Overview
Background
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 bioactive peptides and exploring Nature's biodiversity to develop advanced 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 characterising these often highly potent and selective compounds to study their interactions with human physiology for medical innovations in pain, cancer, gut disorders and neurological diseases.
Availability
- Associate Professor Markus Muttenthaler is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, Technische Universität Wien
- Masters (Coursework) of Science, Technische Universität Wien
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Neuropeptide Chemistry and Biology
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Biological and Medicinal Chemistry
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Peptide Drug Discovery and Development
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Oxytocin and Vasopressin Research
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Venom Peptide Drug Discovery
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Gastrointestinal Disorders
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Molecular Probe Development
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Intranasal Peptide Delivery
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Peptide Chemistry
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Gastrointestinal wound healing
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Breast Cancer
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Multivalent Peptide Dendrimers
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Selenochemistry
Research impacts
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.
Works
Search Professor Markus Muttenthaler’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Conference Publication
Development of gut-restricted antibiofilm peptides to target gastrointestinal biofilms
Jandl, B., Lang, M., Makristathis, A., Gasche, C. and Muttenthaler, M. (2024). Development of gut-restricted antibiofilm peptides to target gastrointestinal biofilms. The European Peptide Society. doi: 10.17952/37eps.2024.p1134
2024
Journal Article
Chemical strategies to tune potency, selectivity and stability of venom peptides
Muttenthaler, Markus (2024). Chemical strategies to tune potency, selectivity and stability of venom peptides. Toxicon, 248 108028, 108028. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.108028
2024
Journal Article
Novel Diacyl-hydrazide Compounds as Potential Therapeutics for Visceral Leishmaniasis
Jandl, Bernhard, Zheng, Rebecca, Muttenthaler, Markus and Baell, Jonathan (2024). Novel Diacyl-hydrazide Compounds as Potential Therapeutics for Visceral Leishmaniasis. ACS Omega, 9 (35), 37170-37182. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.4c04517
2024
Journal Article
Intestinal biofilms: pathophysiological relevance, host defense, and therapeutic opportunities
Jandl, Bernhard, Dighe, Satish, Gasche, Christoph, Makristathis, Athanasios and Muttenthaler, Markus (2024). Intestinal biofilms: pathophysiological relevance, host defense, and therapeutic opportunities. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 37 (3) e0013323. doi: 10.1128/cmr.00133-23
2024
Journal Article
Gastrointestinal biofilms – Endoscopic detection, disease relevance and therapeutic strategies
Jandl, Bernhard, Dighe, Satish, Baumgartner, Maximillian, Makristathis, Athanasios, Gasche, Christoph and Muttenthaler, Markus (2024). Gastrointestinal biofilms – Endoscopic detection, disease relevance and therapeutic strategies. Gastroenterology. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2024.04.032
2024
Journal Article
Oxytocin and vasopressin signaling in health and disease
Perisic, Monika, Woolcock, Katrina, Hering, Anke, Mendel, Helen and Muttenthaler, Markus (2024). Oxytocin and vasopressin signaling in health and disease. Trends in Biochemical Sciences, 49 (4), 361-377. doi: 10.1016/j.tibs.2024.01.010
2024
Journal Article
Targeting the oxytocin receptor for breast cancer management: a niche for peptide tracers
Kalaba, Predrag, Sanchez de la Rosa, Cristina, Möller, Andreas, Alewood, Paul F. and Muttenthaler, Markus (2024). Targeting the oxytocin receptor for breast cancer management: a niche for peptide tracers. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 67 (3), 1625-1640. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01089
2024
Journal Article
Archaea influence composition of endoscopically visible ileocolonic biofilms
Orgler, Elisabeth, Baumgartner, Maximilian, Duller, Stefanie, Kumptisch, Christina, Hausmann, Bela, Moser, Doris, Khare, Vineeta, Lang, Michaela, Köcher, Thomas, Frick, Adrian, Muttenthaler, Markus, Makristathis, Athanasios, Moissl-Eichinger, Christine and Gasche, Christoph (2024). Archaea influence composition of endoscopically visible ileocolonic biofilms. Gut Microbes, 16 (1) 2359500. doi: 10.1080/19490976.2024.2359500
2023
Journal Article
Design and structural validation of peptide–drug conjugate ligands of the kappa-opioid receptor
