Leung: Structural cell biology

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The Leung group aims to understand the form, function, and evolution of highly specialized cells. The group’s research focuses on macromolecular assemblies in gametes (sperm and egg cells) and their roles in reproduction and early development.

The vast majority of animal species reproduce through the fusion of two specialized cells called gametes – the sperm and the egg. The sperm loses most of its cytoplasm and many of its organelles, resulting in a highly streamlined form adapted for its sole function: finding and fusing with its partner gamete. The egg cell, on the other hand, stockpiles cellular resources needed to initiate and provision the elaborate molecular programs of development in the early embryo. As a result, the egg grows to be one of the largest cells in the body.

Key publicationsView all publications

Structural specializations of the sperm tail

Leung MR, Zeng J [...] Zhang R, Zeev-Ben-Mordehai T

Cell

Download|2023

The multi-scale architecture of mammalian sperm flagella and implications for ciliary motility

Leung MR, Roelofs MC [...] Bloomfield-Gadêlha H, Zeev-Ben-Mordehai T

The EMBO Journal

Download|2021

Proc Natl Acad Sci USA

Download|2021

Group leader

Miguel Leung

Miguel Leung is a group leader at the Hubrecht Institute, starting from October 2024. The group uses structural cell biology (cryo-EM, cryo-ET, mass spectrometry, and AI-assisted modeling) to study the structure, function, and evolution of macromolecular assemblies in highly specialized cells. To fully embrace the complexity and diversity of cellular systems, the group uses structural cell biology methods as tools for exploration and discovery, applying such methods comparatively across a range of model and non-model systems.

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Group members

Portrait image of Miguel Leung.

Miguel Leung

Group Leader

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Job openings

Phd Student - 38 uur per week

Research group

Leung group

Start date

Asap

Location

Utrecht Science Park

Cryo-EM Technician - 38 uur per week

Research group

Leung group

Start date

Asap

Location

Utrecht Science Park

Job openings

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