin Fang, Ziqi Ren, Fu Zheng, Ruixiang Wang et al.
2026-09-07 · DOI: 10.1038/s41589-026-02313-yMechanism of the M. tuberculosis DprE1–DprE2 epimerase complex and inhibition by anti-tubercular drugs
Shan Gao, Fangyu Wu, Yifan Zhang, Sarah M. Batt et al.
2026-09-02 · DOI: 10.1038/s41589-026-02317-8α2,6-Sialoglycan-regulated antitumor immunity of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells
Shuyu Liang, Qi Tang, Yilan Guo, Shaoran Zhang et al.
2026-09-01 · DOI: 10.1038/s41589-026-02299-7Adaptive mechanisms and emerging cancer therapeutics for CDK2 inhibitors
Changhao He, Kevan M. Shokat
2026-08-31 · DOI: 10.1038/s41589-026-02307-wAn enantioselective covalent inhibitor of BAX confers cytoprotection in vivo
Peiwen Shi, Bruno Melillo, Matthew W. McHenry, Christina M. Camara et al.
2026-08-28 · DOI: 10.1038/s41589-026-02297-9A safety pin against BAX
Tudor Moldoveanu
2026-08-28 · DOI: 10.1038/s41589-026-02301-2Topogenic sequence recognition at TIM complexes revealed by a stendomycin-bound structure
Yuanyuan Chen, Antony Lurie, Kevin Wu, Kihong Nam et al.
2026-08-26 · DOI: 10.1038/s41589-026-02304-zCA-IV-directed small-molecule shuttle enables targeted brain delivery of biologics
Xiaozhe Ding, Xinhong Chen, Philip Boehm, Alba Carretero-Cerdán et al.
2026-08-26 · DOI: 10.1038/s41589-026-02294-yA chemigenetic endogenous Ras activity biosensor for live-cell pharmacology
Ryan Weeks, Daojia R. Zhou, Michelle S. Frei, Jin Zhang et al.
2026-08-19 · DOI: 10.1038/s41589-026-02276-0Entering the agentic era of AI in drug discovery
R. S. K. Vijayan, Jason B. Cross, Vasanthanathan Poongavanam
2026-08-19 · DOI: 10.1038/s41589-026-02295-xNature’s glues
Yiyun Song
2026-09 · DOI: 10.1038/s41589-026-02310-1Gluing without a loop
Grant Miura
2026-09 · DOI: 10.1038/s41589-026-02308-9Mining metal coordination
Huijuan Guo
2026-09 · DOI: 10.1038/s41589-026-02309-8Living circuit boards built by printing bacterial transistors
Hamid Doosthosseini, Haorong Chen, Christopher A. Voigt
2026-08-17 · DOI: 10.1038/s41589-026-02300-3Photoproximity labeling of c-Myc reveals SLK as a cancer-specific co-regulator
Ryan R. Milione, Feifei Tong, Kelsey L. Wolfe, Cameron J. Douglas et al.
2026-08-13 · DOI: 10.1038/s41589-026-02284-0Reviews
Community Reviews
Version History
April 20, 2025 at 11:48 am
April 20, 2025