- For authors
- ISSN 2572-5424 (online)
- Open access · CC BY 4.0
Instructions for Authors
How to prepare and submit a manuscript to the Journal of Glycomics and Metabolism: submission routes, article types, manuscript structure, reporting standards, ethics statements and fees.
Submission routes
- Primary route
ManuscriptZone
The publisher's online submission and review system. Register or sign in, choose the Journal of Glycomics and Metabolism and upload the manuscript files.
- Alternative route
Simple manuscript submission form
A single-page form that opens with the Journal of Glycomics and Metabolism selected.
- Assisted route: editorial email
info@openaccesspub.org
For authors who are unable to use either online route. Send the manuscript files with a cover letter.
Authors must use only one submission route for the same manuscript.
Article types
JGM publishes the article types below. Requirements depend on the format: hypotheses, outcomes, power calculations and a Methods and Results structure apply where the design calls for them. The scope of each type is set out in the Aims and Scope.
Original Research
Empirical studies of glycans, glycoconjugates or metabolism, from molecular and cellular work to studies of tissues, organisms and populations.
- Abstract
- Structured: Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions.
- Main text
- Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions. State the research question and, where applicable, the hypotheses, primary and secondary outcomes and the sample-size calculation. Describe materials, strains, cell lines, reagents and instrument settings in enough detail for replication.
- Reporting
- The guideline for the design, for example MIRAGE, STROBE, CONSORT or ARRIVE, where applicable.
Review
Narrative, scoping or systematic reviews of a defined question in glycan biology or metabolism. A systematic review is submitted as a Review.
- Abstract
- Structured or unstructured, as suits the review.
- Main text
- Introduction; a description of how the literature was identified and selected; synthesis organized by theme; open questions. For a systematic review: eligibility criteria, information sources and the full search strategy, study selection, risk-of-bias assessment and synthesis; Results with a flow diagram. Give the protocol registration, for example in PROSPERO, where applicable.
- Reporting
- PRISMA 2020 for systematic reviews; PRISMA-ScR for scoping reviews.
Methods and Protocols
New, adapted or validated methods, analytical and computational tools, and protocols for planned studies.
- Abstract
- Structured, with headings adapted to the method.
- Main text
- Rationale; a description of the method with the detail, code, materials or step-by-step protocol others need to apply it; validation or a worked application, compared with existing approaches where available; limitations. A protocol for a planned study sets out the design, outcomes, analysis plan, ethics approval and registration, and has no Results section.
- Reporting
- MIRAGE for glycomics methods, SPIRIT for trial protocols, PRISMA-P for review protocols, where applicable.
Short Communication
Concise reports of a focused or preliminary finding.
- Abstract
- Brief, structured.
- Main text
- A condensed Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion centered on the main finding.
- Reporting
- As for Original Research, where applicable.
Data Note
Descriptions of datasets, such as glycomic, glycoproteomic or metabolomic data, to support their reuse.
- Abstract
- Brief, unstructured.
- Main text
- Background and rationale; data collection methods; description of the dataset (variables, format, coverage); quality control; data access, with the repository, persistent identifier and license; limitations for reuse. Analyses are limited to those that describe the data.
- Reporting
- Deposit the dataset in a recognized repository before submission, and follow the guideline for the original study design where applicable.
Case Report
Individual cases or short case series, such as a metabolic or glycosylation disorder, that carry a lesson for diagnosis, mechanism or care. A case series is submitted as a Case Report.
- Abstract
- Brief, unstructured.
- Main text
- Introduction; case presentation, with a timeline where useful; diagnostic and metabolic or molecular findings; discussion of mechanism and lessons for care. Hypotheses and power calculations do not apply.
- Reporting
- CARE. Consent for publication from the patient or a legal guardian, or a waiver documented by the ethics committee, where applicable; identifying details removed.
Perspective
Reasoned, evidence-based argument on a current question in the field or on published work.
