The centrality of proteoglycan research: Expect the unexpected

Welcome to our new Journal dedicated to the thriving field of Proteoglycan Research (Figure 1). Launching a new journal is an exciting challenge, and all of us, the editorial board, and our publisher Wiley have high ambitions for this new venture. My first exposure to the proteoglycan world was in Seattle in the late seventies, when I began a 3-year postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Tom Wight in the Department of Pathology of the University of Washington. The beauty and complexity of proteoglycan and glycosaminoglycan biology had a deep impact on me and rapidly sealed my decision to become a basic scientist. I was very fortunate to gain experience and knowledge in various techniques and basic laboratory skills that eventually led to an appointment to an Ivy League School, The University of Pennsylvania, and to my rapid ascension to a tenure professorship at Thomas Jefferson University. Without the training in Seattle, I would not be where I am now. Throughout the next several decades I dedicated all my efforts on unraveling proteoglycan biology and advancing the field of proteoglycans in cancer, angiogenesis, and autophagy. I have also benefited greatly from the highly collegial nature of the proteoglycan field and look forward to serving our community as editor of this new journal. The world of proteoglycan research has been continuously expanding over the past several decades. Currently, PubMed lists >55,000 articles using “proteoglycans” as a search word, >44,000 articles using “hyaluronan” and >111,000 articles using “heparin”. Notably, papers on heparin have dominated the field with a constant output of about 3500 papers per year (Figure 2). However, papers focusing on hyaluronan have progressively increased and have now surpassed heparin (Figure 2). Key evidence for the stature and scientific growth of the proteoglycan research field is that we have an established and very successful Gordon Research Conference on Proteoglycans since 1984 which is consistently oversubscribed. Realizing the continuous progression of the field, we established an International Conference on Proteoglycans in 2000 which has been successfully held outside the United States during the odd-numbered years in various countries, including: England, Japan, Germany, Italy, Sweden, France, Australia, South Korea, Brazil, and China. In addition, we have an established International Society for Hyaluronan Science (ISHAS) with biennial meetings throughout the world. Despite this success, there are currently no journals dedicated to proteoglycan research. The papers on proteoglycans are currently scattered throughout different journals and, thus, may not receive the proper exposure to expert readers they rightfully deserve. We believe Proteoglycan Research will fill an important niche for our “proteoglycanology” community that is not currently well represented by the existing publications. This will be the first journal where all the research on proteoglycans throughout the world will have a true “home.” We are determined to make this Journal a quality and friendly forum for researchers on proteoglycan biology. Biology of hyaluronan and their receptors, structure/function of heparin and related molecules. Genetic, cellular, molecular biology of proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans. Structural and bioinformatic studies, chemical biology, synthetic chemistry, and biological physics related to the protein core and/or glycosaminoglycan chains. Enzymes involved in the biosynthesis and degradation of proteoglycans/glycosaminoglycans including: heparanase, hyaluronan synthases, hyaluronidases, sulfatases, sulfotransferases, kinases, phosphatases, O-linked glycosylation enzymes, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs, and matrix metalloproteinases. Congenital or acquired diseases where some of these enzymes are deficient. Novel animal mutants where proteoglycan-encoding genes or biosynthetic genes are perturbed. Interaction of proteoglycans with bioactive proteins, growth factors, receptors, and downstream signaling. Transcriptomics, proteomics, glycoproteomics, and glycomics of proteoglycans. Advances in glycosaminoglycan sequencing, mimetics, diagnostic technologies, and biomechanics. Biomarkers, therapeutics, exosomes, angiogenesis, autophagy, and biotechnological applications. Stem cell biology, morphogen signaling, regenerative medicine, biomaterials, and tissue injury and repair. Nervous system plasticity, memory, neural regeneration inhibition and scarring, coagulation. Developmental biology including studies in model organisms such as Drosophila, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Zebrafish. Pathological roles of proteoglycans in cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, inflammatory, infectious, genetic, neoplastic, neurodegenerative, ocular, psychiatric, aging, fibrotic, and reproductive diseases. Proteoglycan Research will consider both mechanistic and correlative papers. However, papers considered for in-depth peer review and ultimately for publication must contain significant novelty and scientific advance. We welcome original research articles, brief reports, full-length and mini-reviews especially in emerging fields of research, perspectives, method papers, and technical advances. For reviews and mini-reviews, the Editor-In-Chief should be consulted before submission. Please view our Guide to Authors for additional information. Proteoglycan Research is supported by a topically and geographically diverse advisory board of leading scientists reflecting the active nature of our vibrant research Community. The Senior Advisory Board is composed of 12 prominent scientists in the field whose main purpose is to advise me on direction, special issues, and thematic review series. The Associate Editors include 15 established scientists with expertise in various subfields of proteoglycan research. They will be directly involved in handling the papers and will have decision-making ability on all the submitted manuscripts handled by them. The Editorial Board includes 56 highly regarded specialists from all over the world including the United States, Canada, France, Belgium, Italy, Greece, Germany, United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Netherlands, Brazil, Chile, Japan, Australia, and China. Our prestigious editorial board panel and I are fully committed to offer you the highest scientific standards and rigor. I hope to have conveyed to all of you the reasons and motivations for starting a new journal in our beloved field of research. The success of all the national and international conferences and the increased number in publications focused on proteoglycan biology are good prognosticators for a successful journal. For this to happen, we are depending on your contribution and hope that you embrace this challenge with us! Please, submit your best research to Proteoglycan Research.