作为Frontiers in Plant Science期刊副主编，近日收到期刊经理Rossana Mirabella博士发过来的邮件，邮件指出应用RNAseq来研究植物相关机理已经是很普遍了，期刊也收到大量采用RNAseq技术手段文章。Rossana Mirabella博士指出其中很多投稿的文章重复性较差，没有明确的研究重点，仅仅是找出了一些在不同条件下差异表达的基因。为此，在征得主编同意的情况下，编辑部对比较转录组学方面的研究制定了标准，这些要求将在送审之前就进行初始检查，若达不到要求则不予送审，具体要求如下：
1、少于3次重复的将不予送审，具体见下述RNAseq technical guidelines（Following our technical guidelines forcomparative RNAseq studies (posted at the end of this message and available inthe author guidelines), submissionslacking sufficient replicates (n=3) will not be considered for review unlessjustified.）；
2、没有明确假设，仅仅对比较转录组学结果进行分析将不予送审（Comparative RNAseq studies that do not havea clear hypothesis and simply report a collection of DEGs will not beconsidered for review.）。
RNAseq technical guidelines
Studies employing RNASeq for comparative transcriptomicanalyses must contain at least 3 biological replicates (unless otherwisejustified). Each biological replicate should be represented in an independentlibrary, each with a unique barcode if libraries are multiplexed forsequencing. Validation on a number of key transcripts highlighted in the studyis also highly recommended.
Full data accompanying these experiments must bemade available to reviewers at the time of submission in a freely accessibleresource e.g the sequence read archive (SRA) or European Nucleotide Archive(ENA). Depending on the question addressed in a manuscript, de novo assembliesof transcriptomes may also require multiple replicates and assembled sequencestogether with sequence annotation must be made freely available e.g figshare ordryad.
Dear Dr Li,
The application of RNAseq has become acommon approach for the plant community and the journal has been receivingnumerous submissions applying this technology. However, most of these studiesare poorly replicated or have no clear focus, merely presenting a list ofdifferentially expressed genes (DEGs) under various conditions.
Thus, in agreement with the Chief Editors,we have defined the criteria below that will be applied to comparativetranscriptomics studies submitted to the journal:
These criteria will be applied to RNAseq submissionsduring the initial Quality Checks performed by the editorial office, andmanuscripts that do not comply with the requirements above will not be sent topeer-review. However, we would also highly appreciate your collaboration inapplying these guidelines.
Many thanks for your continuous supportand, please, let us know if you have any questions.
Kind regards,
Rossana Mirabella, PhD
Journal Manager – Frontiers in PlantScience
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