- Abstract
- Brief, unstructured.
- Main text
- Free structure with descriptive headings; claims supported by cited evidence and conclusions proportionate to it. Methods and Results sections are not required.
- Reporting
- Reference the evidence for each claim.
Letter
Brief responses to articles published in the journal, or short observations of relevance to the field.
- Abstract
- None.
- Main text
- Short text without section headings and with a small number of references. A letter about a published article cites it in full, and its authors may be invited to reply.
- Reporting
- Reference the article or evidence discussed.
Length. There are no fixed length limits for any article type; manuscripts should be concise and proportionate to their content.
Choosing a type. Where a manuscript sits between types, choose the closest type and explain the choice in the cover letter; the editors confirm the classification. A systematic review is classified as a Review, a short case series as a Case Report, and a study protocol as Methods and Protocols.
Preparing the manuscript
These requirements apply to every article type. The structure of the main text follows the guidance for the type above.
- Files
- The main text as an editable word-processing file (for example, Microsoft Word), with figures, tables that cannot be edited in the text, and supplementary material supplied as separate files.
- Title page
- A concise, informative title; full names, affiliations and ORCID iDs (recommended) of all authors; and the corresponding author's contact details.
- Double-blind review
- For double-blind review, remove author names, affiliations, acknowledgments, funding details, institution names, and other identifying information from the reviewer manuscript. Provide identifying information separately in the title-page file or submission form.
- Abstract
- As set for the article type. Structured abstracts use the headings Background, Methods, Results and Conclusions.
- Keywords
- A short list of specific, searchable terms.
- Nomenclature
- Glycan structures are drawn and named following the Symbol Nomenclature for Glycans (SNFG) where applicable; enzymes, genes and compounds follow standard nomenclature, and abbreviations are defined at first use.
- Statistics
- Describe statistical methods in enough detail for replication; report effect estimates with confidence intervals, give exact p-values where statistical tests are used, and name the software and version.
- Declarations
- Author contributions (CRediT), funding, conflicts of interest, ethics approval and consent where applicable, data availability and any use of AI tools.
- Cover letter
- States the article type and the relevance of the work to glycans or metabolism, confirms that the manuscript is not under consideration elsewhere, and notes any preprint and any request for double-blind review.
- Language
- Clear English, with abbreviations defined at first use.
Reporting guidelines
Report the study following the guideline that matches its design and upload the completed checklist as a supplementary file, where applicable. Many guidelines are available from the EQUATOR Network.
| Study design | Guideline |
|---|---|
| Randomized trials | CONSORT |
| Non-randomized evaluations of interventions | TREND |
| Observational studies (cohort, case-control, cross-sectional) | STROBE |
| Glycomics experiments (sample preparation, mass spectrometry, glycan microarray and related methods) | MIRAGE |
| Systematic reviews and meta-analyses | PRISMA 2020 |
| Scoping reviews | PRISMA-ScR |
| Trial and review protocols | SPIRIT; PRISMA-P |
| Diagnostic accuracy studies | STARD |
| Prediction models | TRIPOD |
| Quantitative PCR experiments | MIQE |
| Case reports | CARE |
| Animal research | ARRIVE 2.0 |
References, tables and figures
- Reference style
- Numbered in order of first citation. List the first five authors, then et al., and give a DOI or stable URL where one exists. Authors are responsible for the accuracy of references.
- Tables
- Numbered consecutively, each with a descriptive title; abbreviations and symbols explained in a footnote.
- Figures
- High resolution (at least 300 dpi) in TIFF, EPS, PNG or high-quality JPEG, with a caption for each figure and text that remains legible after reduction. Glycan structures are drawn in SNFG notation with a symbol key where applicable.
- Supplementary files
- Numbered (for example, Supplementary Table S1), cited in the text and listed with short titles at the end of the manuscript. They are published as supplied, so they must be final and free of participant identifiers.
