Associate Professor Muttenthaler is a medicinal chemist working at the interface of chemistry and biology with a strong passion for translational research. His research focuses on neuropeptides and the exploration of Nature's biodiversity to develop molecular tools, diagnostics, and therapeutics. His background in drug discovery and development, as well as his interdisciplinary training in the fields of chemistry, molecular biology and pharmacology, assist him in the characterisation of these highly potent and selective compounds and allow him to study their interactions with human physiology for medical innovations in pain, cancer, gut disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.
Peptides are key mediators in many biological functions and understanding of their interaction with target proteins is fundamental to unravel the underlying mechanism of diseases. Over the years, an increasing number of bioactive peptides from animals, plants, and bacteria have been characterised, with the overwhelming realisation that these molecules often show better therapeutic performance than their human counterparts, particularly in terms of in vivo stability. The main research efforts situated in this field of Chemical Biology focus on the exploration and translation of these vast and untapped natural libraries towards the development of useful research tools and therapeutics. Solid-phase peptide synthesis, the main tool to access these compounds, is a powerful technology for the assembly and chemical modification of these highly chiral and structurally complex peptides. This complexity is also responsible for their remarkable selectivity and potency as well as for their low side effect profile observed in the clinic.
Journal Article: Expanding the versatility and scope of the oxime ligation: rapid bioconjugation to disulfide-rich peptides
Hering, Anke, Braga Emidio, Nayara and Muttenthaler, Markus (2022). Expanding the versatility and scope of the oxime ligation: rapid bioconjugation to disulfide-rich peptides. Chemical Communications, 58 (65), 9100-9103. doi: 10.1039/d2cc03752a
Journal Article: High oxytocin receptor expression linked to increased cell migration and reduced survival in patients with triple-negative breast cancer
Liu, Huiping and Muttenthaler, Markus (2022). High oxytocin receptor expression linked to increased cell migration and reduced survival in patients with triple-negative breast cancer. Biomedicines, 10 (7) 1595, 1-20. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10071595
Journal Article: Approaches to improve the quantitation of oxytocin in human serum by mass spectrometry
Hering, Anke, Jieu, Beverly, Jones, Alun and Muttenthaler, Markus (2022). Approaches to improve the quantitation of oxytocin in human serum by mass spectrometry. Frontiers in Chemistry, 10 889154, 1-11. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2022.889154
Venom-derived blood-brain-barrier shuttles
(2023–2026) ARC Discovery Projects
(2023–2025) Metro South Research Support Scheme Co-funded Collaboration Grant
Molecular probe development for high specificity and spatiotemporal control
(2022–2026) ARC Future Fellowships
Discovery and development of highly stable venom-derived peptide drug leads.
Doctor Philosophy
Targeting bacterial biofilms in patients with gastrointestinal disorders
Doctor Philosophy
Venom Components as Analgesics and Pharmacological Tools to Elucidate Mammalian Pain Signalling Pathways
(2023) Doctor Philosophy
Oxytocin and Vasopressin Research
Please contact Dr Muttenthaler directly for further details
Please contact Dr Muttenthaler directly for further details.
Please contact Dr Muttenthaler directly for further details.
