A message from the Editor, Brian W Matthews

As will be apparent from the redesigned cover, changes are underway at Protein Science. For the past decade Protein Science has been published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (CSHLP). Their contract was due to expire at the end of 2008 and The Protein Society took the opportunity to consider offers from other publishers. After careful evaluation it was decided to change to Wiley-Blackwell, effective January 1, 2009. The Society owes a great deal to CSHLP for the many contributions, scientific and otherwise, they have made to Protein Science. At the same time, the ever-increasing stature of the journal, together with the transition to a new publisher, will allow many improvements and innovations which we feel will be much appreciated by authors and readers alike.

For the first time the journal will have an Executive Editor who will be responsible for the “In this Issue” section as well as article highlights, features and commentaries. In this context we are particularly fortunate to have the services of Dr. Elizabeth Cox who has extensive experience both as a bench scientist and in scientific publishing. Thanks to the ongoing contributions of the Executive Editor the look and feel of the journal, as well as its usefulness to the readers, will be substantially upgraded. At the same time the traditional features of Protein Science, including Accelerated Communications, For the Record articles and Protein Structure Reports, will be maintained. In part because of the strength and diversity of Wiley-Blackwell, electronic access to the journal will be enhanced. We are also working to include a new interactive graphics capability which will make protein structures and the content of structure-related articles in the Journal immediately accessible to the “non-expert.”

The redesigned cover and interior layout are thanks to Kristine Matthews (thomasmatthews.com). Yes, she is related.

Concurrent with the change in publisher there will also be some changes in the Associate Editors. After serving with both dedication and distinction as Editor-in-Chief for almost a decade, Mark Hermodson graciously agreed to stay on as an Associate Editor to help in the transition to a new Editor. He has been of extraordinary help to me, personally, and his experience and good judgement will be sorely missed. Carol Post has also given expert advice and help during the past four years. It is, no doubt, politically incorrect to say that hers will be unusually large shoes to fill, but this is the sentiment I want to express. Carol’s service has been invaluable and she also will be greatly missed.

At the same time, I am also very pleased to confirm that Bruce Tidor of MIT will become a new Associate Editor, effective January 1, 2009. Many of you will know Bruce through his contributions on the computational analysis of protein structure and function. Dorothy Beckett, University of Maryland, will also become an Associate Editor in 2009. She has made major contributions in gene regulation and allostery, particularly through her incisive studies of the biotin repressor system. Also, Doug Rees of CalTech and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute will become an Associate Editor in January 2010. Doug’s outstanding studies in structural biology, most recently on the structure and function of membrane proteins, are well known. Other appointments are pending and will further enhance the breadth and expertise of the editorial team.

It is a pleasure and an honor to be personally associated with Protein Science during the present transition and I have no doubt that the changes underway will take the journal to a new level.

You will note that selected articles are now featured at the front of the journal. Therefore, if you have a particularly noteworthy contribution which you feel should be highlighted, we urge you to send it to the journal with a note explaining its significance. Of course we are interested in receiving strong manuscripts at any time.

You might also keep in mind that submitted articles will be made available electronically essentially as soon as the manuscript is accepted for publication. We will also be actively working to reduce the time from submission to publication of the hard copy.

Thanks for your ongoing help.

Brian Matthews, Editor