Gregory A. Grant, PhD

Gregory A. Grant, PhD

Professor of Developmental Biology

Office Location: South Building, Room 3916C

Research interests

The main focus of my research dealt with the structural basis of allosteric control and its long-term application to understanding control processes resulting from protein-ligand and protein-protein interactions. Some noteworthy advances that resulted from this research are the discovery of two new protein ligand-binding regulatory domains, termed the ACT and ASB domains; the identity of four types of bacterial L-serine dehydratases that display at least two different modes of regulation and that serve as the gatekeepers of L-serine pools in bacteria; and a unique NAD/NADH cycle in E. coli that conserves NAD and allows synthesis of L-serine without net consumption of NAD.

After 40 years of conducting research, I closed my laboratory at the onset of the Covid pandemic. Soon after that I accepted the position of Director of the Post-Baccalaureate Program in Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine. In 2023, the program was expanded to include Cell Biology. I now dedicate my efforts to providing recent college graduates with the experience and tools needed to successfully advance their career goals.

While some students are able to transition directly to graduate school after their undergraduate training, many individuals do not have sufficient laboratory-based research experience to follow this path. Therefore, they find themselves at a disadvantage through no fault of their own or that of their collegiate institution. There are also individuals who have had some exposure to research, but are not sure if they are willing to commit to a graduate program at the time of graduation. There is, therefore, an important role for research-oriented institutions, such as Washington University, to provide the necessary opportunities for this cohort of scholars who may have the desire and ability to contribute to society at a more advanced level but who lack only the necessary prerequisites.

Recognizing that many recent graduates would benefit from a focused program that would expose them to research at a Doctoral University, the Post-Baccalaureate program was established in 2021. Additional information about this program can be found at Home | Postbaccalaureate Program in Developmental Biology, Cell Biology, & Regenerative Medicine | Washington University in St. Louis (wustl.edu). You may also contact me directly through my Wash U email.

Postbaccalaureate Program

Education

1971: Iowa State University, Ames, IA. B.S. Biochemistry

1975: University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI. Ph.D. Biochemistry

1975-78: Washington University, St. Louis, MO. Post-Doc. Protein Chemistry

Academic Positions

Sept.’78-June’80: Research Asst. Prof. of Biochemistry in Medicine, Department of Medicine (Dermatology)

July ’80-Aug.’82: Research Asst. Prof. of Biochemistry in Medicine and Biological Chemistry, Department of Medicine (Dermatology) and Department of Biological Chemistry

Sept.’82-Dec.’88: Assistant Professor of Biological Chemistry, and of Biochemistry in Medicine, Department of Biological Chemistry and Department of Medicine (Dermatology)

Sept.’82-Jun.’2019: Director, Protein Chemistry Laboratory

Jan. ’89-Dec.’91: Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, and Department of Medicine

Jan.’92-June ’95: Associate Professor, Department Developmental Biology and Department of Medicine

July ’95-Present: Professor, Department of Developmental Biology, and Department of Medicine

Aug.’2020-Present: Director of the Post Baccalaureate Program in Developmental Biology, Cell Biology, and Regenerative Medicine

Selected publications