I would like to start by expressing my gratitude to members of the AsEditorial Board of the current Protein Journal and its predecessor under the name of the Journal of Protein Chemistry. I would also like to thank all those who published their important research work in the Journal over the last 36 years.

In the middle of the last century, protein research was unmistakably considered a vital and integral part of the field of biochemistry. Accordingly, new innovations in protein investigation were reported primarily in biochemical journals. This functioned very well and maintained new protein discoveries in accessible and well-known list of journals. This was in fact perhaps convenient for people in the field. But as new contributions were being reported and the field was rapidly expanding, new vehicles for reporting the new findings were becoming, in the last quarter of the century, obviously much needed. Plenum Press was actively evaluating the matter and, in mid-1980, I was approached to discuss starting a new journal dedicated to protein research. After some discussions Plenum Press and I signed a contract on the 18th of September 1980 in which I agreed to start a peer-review journal, entitled the Journal of Protein Chemistry, with myself as Editor. The first issue appeared in May 1982.

The Journal of Protein Chemistry was set up to serve as a publication means for articles that focus on new aspects of protein structure, function, evolution, genetics and their relevance to the understanding of biological systems, the unravelling of problems associated with health and disease, or other new scientific discoveries, advances and developments. Proteins associated with diseases or with the appearance and progress of diseases were also to be covered in the journal. Proteins that are, or may be, employed as biomarkers or candidates for treatment and/or for the design of distinct new therapeutics were also of interest to this journal.

The proteins discussed in the issues may be significant to biochemistry, biophysics, immunology, structural and molecular biology, genetics, molecular and cellular mechanisms of action, clinical studies and new pioneering therapies. A given volume may contain original research articles or may contain invited review articles on a contemporary important topic.

With this interest in a critical field of topics, the Journal of Protein Chemistry published its first issue in May 1982 and for 4 years it was the only journal that specialized in Protein research. In 1986 another journal started publishing. In 2003, the name of the journal was changed to the Protein Journal.

Over the last 35 years, the nature of submissions to the journal has gradually changed and in recent years the rate of rejection has increased to over 75%. Most of the rejected manuscripts had copied and pasted material from articles published elsewhere and/or by others without even acknowledging the source. This copying is not acceptable and is being captured by automatic screening with sophisticated software, followed by manual screening. Other rejections are based on quality. I do hope that authors pay attention to these important issues and make the job of the next editor go more smoothly.

It has been an honor and a pleasure to be the Editor-in-Chief of the Protein Journal for 36 years. I want to express my gratitude to the distinguished members of the Editorial Board and all other expert scientists who have taken time from their busy schedule to review manuscripts. They have helped the Journal selflessly and without financial gain.

Finally, I wish to pass on the role of Editor to Professor Larry Berliner. Larry is a distinguished and highly competent protein scientist. I wish him great success in taking the helm of the journal and guiding it to great achievements.

M. Zouhair Atassi,

Founding Editor