原生質專門研究生物系統的結構和分子分析，從基因表達到亞細胞和超細胞水平。該雜志提供有關植物和動物、原生生物、真菌以及原核生物的結構和功能細胞生物學的文章。覆蓋范圍包括膜室的生物發生、動力學和能量學;大分子的靶向和轉運;細胞動力學、細胞內運輸和全細胞運動;細胞骨架的結構、動力學和分子組成;信號和調節級聯;細胞周期和細胞間通訊;細胞生物學的醫學方面。除了研究、快速通訊和全面的綜述文章外，原生質還在細胞生物學新觀點的標題下發表對發現和前沿研究機會的綜述。

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.