Fmoc Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis of Oxytocin and Analogues
Kremsmayr, Thomas and Muttenthaler, Markus (2022). Fmoc Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis of Oxytocin and Analogues. Methods in Molecular Biology. (pp. 175-199) New York, NY: Humana Press Inc.. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1759-5_11
Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride cleavage in boc solid phase peptide synthesis
Jadhav, Kirtikumar B, Woolcock, Katrina J and Muttenthaler, Markus (2020). Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride cleavage in boc solid phase peptide synthesis. Peptide Synthesis. (pp. 41-57) edited by Waleed M. Hussein, Mariusz Skwarczynski and Istvan Toth. New York, NY, United States: Humana. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0227-0_4
Selenocystine peptides - synthesis, folding and applications
Muttenthaler, M. and Alewood, P. F. (2009). Selenocystine peptides - synthesis, folding and applications. Oxidative folding of peptides and proteins. (pp. 396-418) edited by Johannes Buchner. Cambridge , U.K.: Royal Society of Chemistry. doi: 10.1039/9781847559265-00396
Hering, Anke, Braga Emidio, Nayara and Muttenthaler, Markus (2022). Expanding the versatility and scope of the oxime ligation: rapid bioconjugation to disulfide-rich peptides. Chemical Communications, 58 (65), 9100-9103. doi: 10.1039/d2cc03752a
Liu, Huiping and Muttenthaler, Markus (2022). High oxytocin receptor expression linked to increased cell migration and reduced survival in patients with triple-negative breast cancer. Biomedicines, 10 (7) 1595, 1-20. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10071595
Approaches to improve the quantitation of oxytocin in human serum by mass spectrometry
Hering, Anke, Jieu, Beverly, Jones, Alun and Muttenthaler, Markus (2022). Approaches to improve the quantitation of oxytocin in human serum by mass spectrometry. Frontiers in Chemistry, 10 889154, 1-11. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2022.889154
On the utility of chemical strategies to improve peptide gut stability
Kremsmayr, Thomas, Aljnabi, Aws, Blanco-Canosa, Juan B., Tran, Hue N. T., Emidio, Nayara Braga and Muttenthaler, Markus (2022). On the utility of chemical strategies to improve peptide gut stability. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 65 (8), 6191-6206. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00094
Mucosal biofilms are an endoscopic feature of irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis
Baumgartner, Maximilian, Lang, Michaela, Holley, Hunter, Crepaz, Daniel, Hausmann, Bela, Pjevac, Petra, Moser, Doris, Haller, Felix, Hof, Fabian, Beer, Andrea, Orgler, Elisabeth, Frick, Adrian, Khare, Vineeta, Evstatiev, Rayko, Strohmaier, Susanne, Primas, Christian, Dolak, Werner, Köcher, Thomas, Klavins, Kristaps, Rath, Timo, Neurath, Markus F., Berry, David, Makristathis, Athanasios, Muttenthaler, Markus and Gasche, Christoph (2021). Mucosal biofilms are an endoscopic feature of irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis. Gastroenterology, 161 (4), 1245-1256.e20. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2021.06.024
Chemical synthesis of TFF3 reveals novel mechanistic insights and a gut-stable metabolite
Braga Emidio, Nayara, Meli, Rajeshwari, Tran, Hue N. T., Baik, Hayeon, Morisset-Lopez, Séverine, Elliott, Alysha G., Blaskovich, Mark A. T., Spiller, Sabrina, Beck-Sickinger, Annette G., Schroeder, Christina I. and Muttenthaler, Markus (2021). Chemical synthesis of TFF3 reveals novel mechanistic insights and a gut-stable metabolite. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 64 (13) acs.jmedchem.1c00767, 9484-9495. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00767
Improving the gastrointestinal stability of linaclotide
Braga Emidio, Nayara, Tran, Hue N. T., Andersson, Asa, Dawson, Philip E., Albericio, Fernando, Vetter, Irina and Muttenthaler, Markus (2021). Improving the gastrointestinal stability of linaclotide. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 64 (12) acs.jmedchem.1c00380, 8384-8390. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00380
