John Gross

John Gross, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), School of Medicine. His research is centered on understanding the molecular mechanisms of gene expression and antiviral immunity, with a particular focus on RNA decay enzymes and nucleic acid-based immune systems.

His research interests span Structural Biology, RNA Biology, and Virology. He employs molecular biophysics tools to investigate the structure and conformational dynamics of molecular machines. Key areas include mRNA quality control pathways, the regulation of gene expression through mRNA decay, and how viruses like HIV and SARS-CoV-2 interact with and neutralize host immune defenses.

His recent publications reveal a strong trend in studying viral-host protein interactions, particularly the mechanisms of HIV Vif in counteracting the APOBEC3G restriction factor, and the role of SARS-CoV-2 proteins in hijacking host cellular machinery. His work frequently involves high-resolution structural techniques (e.g., cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography) and functional assays to define precise molecular mechanisms, with an eye toward structure-based drug design.

Dr. Gross has been a principal investigator on numerous significant studies, often in collaboration with other leading labs at UCSF. His lab, the Gross Lab, is actively involved in cutting-edge research at the intersection of virology and structural biology. He has contributed to major collaborative efforts, including the mapping of the SARS-CoV-2 interactome.