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We address fundamental questions in developmental biology: How are we made? How are cell identities defined and maintained in order to provide the right cell type at the right time for proper development? What are the central molecular players for cell-fate choice? Our main research efforts focus on some of the first differentiation decisions taken during embryonic stem cell commitment.
The Leeboratory approaches cell fate choice from multiple angles. We study epigenetics, RNA biology and signalling to pursue a holistic approach to understand differentiation. We use genetics and high-throughput methodology combined with systems biology approaches to delineate the molecular rules of cell-fate decision. Embryonic stem cells and various differentiation strategies are our main experimental model systems.
Martin performed his PhD thesis in the Wutz lab at the IMP in Vienna. From 2011 to 2015 he was a post-doc in the lab of Austin Smith at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. Since 2015 he is group leader and since 2021 Associate Professor at the Max Perutz Labs where the Leeboratory works on deciphering the molecular control of cell fate decisions.
Main Building
Room: 3.123
+43 1 4277 74644
In 2011, together with Anton Wutz, we reporter the first stable and fully pluripotent haploid mouse ES cell lines. This breakthrough discovery has since enabled a multitude of genetic screens and has also been instrumental in high resolution single cell based nuclear structures as well as the birth of monoparental mice.
In 2014 we utilized the potential of haploid ES cells in an insertional mutagenesis screen to identify genes that regulate the first cell fate decision in ES cell differentiation, the exit from pluripotency. We showed that haploid ES cells are a highly efficient platform for genetic screens in a developmentally relevant context.
In 2010 we showed that both polycomb complexes act in parallel and in a redundant manner to repress developmental control genes and also genomic repeat elements in ES cells. This paper challenged the sequential recruitment model of PRC activity.
Moritz Becker
PhD Student +43 1 4277 61645
Room: 3.123
Michael Bindl
PhD Student +43 1 4277 61645
Room: 3.123
Luis Miguel Cerron Alvan
PhD Student +43 1 4277 74645
Room: 3.123
Anna Philina Fabing
Technician +43 1 4277 74645
Room: 3.123
Tatiana Firfa
Master Student +43 1 4277 74645
Room: 3.123
Michelle Huth
PhD Student +43 1 4277 74645
Room: 3.123
Martin Leeb
Group Leader +43 1 4277 74644
Room: 3.123
Anne Loebker
Master Student +43 1 4277 74645
Room: 3.123
Michael Oberhuemer
PhD Student +43 1 4277 74645
Room: 3.123
Giorgia Panebianco
PhD Student +43 1 4277 74645
Room: 3.123
Mattia Pitasi
PhD Student +43 1 4277 61645
Room: 3.123
Olga Sereda
Master Student +43 1 4277 74645
Room: 3.123
NMD is required for timely cell fate transitions by fine-tuning gene expression and regulating translation.
Huth Michelle, Santini Laura, Galimberti Elena, Ramesmayer Julia, Titz-Teixeira Fabian, Sehlke Robert, Oberhuemer Michael, Stummer Sarah, Herzog Veronika, Garmhausen Marius, Romeike Merrit, Chugunova Anastasia, Leesch Friederike, Holcik Laurenz, Weipoltshammer Klara, Lackner Andreas, Schoefer Christian, von Haeseler Arndt, Buecker Christa, Pauli Andrea, Ameres Stefan L, Smith Austin, Beyer Andreas, Leeb Martin
FoxO transcription factors actuate the formative pluripotency specific gene expression programme.
Santini Laura, Kowald Saskia, Cerron-Alvan Luis Miguel, Huth Michelle, Fabing Anna Philina, Sestini Giovanni, Rivron Nicolas, Leeb Martin
Genomic imprinting in mouse blastocysts is predominantly associated with H3K27me3.
Santini Laura, Halbritter Florian, Titz-Teixeira Fabian, Suzuki Toru, Asami Maki, Ma Xiaoyan, Ramesmayer Julia, Lackner Andreas, Warr Nick, Pauler Florian, Hippenmeyer Simon, Laue Ernest, Farlik Matthias, Bock Christoph, Beyer Andreas, Perry Anthony C F, Leeb Martin
Cooperative genetic networks drive embryonic stem cell transition from naïve to formative pluripotency.
Lackner Andreas, Sehlke Robert, Garmhausen Marius, Giuseppe Stirparo Giuliano, Huth Michelle, Titz-Teixeira Fabian, van der Lelij Petra, Ramesmayer Julia, Thomas Henry F, Ralser Meryem, Santini Laura, Galimberti Elena, Sarov Mihail, Stewart A Francis, Smith Austin, Beyer Andreas, Leeb Martin
Genetic exploration of the exit from self-renewal using haploid embryonic stem cells.
Leeb Martin, Dietmann Sabine, Paramor Maike, Niwa Hitoshi, Smith Austin
Derivation of haploid embryonic stem cells from mouse embryos.
Leeb Martin, Wutz Anton
Polycomb complexes act redundantly to repress genomic repeats and genes.
Leeb Martin, Pasini Diego, Novatchkova Maria, Jaritz Markus, Helin Kristian, Wutz Anton
The Leeb Group is supported through the "Vienna Research Groups for Young Investigators" program.
The Group Leeb is a member of the special Doctoral Program "Signaling Mechanisms in Cellular Homeostasis" reviewed and funded by the Austrian Research Fund FWF.
Mechanisms of endo-mesodermal lineage choice (P35637; 2022-2025)
Execution of cell fate choice by cooperative gene activities (I5958; cooperation with Prof. Andreas Beyer, CECAD Cologne; 2023-2026)
Regulation of ES cell differentiation by NMD (P 31334; 2019-2022)
Systems Level Analysis of ES Cell Differentiation (I 3786; 2019-2021)
Schroedinger return fellowship: "Mechanisms of ES cell differentiation"