Trends in peptide drug discovery
Muttenthaler, Markus, King, Glenn F., Adams, David J. and Alewood, Paul F. (2021). Trends in peptide drug discovery. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 20 (4), 309-325. doi: 10.1038/s41573-020-00135-8
Conformational selection of vasopressin upon V1a receptor binding
Che, Kateryna, Muttenthaler, Markus and Kurzbach, Dennis (2021). Conformational selection of vasopressin upon V1a receptor binding. Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal, 19, 5826-5833. doi: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.10.024
Dekan, Zoltan, Kremsmayr, Thomas, Keov, Peter, Godin, Mathilde, Teakle, Ngari, Dürrauer, Leopold, Xiang, Huang, Gharib, Dalia, Bergmayr, Christian, Hellinger, Roland, Gay, Marina, Vilaseca, Marta, Kurzbach, Dennis, Albericio, Fernando, Alewood, Paul F., Gruber, Christian W. and Muttenthaler, Markus (2021). Nature-inspired dimerization as a strategy to modulate neuropeptide pharmacology exemplified with vasopressin and oxytocin. Chemical Science, 12 (11), 4057-4062. doi: 10.1039/d0sc05501h
Peschel, Alicia, Cardoso, Fernanda C., Walker, Andrew A., Durek, Thomas, Stone, M Rhia L., Braga Emidio, Nayara, Dawson, Philip E., Muttenthaler, Markus and King, Glenn F. (2020). Two for the price of one: heterobivalent ligand design targeting two binding sites on voltage-gated sodium channels slows ligand dissociation and enhances otency. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 63 (21), 12773-12785. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01107
Touchard, Axel, Mendel, Helen C., Boulogne, Isabelle, Herzig, Volker, Braga Emidio, Nayara, King, Glenn F., Triquigneaux, Mathilde, Jaquillard, Lucie, Beroud, Rémy, De Waard, Michel, Delalande, Olivier, Dejean, Alain, Muttenthaler, Markus and Duplais, Christophe (2020). Heterodimeric insecticidal peptide provides new insights into the molecular and functional diversity of ant venoms. ACS Pharmacology and Translational Science, 3 (6) acsptsci.0c00119, 1211-1224. doi: 10.1021/acsptsci.0c00119
The oxytocin receptor signalling system and breast cancer: a critical review
Liu, Huiping, Gruber, Christian W., Alewood, Paul F., Möller, Andreas and Muttenthaler, Markus (2020). The oxytocin receptor signalling system and breast cancer: a critical review. Oncogene, 39 (37), 5917-5932. doi: 10.1038/s41388-020-01415-8
Braga Emidio, Nayara, Brierley, Stuart M., Schroeder, Christina I. and Muttenthaler, Markus (2020). Structure, function, and therapeutic potential of the trefoil factor family in the gastrointestinal tract. ACS Pharmacology and Translational Science, 3 (4) acsptsci.0c00023, 583-597. doi: 10.1021/acsptsci.0c00023
Neuropeptide signalling systems -an underexplored target for venom drug discovery
Mendel, Helen C., Kaas, Quentin and Muttenthaler, Markus (2020). Neuropeptide signalling systems -an underexplored target for venom drug discovery. Biochemical Pharmacology, 181 114129, 114129. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114129
Braga Emidio, Nayara, Baik, Hayeon, Lee, David, Stürmer, René, Heuer, Jörn, Elliott, Alysha G, Blaskovich, Mark A T, Haupenthal, Katharina, Tegtmeyer, Nicole, Hoffmann, Werner, Schroeder, Christina I and Muttenthaler, Markus (2020). Correction: Chemical synthesis of human trefoil factor 1 (TFF1) and its homodimer provides novel insights into their mechanisms of action. Chemical communications (Cambridge, England), 56 (51), 7049-7049. doi: 10.1039/d0cc90250k
Heuer, Jörn, Heuer, Franziska, Stürmer, René, Harder, Sönke, Schlüter, Hartmut, Braga Emidio, Nayara, Muttenthaler, Markus, Jechorek, Dörthe, Meyer, Frank and Hoffmann, Werner (2020). The tumor suppressor TFF1 occurs in different forms and interacts with multiple partners in the human gastric mucus barrier: indications for diverse protective functions. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21 (7) 2508, 2508. doi: 10.3390/ijms21072508
Braga Emidio, Nayara, Baik, Hayeon, Lee, David, Stürmer, René, Heuer, Jörn, Elliott, Alysha G., Blaskovich, Mark A. T., Haupenthal, Katharina, Tegtmeyer, Nicole, Hoffmann, Werner, Schroeder, Christina I. and Muttenthaler, Markus (2020). Chemical synthesis of human trefoil factor 1 (TFF1) and its homodimer provides novel insights into their mechanisms of action. Chemical Communications, 56 (47), 6420-6423. doi: 10.1039/d0cc02321c