Muratspahić, Edin, Deibler, Kristine, Han, Jianming, Tomašević, Nataša, Jadhav, Kirtikumar B., Olivé-Marti, Aina-Leonor, Hochrainer, Nadine, Hellinger, Roland, Koehbach, Johannes, Fay, Jonathan F., Rahman, Mohammad Homaidur, Hegazy, Lamees, Craven, Timothy W., Varga, Balazs R., Bhardwaj, Gaurav, Appourchaux, Kevin, Majumdar, Susruta, Muttenthaler, Markus, Hosseinzadeh, Parisa, Craik, David J., Spetea, Mariana, Che, Tao, Baker, David and Gruber, Christian W. (2023). Design and structural validation of peptide–drug conjugate ligands of the kappa-opioid receptor. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 8064, 1-17. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-43718-w
2023
Journal Article
Photoswitchable probes of oxytocin and vasopressin
Wirth, Ulrike, Raabe, Konstantin, Kalaba, Predrag, Keimpema, Erik, Muttenthaler, Markus and König, Burkhard (2023). Photoswitchable probes of oxytocin and vasopressin. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 66 (21), 14853-14865. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01415
2023
Conference Publication
Development and application of fluorescent oxytocin receptor tracers
Perisic, Ms Monika, Kalaba, Predrag, Keimpema, Erik, Muttenthaler, Markus and Gruber, Christian (2023). Development and application of fluorescent oxytocin receptor tracers. 19th World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (WCP), Glasgow Scotland, Jul 02-07, 2023. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
2022
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
2022
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
2022
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
2022
Journal Article
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
2022
Book Chapter
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
2021
Journal Article
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
2021
Journal Article
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
2021
Journal Article
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
2021
Journal Article
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
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Markus Muttenthaler is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Oxytocin and Vasopressin Research
Please contact Dr Muttenthaler directly for further details
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Venom peptide drug discovery
Please contact Dr Muttenthaler directly for further details.
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Breast Cancer
Please contact Dr Muttenthaler directly for further details.
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Ligand design and chemical synthesis
Project for interns or summer student.
Please contact Dr Muttenthaler directly for further details.
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Gastrointestinal wound healing
Please contact Dr Muttenthaler directly for further details.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Targeting bacterial biofilms in patients with gastrointestinal disorders
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Blaskovich
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Doctor Philosophy
Discovery and development of highly stable venom-derived peptide drug leads.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Johan Rosengren
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Doctor Philosophy
Photocontrollable probes to study neuropeptide-mediated memory formation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Victor Anggono
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Doctor Philosophy
Development of venom-derived blood-brain barrier shuttles
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Johan Rosengren
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Venom Components as Analgesics and Pharmacological Tools to Elucidate Mammalian Pain Signalling Pathways
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fernanda Cardoso, Professor Glenn King
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Novel mechanistic insights into oxytocin receptor signalling in breast cancer
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Fairlie
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Targeting the oxytocin receptor for breast cancer imaging
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Fairlie
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Trefoil factor family: chemical synthesis, mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential for gastrointestinal disorders
Associate Advisor
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Mining for neuropeptides: A bioinformatic and biochemical approach to characterise neuropeptides in animal venoms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Craik
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Detecting Oxytocin: Mass spectrometry and PET-tracer development
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Fairlie
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of the venom of the Estuarine Stonefish, Synanceia horrida
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Markus Muttenthaler directly for media enquiries about:
- bioactive peptides
- chemical biology
- cone snails
- conotoxins
- drug discovery and development
- medicinal chemistry
- neuropeptides
- oxytocin
- peptide and protein synthesis
- vasopressin
- venoms
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