Journal of Biological Chemistry
Encyclopedia
The Journal of Biological Chemistry (JBC) is a weekly peer-reviewed
scientific journal
that was established in 1905. Since 1925 it is published by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
. It covers research in any area of biochemistry
or molecular biology
. The editor-in-chief is Herbert Tabor. All its articles are available free one year after publication. In press articles are available free on its website immediately after acceptance.
and Christian Archibald Herter
, who also served as the first editors; the first issue appeared in October 1905. The location of the journal's editorial offices has included Cornell Medical College (until 1937), Yale University
(1937–1958), Harvard University
(1958–1967), and New York
(from 1967). The journal is currently published by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
on the campus of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
in Bethesda, Maryland
.
for ranking journals, noting that review articles, commentaries, and retractions are included in the calculation. Further, the denominator of total articles published encourages journals to be overly selective in what they publish, and preferentially publish articles which will receive more attention and citations. The journal's practice of publishing a broad cross-section of biochemistry articles has led it to suffer in impact factor, in 2006 ranking 260 of 6,164, while remaining the most highly cited journal. When science journals were evaluated with a PageRank
-based algorithm, however, the Journal of Biological Chemistry ranked first. The 2010 impact factor of the journal is 5.328.
Peer review
Peer review is a process of self-regulation by a profession or a process of evaluation involving qualified individuals within the relevant field. Peer review methods are employed to maintain standards, improve performance and provide credibility...
scientific journal
Scientific journal
In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research. There are thousands of scientific journals in publication, and many more have been published at various points in the past...
that was established in 1905. Since 1925 it is published by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is a learned society that was founded on December 26, 1906 at a meeting organized by John Jacob Abel...
. It covers research in any area of biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
or molecular biology
Molecular biology
Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry...
. The editor-in-chief is Herbert Tabor. All its articles are available free one year after publication. In press articles are available free on its website immediately after acceptance.
History
The journal was established in 1905 by John Jacob AbelJohn Jacob Abel
John Jacob Abel was a significant American biochemist and pharmacologist.Born near Cleveland, Ohio, he graduated with a Ph.D. in 1883 from the University of Michigan. In 1891 he founded and chaired the first department of pharmacology in the United States at the University of Michigan...
and Christian Archibald Herter
Christian Archibald Herter (physician)
-Further reading:...
, who also served as the first editors; the first issue appeared in October 1905. The location of the journal's editorial offices has included Cornell Medical College (until 1937), Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
(1937–1958), Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
(1958–1967), and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
(from 1967). The journal is currently published by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is a learned society that was founded on December 26, 1906 at a meeting organized by John Jacob Abel...
on the campus of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, abbreviated FASEB, is a non-profit organization that is the principal umbrella organization of U.S. societies in the field of biological and medical research. FASEB organizes academic conferences and publishes scientific literature...
in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
.
Editors
The following individuals have served as editors-in-chief:- 1906–1909: John Jacob AbelJohn Jacob AbelJohn Jacob Abel was a significant American biochemist and pharmacologist.Born near Cleveland, Ohio, he graduated with a Ph.D. in 1883 from the University of Michigan. In 1891 he founded and chaired the first department of pharmacology in the United States at the University of Michigan...
and Christian Archibald HerterChristian Archibald Herter (physician)-Further reading:... - 1909–1910: Christian Archibald HerterChristian Archibald Herter (physician)-Further reading:...
- 1910–1914: Alfred Newton RichardsAlfred Newton RichardsAlfred Newton Richards was an American pharmacologist.Richards was born in Stamford, New York. He served as chairman of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine's Department of Pharmacology from 1910 to 1946; thereafter he became Professor Emeritus...
- 1914–1925: Donald D. Van SlykeDonald Van SlykeDonald Dexter Van Slyke was a renowned Dutch American biochemist. His achievements included the publication of 317 journal articles and 5 books, as well as numerous awards, among them the National Medal of Science and the first AMA Scientific Achievement Award.-Early days and education:Van Slyke...
- 1925–1936: Stanley R. BenedictStanley Rossiter BenedictStanley Rossiter Benedict is an American chemist best known for discovering Benedict's reagent, a solution that detects certain sugars....
. After Benedict passed away, John T. EdsallJohn Tileston EdsallJohn Tileston Edsall was anearly protein scientist, who contributed significantly to theunderstanding of the hydrophobic interaction.-Protein research:In 1943, Edsall and Cohn published a...
served as temporary editor until the next editor was appointed. - 1937–1958: Rudolph J. Anderson
- 1958–1967: John T. EdsallJohn Tileston EdsallJohn Tileston Edsall was anearly protein scientist, who contributed significantly to theunderstanding of the hydrophobic interaction.-Protein research:In 1943, Edsall and Cohn published a...
- 1968–1971: William Howard SteinWilliam Howard Stein-External links:* Stein's * Stein's Nobel Lecture...
- 1971–present: Herbert Tabor
- 2011–present: Martha Fedor
Ranking and criticism of impact factor
The editors of the Journal of Biological Chemistry have criticized the modern reliance upon the impact factorImpact factor
The impact factor, often abbreviated IF, is a measure reflecting the average number of citations to articles published in science and social science journals. It is frequently used as a proxy for the relative importance of a journal within its field, with journals with higher impact factors deemed...
for ranking journals, noting that review articles, commentaries, and retractions are included in the calculation. Further, the denominator of total articles published encourages journals to be overly selective in what they publish, and preferentially publish articles which will receive more attention and citations. The journal's practice of publishing a broad cross-section of biochemistry articles has led it to suffer in impact factor, in 2006 ranking 260 of 6,164, while remaining the most highly cited journal. When science journals were evaluated with a PageRank
PageRank
PageRank is a link analysis algorithm, named after Larry Page and used by the Google Internet search engine, that assigns a numerical weighting to each element of a hyperlinked set of documents, such as the World Wide Web, with the purpose of "measuring" its relative importance within the set...
-based algorithm, however, the Journal of Biological Chemistry ranked first. The 2010 impact factor of the journal is 5.328.