I8-arachnotocin–an arthropod-derived G protein-biased ligand of the human vasopressin V2 receptor
Duerrauer, Leopold, Muratspahić, Edin, Gattringer, Jasmin, Keov, Peter, Mendel, Helen C., Pfleger, Kevin D. G., Muttenthaler, Markus and Gruber, Christian W. (2019). I8-arachnotocin–an arthropod-derived G protein-biased ligand of the human vasopressin V2 receptor. Scientific Reports, 9 (1) 19295, 19295. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-55675-w
Conotoxins: chemistry and biology
Jin, Ai-Hua, Muttenthaler, Markus, Dutertre, Sebastien, Himaya, S.W.A., Kaas, Quentin, Craik, David J., Lewis, Richard J. and Alewood, Paul F. (2019). Conotoxins: chemistry and biology. Chemical Reviews, 119 (21), 11510-11549. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00207
Trefoil Factor Family: Unresolved Questions and Clinical Perspectives
Braga Emidio, Nayara, Hoffmann, Werner, Brierley, Stuart M. and Muttenthaler, Markus (2019). Trefoil Factor Family: Unresolved Questions and Clinical Perspectives. Trends in Biochemical Sciences, 44 (5), 387-390. doi: 10.1016/j.tibs.2019.01.004
Muttenthaler, Markus, Nevin, Simon T., Inserra, Marco, Lewis, Richard J., Adams, David J. and Alewood, Paul F. (2019). On-resin strategy to label α-Conotoxins: Cy5-RgIA, a potent α9α10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor imaging probe. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 73 (4), 327-333. doi: 10.1071/CH19456
Oxytocin-like signaling in ants influences metabolic gene expression and locomotor activity
Liutkevičiūtė, Zita, Gil-Mansilla, Esther, Eder, Thomas, Casillas-Pérez, Barbara, Di Giglio, Maria Giulia, Muratspahić, Edin, Grebien, Florian, Rattei, Thomas, Muttenthaler, Markus, Cremer, Sylvia and Gruber, Christian W. (2018). Oxytocin-like signaling in ants influences metabolic gene expression and locomotor activity. The FASEB Journal, 32 (12), 6808-6821. doi: 10.1096/fj.201800443
Herzig, Volker, de Araujo, Aline, Greenwood, Kathryn, Chin, Yanni, Windley, Monique, Chong, Youmie, Muttenthaler, Markus, Mobli, Mehdi, Audsley, Neil, Nicholson, Graham, Alewood, Paul and King, Glenn (2018). Evaluation of Chemical Strategies for Improving the Stability and Oral Toxicity of Insecticidal Peptides. Biomedicines, 6 (3) 90, 90. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines6030090
Contractility measurements of human uterine smooth muscle to aid drug development
Arrowsmith, Sarah, Keov, Peter, Muttenthaler, Markus and Gruber, Christian W. (2018). Contractility measurements of human uterine smooth muscle to aid drug development. Journal of Visualized Experiments, 2018 (131) e56639. doi: 10.3791/56639
Muttenthaler, Markus, Andersson, Asa, Vetter, Irina, Menon, Rohit, Busnelli, Marta, Ragnarsson, Lotten, Bergmayr, Christian, Arrowsmith, Sarah, Deuis, Jennifer R., Chiu, Han Sheng, Palpant, Nathan J., O'Brien, Margaret, Smith, Terry J., Wray, Susan, Neumann, Inga D., Gruber, Christian W., Lewis, Richard J. and Alewood, Paul F. (2017). Subtle modifications to oxytocin produce ligands that retain potency and improved selectivity across species. Science Signaling, 10 (508) eaan3398, 1-13. doi: 10.1126/scisignal.aan3398
Breger, Joyce C., Muttenthaler, Markus, Delehanty, James B., Thompson, Darren A., Oh, Eunkeu, Susumu, Kimihiro, Deschamps, Jeffrey R., Anderson, George P., Field, Lauren D., Walper, Scott A., Dawson, Philip E. and Medintz, Igor L. (2017). Nanoparticle cellular uptake by dendritic wedge peptides: achieving single peptide facilitated delivery. Nanoscale, 9 (29), 10447-10464. doi: 10.1039/c7nr03362a
Di Giglio, Maria Giulia , Muttenthaler, Markus, Harpsoe, Kasper, Liutkeviciute, Zita, Keov, Peter, Eder, Thomas, Rattei, Thomas, Arrowsmith, Sarah, Wray, Susan, Marek, Ales, Elbert, Tomas, Alewood, Paul F. , Gloriam, David E. and Gruber, Christian W. (2017). Development of a human vasopressin V1a-receptor antagonist from an evolutionary-related insect neuropeptide. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 41002, 41002. doi: 10.1038/srep41002
