Instructions for Authors

Comprehensive guidelines for preparing and submitting manuscripts to JEN.

Title Page: Concise, descriptive title (max 150 characters). Full author names, affiliations, ORCID identifiers, and corresponding author contact details.

Abstract: Structured format with Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions. Include 4-6 keywords for indexing.

Introduction: Establish context and rationale. State objectives clearly. Review relevant enzyme literature.

Methods: Detailed description enabling replication. Specify enzyme sources, expression systems, purification procedures, and assay conditions. Include protein concentrations and buffer compositions.

Results: Present findings logically with appropriate statistical analysis. Reference figures and tables sequentially.

Discussion: Interpret findings in context of existing literature. Address limitations and propose mechanistic interpretations.

Submit figures as separate high-resolution files (minimum 300 dpi). Acceptable formats: TIFF, JPEG, PNG, EPS. Include scale bars on micrographs. Number figures consecutively with detailed legends. Structural figures should indicate PDB codes.

Crystallographic data should include refinement statistics following community standards. Deposit coordinates in PDB before manuscript acceptance. Include data collection and refinement statistics tables. For cryo-EM structures, deposit maps in EMDB with appropriate resolution estimates.

Create tables in editable format. Kinetic parameter tables should include appropriate units and error estimates. Define abbreviations. Tables complement rather than duplicate text content.

Use Vancouver citation style with numbered references in order of appearance. Include DOIs where available. Cite primary sources rather than reviews when possible.

Experiments using animals or human samples require ethics approval. State approval details in Methods including committee name and approval number.

Provide contributor statements using CRediT taxonomy. All authors must meet ICMJE authorship criteria.

Disclose financial relationships, patents, and commercial interests. Include consulting relationships and research funding from commercial entities.

Submit manuscript as Microsoft Word document. Include all text, references, tables, and figure legends in single file. Submit figures as separate high-resolution files. Label supplementary materials clearly.

• Initial Screening: Editorial assessment of scope and requirements (3-5 days)
• Peer Review: Evaluation by 2-3 enzyme experts (3-4 weeks typical)
• Revision: Authors address reviewer comments with detailed response
• Acceptance: Final editorial decision followed by production
• Publication: Online publication within 2-3 weeks after proof approval

Address all reviewer comments systematically. Use track changes in revised manuscript. Explain disagreements with reviewer suggestions. Revisions expected within 60 days.

Deposit sequences in GenBank or UniProt before acceptance. Include accession numbers in the final manuscript. Novel enzyme sequences require complete data deposition.

Extended kinetic datasets, additional figures, detailed protocols, and multimedia files can be submitted. These undergo review alongside main manuscript.

Manuscripts must be in clear, grammatical English. Authors whose first language is not English are encouraged to use professional editing services.

All submissions are screened for originality. Manuscripts with significant overlap with published work may be rejected.

Include a cover letter addressed to the Editor-in-Chief explaining the significance of your research, confirming originality, listing suggested and excluded reviewers if desired, and disclosing any conflicts of interest.

Use standard fonts such as Times New Roman or Arial in 12-point size. Double-space all text. Number pages consecutively. Include line numbers for reviewer reference. Use SI units for measurements. Define abbreviations at first use.

Describe statistical methods with sufficient detail for verification. Specify software used. Report exact p-values and confidence intervals. For enzyme assays, include replicate numbers and variation measures.

Authors must include a Data Availability Statement describing where data supporting findings can be accessed. Deposit protein structures in PDB, sequences in GenBank, and datasets in Figshare or similar repositories.

Follow IUBMB enzyme nomenclature. Include EC numbers for all characterized enzymes referenced. Novel enzymes should be named according to established conventions based on reaction catalyzed.

Kinetic parameters should be determined using appropriate substrate ranges. Report Km, Vmax, kcat values with standard errors. Include information on enzyme purity and stability. Controls should be clearly described.

Errors discovered after publication should be reported promptly. Corrections may be published as corrigenda. Major errors affecting conclusions may require retraction following COPE guidelines.

JEN welcomes submissions that have been posted as preprints. Preprint posting does not constitute prior publication for peer review purposes. Authors should update preprints with links to published version upon acceptance.

Manuscripts must not be simultaneously submitted to multiple journals. Authors must confirm the work is not under consideration elsewhere at the time of manuscript submission to JEN.

For recombinant enzyme studies, specify host organism, expression vector, promoter, and purification tags. Include expression conditions, induction parameters, and cell density. Report protein yield and purity assessment methods.

Describe mutagenesis methods and verify mutations by sequencing. Report effects on enzyme activity, stability, and kinetic parameters. Include wild-type comparisons under identical conditions.

For immobilized enzyme research, report support materials, attachment chemistry, loading efficiency, and retained activity. Describe operational stability testing conditions and reusability data.

Authors needing assistance with manuscript formatting may request support from our editorial office or use our professional language editing services. Manuscripts substantially deviating from requirements may be returned for correction before peer review.

For molecular dynamics and computational enzyme studies, specify software versions, force fields, and simulation parameters. Include validation metrics and quality assessments for reliability. Deposit input files and scripts in appropriate repositories. Report convergence criteria and sampling adequacy for mechanistic conclusions.

Studies examining enzyme substrate scope should include diverse substrate panels with systematic and comprehensive analysis. Report relative rates or specificity constants with appropriate statistics. Consider using effective visualization methods such as substrate fingerprints or heatmaps for comprehensive datasets covering multiple substrate classes.

Manuscripts describing biotransformation reactions should include substrate scope, product characterization, and stereochemical analysis where relevant. Report conversion yields, enantiomeric excess, and time course data for process optimization studies.