原生质专门研究生物系统的结构和分子分析，从基因表达到亚细胞和超细胞水平。该杂志提供有关植物和动物、原生生物、真菌以及原核生物的结构和功能细胞生物学的文章。覆盖范围包括膜室的生物发生、动力学和能量学;大分子的靶向和转运;细胞动力学、细胞内运输和全细胞运动;细胞骨架的结构、动力学和分子组成;信号和调节级联;细胞周期和细胞间通讯;细胞生物学的医学方面。除了研究、快速通讯和全面的综述文章外，原生质还在细胞生物学新观点的标题下发表对发现和前沿研究机会的综述。
Protoplasma specializes in the area between structural and molecular analysis of biological systems from gene expression to the sub- and supracellular levels. The journal offers articles on structural and functional cell biology of plants and animals, protists, fungi as well as prokaryotes.Coverage includes biogenesis, dynamics, and energetics of membrane compartments; targeting and trafficking of macromolecules; cellular dynamics, intracellular transport, and whole-cell locomotion; structure, dynamics, and molecular components of the cytoskeleton; signaling and regulatory cascades; the cell cycle and cell-to-cell communication; medical aspects of cell biology.Besides research, rapid communications, and comprehensive review articles, Protoplasma publishes reviews of discoveries, and opportunities at the cutting edge of research under the headings New Ideas in Cell Biology.