Synthesis of multivalent [Lys8]-oxytocin dendrimers that inhibit visceral nociceptive responses
Wan, Jingjing, Mobli, Mehdi, Brust, Andreas, Muttenthaler, Markus, Andersson, Asa, Ragnarsson, Lotten, Castro, Joel, Vetter, Irina, Huang, Johnny X., Nilsson, Mathias, Brierley, Stuart M., Cooper, Matthew A., Lewis, Richard J. and Alewood, Paul F. (2017). Synthesis of multivalent [Lys8]-oxytocin dendrimers that inhibit visceral nociceptive responses. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 70 (2), 162-171. doi: 10.1071/CH16407
Busnelli, Marta, Kleinau, Gunnar, Muttenthaler, Markus, Stoev, Stoytcho, Manning, Maurice, Bibic, Lucka, Howell, Lesley A., McCormick, Peter J., Di Lascio, Simona, Braida, Daniela, Sala, Mariaelvina, Rovati, G. Enrico, Bellini, Tommaso and Chini, Bice (2016). Design and characterization of superpotent bivalent ligands targeting oxytocin receptor dimers via a channel-like structure. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 59 (15), 7152-7166. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00564
Muttenthaler, Markus, Albericio, Fernando and Dawson, Philip E. (2015). Methods, setup and safe handling for anhydrous hydrogen fluoride cleavage in Boc solid-phase peptide synthesis. Nature Protocols, 10 (7), 1067-1083. doi: 10.1038/nprot.2015.061
Arranz-Gibert, Pol, Guixer, Bernat, Malakoutikhah, Morteza, Muttenthaler, Markus, Guzman, Fanny, Teixido, Meritxell and Giralt, Ernest (2015). Lipid bilayer crossing-the gate of symmetry. Water-soluble phenylproline-based blood-brain barrier shuttles. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 137 (23), 7357-7364. doi: 10.1021/jacs.5b02050
Discovery, synthesis, and structure: activity relationships of conotoxins
Akondi, Kalyana, Muttenthaler, Markus, Dutertre, Sébastien, Kaas, Quentin, Craik, David J., Lewis, Richard J. and Alewood, Paul F. (2014). Discovery, synthesis, and structure: activity relationships of conotoxins. Chemical Reviews, Articles ASAP (11), 1-33. doi: 10.1021/cr400401e
Selenoether oxytocin analogues have analgesic properties in a mouse model of chronic abdominal pain
Dantas De Araujo, Aline, Mobli, Mehdi, Castro, Joel, Harrington, Andrea M., Vetter, Irina, Dekan, Zoltan, Muttenthale, Markus, Wan, JingJing, Lewis, Richard J., King, Glenn F., Brierley, Stuart M. and Alewood, Paul F. (2014). Selenoether oxytocin analogues have analgesic properties in a mouse model of chronic abdominal pain. Nature Communications, 5 (1) 3165, 3165.1-3165.12. doi: 10.1038/ncomms4165
Oxytocic plant cyclotides as templates for peptide G protein-coupled receptor ligand design
Koehbach, Johannes, O'Brien, Margaret, Muttenthaler, Markus, Miazzo, Marion, Akcan, Muharrem, Elliott, Alysha G., Daly, Norelle L., Harvey, Peta J., Arrowsmith, Sarah, Gunasekera, Sunithi, Smith, Terry J., Wray, Susan, Göransson, Ulf, Dawson, Philip E., Craik, David J., Freissmuth, Michael and Gruber, Christian W. (2013). Oxytocic plant cyclotides as templates for peptide G protein-coupled receptor ligand design. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 110 (52), 21183-21188. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1311183110
Gemmill, Kelly Boeneman, Muttenthaler, Markus, Delehanty, James B., Stewart, Michael H., Susumu, Kimihiro, Dawson, Philip E. and Medintz, Igor L. (2013). Evaluation of diverse peptidyl motifs for cellular delivery of semiconductor quantum dots Optical Nanosensing in Cells. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 405 (19), 6145-6154. doi: 10.1007/s00216-013-6982-2
Exploring bioactive peptides from natural sources for oxytocin and vasopressin drug discovery
Gruber, Christian W., Koehbach, Johannes and Muttenthaler, Markus (2012). Exploring bioactive peptides from natural sources for oxytocin and vasopressin drug discovery. Future Medicinal Chemistry, 4 (14), 1791-1798. doi: 10.4155/FMC.12.108
Muttenthaler, Markus, Dutertre, Sebastien, Wingerd, Joshua S., Aini, John W., Walton, Hugh, Alewood, Paul F. and Lewis, Richard J. (2012). Abundance and diversity of Conus species (Gastropoda: Conidae) at the northern tip of New Ireland province of Papua New Guinea. Nautilus, 126 (2), 47-56.