- Reused material
- Written permission from the copyright holder to reproduce or adapt published figures, tables or text, unless the material is already available under a license that permits reuse; the source is cited in the legend.
Reference examples
- Journal article
- Author AA, Author BB, Author CC, Author DD, Author EE, et al. (Year) Title of the article. Journal Name. Volume(Issue):pages. DOI: 10.xxxx/xxxxx
- Book
- Author AA, Author BB (Year) Title of the Book. Edition. Place of publication: Publisher.
- Report or webpage
- Organization Name (Year) Title of the report or page. URL (accessed Month Day, Year)
- Dataset
- Author AA, Author BB (Year) Title of the dataset. Version. Repository Name. DOI or accession number
- Preprint
- Author AA, Author BB (Year) Title of the preprint. Preprint Server Name [Preprint]. DOI: 10.xxxx/xxxxx
- Trial registration
- Sponsor or Principal Investigator (Year) Title of the trial. Registry Name. Registration number. Registered Month Day, Year. URL
Ethics and declarations
Each manuscript includes the statements below that apply to it. The full policies are set out in the Editorial Policies.
- Human participants
- The name of the approving ethics committee or institutional review board and the approval reference number, and confirmation of informed consent, or a waiver documented by the ethics committee, where applicable.
- Clinical trials
- Interventional clinical trials must be registered in an accepted public trial registry at or before the first participant provides consent for enrollment. The registry name, registration number, and registration date must be reported in the manuscript.
- Animal research
- Approval from the institutional animal care and use committee or animal ethics committee with its reference number, compliance with animal-welfare regulations and the 3Rs, and reporting in line with the ARRIVE guidelines.
- Case Reports
- Informed consent for publication from the patient or a legal guardian, or a waiver documented by the ethics committee, where applicable, with identifying details removed.
- Conflicts of interest and funding
- All financial and non-financial interests of every author, each source of funding and the role of the funder.
- Data availability
- Every empirical research manuscript must include a data-availability statement. It explains where the data can be found or the conditions for access. Deposit of glycomic, glycoproteomic, metabolomic and structural data in recognized repositories is encouraged.
- Use of AI tools
- Any use of AI tools in writing, analysis or figure preparation, with the tool named and its use described. AI tools are not listed as authors.
Peer review and decisions
All submissions undergo initial editorial screening. Manuscripts that meet the journal's scope and minimum requirements proceed to independent peer review. Submissions are also checked with Crossref Similarity Check.
Single-blind by default; double-blind review is available on request.
Manuscripts that proceed to external peer review are normally evaluated by at least two independent subject-matter experts. Editorial decisions are based on scope, scientific quality, methodological rigor, ethical compliance, reporting quality, and relevance to the journal.
Revised manuscripts are accompanied by a point-by-point response to the reviewers' comments. After acceptance, authors check the proofs, and the article is published open access under CC BY 4.0 with a Crossref DOI.
Fees
USD 1,200 article processing charge for every article type.
The article processing charge is payable only after acceptance; withdrawal after submission is subject to the journal's withdrawal policy.
No charge is made at submission. Fee-relief inquiries are considered case by case; contact the editorial office before or at submission. Full details are on the Article Processing Charges page.
Final checklist
- The manuscript addresses a question about glycans or metabolism and uses one of the article types above.
- The title page, abstract, keywords and main text follow the guidance for the article type.
- For double-blind review, the reviewer manuscript is anonymized and identifying information is in the title-page file.
- Ethics approval, consent or waiver, and trial registration are reported where applicable.
- The completed reporting checklist is attached where applicable.
- Declarations cover contributions, funding, conflicts of interest, data availability and AI use.
- Figures, tables and supplementary files are cited in the text, and permissions are in place for reused material.
- A cover letter accompanies the submission, which is made through one route only.
A fuller checklist and the submission routes are on the Submit Manuscript page. Questions about preparing or submitting a manuscript can be sent to the editorial office at info@openaccesspub.org.