Introducing Feature Articles in PNAS

I n December 1995, PNAS opened its doors to all authors, and sponsorship by an Academy member was no longer necessary to submit an article to the journal. Since that time, the Direct Submission track has grown to account for approximately 84% of all articles submitted and 50% of all research articles published each year. In this issue of PNAS, we are launching a new category of Direct Submissions. The Feature Article series highlights research articles at the forefront of science, truly innovative work of exceptional significance. These articles are held to the highest editorial standards with rigorous and anonymous peer review for all submissions. As with all research articles in PNAS, Feature Articles should appeal to specialists in the field but be generally accessible as well. Feature authors may use a slightly longer format than a regular research article so that they can fully develop and present their findings. Feature Articles may be highlighted with Commentaries, press coverage, or cover taglines, and provide an opportunity for all scientists to submit innovative, in-depth research to PNAS. Regardless of your field of study, we encourage you to consider submitting your most exciting research to PNAS as a Feature Article. This issue contains the first two Feature Articles, from Joseph Goldstein, Michael Brown, and colleagues, on the topic of how sterols control the sorting of a transcription factor precursor that is trafficked from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi complex (1, 2). See also the Commentary on these two articles in this issue (3). We hope that you find these articles exciting and intellectually stimulating. For submission details, see the Information for Authors at www.pnas.org/misc/iforc. shtml.