Discovery of defense- and neuropeptides in social ants by genome-mining
Gruber, Christian W. and Muttenthaler, Markus (2012). Discovery of defense- and neuropeptides in social ants by genome-mining. PloS One, 7 (3) e32559, e32559. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032559
Site-specific pKa determination of selenocysteine residues in selenovasopressin using 77Se NMR
Mobli, Mehdi, Morgenstern, David, King, Glenn F., Alewood, Paul F. and Muttenthaler, Markus (2011). Site-specific pKa determination of selenocysteine residues in selenovasopressin using 77Se NMR. Angewandte Chemie (International Edition), 50 (50), 11952-11955. doi: 10.1002/anie.201104169
Structure-activity studies on alpha-conotoxins
Muttenthaler, Markus, Akondi, Kalyana B. and Alewood, Paul F. (2011). Structure-activity studies on alpha-conotoxins. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 17 (38), 4226-4241. doi: 10.2174/138161211798999384
Modulating oxytocin activity and plasma stability by disulfide bond engineering
Muttenthaler, Markus, Andersson, Asa, Dantas de Araujo, Aline, Dekan, Zoltan, Lewis, Richard J. and Alewood, Paul F. (2010). Modulating oxytocin activity and plasma stability by disulfide bond engineering. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 53 (24), 8585-8596. doi: 10.1021/jm100989w
Gruber, Christian W., Muttenthaler, Markus and Freissmuth, Michael (2010). Ligand-based peptide design and combinatorial peptide libraries to target G protein-coupled receptors. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 16 (28), 3071-3088. doi: 10.2174/138161210793292474
Grishin, Anton, Wang, Ching-I. A., Muttenthaler, Markus, Alewood, Paul F., Lewis, Richard J. and Adams, David J. (2010). α-Conotoxin AuIB isomers exhibit distinct inhibitory mechanisms and differential sensitivity to stoichiometry of α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 285 (29), 22254-22263. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.111880
Muttenthaler, Marcus, Nevin, Simon T., Grishin, Anton A., Ngo, Shyuan T., Choy, Peng T., Daly, Norelle L., Hu, Shu-Hong, Armishaw, Christopher J., Wang, Ching-I. A., Lewis, Richard J., Martin, Jennifer L., Noakes, Peter G., Craik, David J., Adams, David J. and Alewood, Paul F. (2010). Solving the alpha-conotoxin folding problem: Efficient selenium-directed on-resin generation of more potent and stable nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antaqonists. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 132 (10), 3514-3522. doi: 10.1021/ja910602h
Muttenthaler, Markus, Ramos, Yesica Garcia, Feytens, Debby, Dantas de Araujo, Aline and Alewood, Paul F. (2010). p-Nitrobenzyl protection for cysteine and selenocysteine: A more stable alternative to the acetamidomethyl group. Biopolymers, 94 (4), 423-432. doi: 10.1002/bip.21502
Muttenthaler, Markus and Alewood, Paul F. (2008). Selenopeptide chemistry. Journal of Peptide Science, 14 (12), 1223-1239. doi: 10.1002/psc.1075
Conopressin-T from Conus tulipa reveals an antagonist switch in vasopressin-like peptide
Dutertre, Sébastien, Croker, Daniel, Daly, Norelle L., Andersson, Åsa, Muttenthaler, Markus, Lumsden, Natalie G., Craik, David J., Alewood, Paul F., Guillon, Gilles and Lewis, Richard J. (2008). Conopressin-T from Conus tulipa reveals an antagonist switch in vasopressin-like peptide. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 283 (11), 7100-7108. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M706477200
Muttenthaler M., Bartel M., Weinberger P., Hilscher G. and Linert W. (2005). Synthesis and characterisation of new ditetrazole-ligands as more rigid building blocks of envisaged iron(II) spin-crossover coordination polymers. Journal of Molecular Structure, 741 (1-3), 159-169. doi: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2005.02.007
Advancing the frontiers of chemical protein synthesis - the 7CPS meeting, Haifa, Israel
Conibear, Anne C. and Muttenthaler, Markus (2018). Advancing the frontiers of chemical protein synthesis - the 7CPS meeting, Haifa, Israel. Cambridge, MA, United States: Cell Press. doi: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2018.03.001
Di Giglio, M. G., Muttenthaler, M. and Gruber, C. W. (2016). Pharmacological Probes for Oxytocin/vasopressin Gpcr Subtypes Based On In-Vertebrate Peptide Homologs. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
Arrowsmith, Sarah, Taylor, Olayisade, Muttenthaler, Markus and Wray, Susan (2016). Expression and function of vasopressin receptor subtypes in human myometrium: implications for effective tocolysis. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
Muttenthaler, Markus, Andersson, Asa, Ragnarsson, Lotten, Vetter, Irina, Busnelli, Marta, Chini, Bice, Arrowsmith, Sarah, Wray, Susan, de Araujo, Aline Dantas, Dutertre, Sebastien, Mobli, Mehdi, Lewis, Richard J., Gruber, Christian W. and Alewood, Paul F. (2016). Miklos Bodanszky Award Lecture Probing the Functional Complexity of Ancient Oxytocin in Health and Disease. 34th European Peptide Symposium, Leipzig, Germany, 4‐9 September 2016. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley.
New pharmacological tools to investigate oxytocin receptors in neurodevelopmental brain disorders
Busnelli, M., Leonzino, M., Silva, B., Dona, E., Manning, M., Muttenthaler, M. and Chini, B. (2015). New pharmacological tools to investigate oxytocin receptors in neurodevelopmental brain disorders. 25th Biennial Meeting of the International-Society-for-Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific-Society-for-Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian-Neuroscience-Society, Cairns Australia, Aug 23-27, 2015. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
Re-Examining the Importance of Vasopressin Receptors in Myometrial Contraction.
Arrowsmith, Sarah, Wray, Susan and Muttenthaler, Markus (2015). Re-Examining the Importance of Vasopressin Receptors in Myometrial Contraction.. THOUSAND OAKS: SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC.
Insights into the molecular evolution of oxytocin receptor ligand binding
Koehbach, Johannes, Stockner, Thomas, Bergmayr, Christian, Muttenthaler, Markus and Gruber, Christian W. (2013). Insights into the molecular evolution of oxytocin receptor ligand binding. London, United Kingdom: Portland Press. doi: 10.1042/BST20120256
Peptide-mediated cellular delivery of semiconductor quantum dots
Gemmill, K.B., Muttenthaler, M., Delehanty, J., Deschamps, J., Susumu, K., Stewart, M., Dawson, P., Huston, A. and Medintz, I. (2013). Peptide-mediated cellular delivery of semiconductor quantum dots. Conference on Sensing Technologies for Global Health, Military Medicine, and Environmental Monitoring III, Baltimore, United States, Apr 29-May 01, 2013. Bellingham, WA, United States: S P I E - International Society for Optical Engineering. doi: 10.1117/12.2015446
Novel sources for potent and selective GPCR modulators
Muttenthaler, M., Dawson, P. E., Gruber, C. W., Bergmayr, C., Freissmuth, M., Andersson, A., Vetter, I., Dutertre, S., Lewis, R. J. and Alewood, P. F. (2012). Novel sources for potent and selective GPCR modulators. unknown, unknown, unknown. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/psc.2447
Pharmacological applications of natural peptide libraries
Koehbach, Johannes, Muttenthaler, Markus, Gründemann, Carsten and Gruber, Christian W (2012). Pharmacological applications of natural peptide libraries. 18th Scientific Symposium of the Austrian Pharmacological Society (APHAR), Graz, Austria, 20-21 September, 2012. London, United Kingdom: Springer Nature. doi: 10.1186/2050-6511-13-s1-a31
Pharmacological characterization of circular plant peptides with oxytocin-like activity
Koehbach, J., O'Brien, M., Miazzo, M., Muttenthaler, M., Akcan, M., Smith, T. J., Craik, D. J., Freissmuth, M. and Gruber, C. W. (2012). Pharmacological characterization of circular plant peptides with oxytocin-like activity. 32nd European Peptide Symposium "Peptides 2012", Athens, Greece, 02-07 September 2012. West Sussex, United Kingdom: John Wiley and Sons. doi: 10.1002/psc.2449
Conotoxins - blueprints for GPCR drug discovery?
Muttenthaler, M., Gruber, C. W., Andersson, A., Vetter, I., Nevin, S. T., Grishin, A. A., Dutertre, S., Daly, N. L., Craik, D. J., Adams, D. J., Lewis, R. J. and Alewood, P. F. (2011). Conotoxins - blueprints for GPCR drug discovery?. 22nd American Peptide Symposium, San Diego, CA, United States, 25-30 June 2011. Hoboken, NJ, United States: John Wiley & Sons.
Muttenthaler, M. M., de Araujo, A. D., Andersson, A., Vetter, I., Gruber, C., Ramos, Y. Garcia, Feytens, D., Bergmayr, C., Freissmuth, M., Lewis, R. and Alewood, P. (2010). Oxytocin agonist design - A selenocysteine mimetic reveals a functional selectivity switch for the human oxytocin receptor. 31st European Peptide Symposium, Copenhagen, Denmark, 5-9 September 2010. Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/psc.1303
Selenocysteine in peptide drug design
Adams, D. J., Alewood, P. F., Choy, P. T., Craik, D. J., Daly, N. L., Grishin, A. A., Hu, S-H., Martin, J. L., Muttenthaler, M., Nevin, S. T., Ngo, S. T. and Noakes, P. G. (2008). Selenocysteine in peptide drug design. Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) Annual Scientific Meeting: Drug Discovery and Development, Couran Cove Island Resort, Queensland, Australia, 13 - 17 July 2008.
Selenocysteine in peptide folding and drug design
Muttenthaler, M., Nevin, S. T., Grishin, A. A., Ngo, S. T., Choy, P. T., Daly, N. L., Hu, S-H., Martin, J. L., Noakes, P. G., Craik, D. J., Adams, D. J. and Alewood, P. F. (2008). Selenocysteine in peptide folding and drug design. XXth International Symposium on Medicinal Chemistry (EFMC-ISMC 2008), Vienna, Austria, 31 August - 4 September 2008.
Directed folding of alpha-conotoxins using selenocysteine
Muttenthaler, M. and Alewood, P. F. (2006). Directed folding of alpha-conotoxins using selenocysteine. 29th European Peptide Symposium, Gdansk, Poland, 3-8 September 2006. Chichester, U.K.: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/psc.796
Peptide engineering - controlling the folding of disulfide-rich peptides
Muttenthaler, Markus (2009). Peptide engineering - controlling the folding of disulfide-rich peptides. PhD Thesis, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland.
Venom-derived blood-brain-barrier shuttles
(2023–2026) ARC Discovery Projects
(2023–2025) Metro South Research Support Scheme Co-funded Collaboration Grant
Molecular probe development for high specificity and spatiotemporal control
(2022–2026) ARC Future Fellowships
(2019) UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
In vivo imaging system for tracking inflammation, infection, cancer, pain and bioactive molecules
(2019) UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
Development of oxytocin receptor specific tracers for improved breast cancer management
(2018–2022) Cancer Australia
Development of oxytocin receptor specific tracers for improved breast cancer management
(2018–2019) Cancer Council Queensland
(2018) UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
(2017–2022) University of Sydney
Novel therapeutic approaches to improve gastrointestinal wound healing - GUTPEPTIDES
(2017–2021) University of Vienna
Gastrointestinal wound healing as a therapeutic approach to treat gastrointestinal disorders
(2016–2018) UniQuest Pty Ltd
Mapping the location and function of oxytocin and vasopressin receptors throughout the gut
(2016–2018) Ferring Research Institute
Intranasal Oxytocin - does it reach the central nervous system ?
(2016–2017) UQ Early Career Researcher
Individual function and social role of oxytocin-like neuropeptides in ants
(2014–2017) Medical University of Vienna
Discovery and development of highly stable venom-derived peptide drug leads.
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Targeting bacterial biofilms in patients with gastrointestinal disorders
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Venom Components as Analgesics and Pharmacological Tools to Elucidate Mammalian Pain Signalling Pathways
(2023) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Novel mechanistic insights into oxytocin receptor signalling in breast cancer
(2021) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Targeting the oxytocin receptor for breast cancer imaging
(2021) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Detecting Oxytocin: Mass spectrometry and PET-tracer development
(2020) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
(2020) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Trefoil factor family: chemical synthesis, mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential for gastrointestinal disorders
(2020) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Investigation of the venom of the Estuarine Stonefish, Synanceia horrida
(2019) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
Oxytocin and Vasopressin Research
Please contact Dr Muttenthaler directly for further details
Please contact Dr Muttenthaler directly for further details.
Please contact Dr Muttenthaler directly for further details.
Ligand design and chemical synthesis
Project for interns or summer student.
Please contact Dr Muttenthaler directly for further details.
Gastrointestinal wound healing
Please contact Dr Muttenthaler directly for further details.
Structure-activity relationship studies of human neuropeptides