Associate Professor Markus Muttenthaler
Associate Professor

Markus Muttenthaler

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 62982

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

Biochemistry and cell biology Biological Sciences Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Chemical Sciences Medical biochemistry - amino acids and metabolites Medical biochemistry - proteins and peptides (incl. medical proteomics) Medical biochemistry and metabolomics Medicinal and biomolecular chemistry Organic chemical synthesis Organic chemistry Proteins and peptides Receptors and membrane biology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science, Technische Universität Wien
  • Masters (Coursework) of Science, Technische Universität Wien
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Neuropeptide Chemistry and Biology

  • Biological and Medicinal Chemistry

  • Peptide Drug Discovery and Development

  • Oxytocin and Vasopressin Research

  • Venom Peptide Drug Discovery

  • Gastrointestinal Disorders

  • Molecular Probe Development

  • Intranasal Peptide Delivery

  • Peptide Chemistry

  • Gastrointestinal wound healing

  • Breast Cancer

  • Multivalent Peptide Dendrimers

  • 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.

Search Professor Markus Muttenthaler’s works on UQ eSpace

86 works between 2005 and 2025
All (86) Journal Article (61) Book Chapter (4) Conference Publication (20) Other Outputs (1)

41 - 60 of 86 works

2019

Journal Article

On-resin strategy to label α-Conotoxins: Cy5-RgIA, a potent α9α10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor imaging probe

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

On-resin strategy to label α-Conotoxins: Cy5-RgIA, a potent α9α10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor imaging probe

2018

Journal Article

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

Oxytocin-like signaling in ants influences metabolic gene expression and locomotor activity

2018

Journal Article

Evaluation of Chemical Strategies for Improving the Stability and Oral Toxicity of Insecticidal Peptides

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

Evaluation of Chemical Strategies for Improving the Stability and Oral Toxicity of Insecticidal Peptides

2018

Conference Publication

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

Advancing the frontiers of chemical protein synthesis - the 7CPS meeting, Haifa, Israel

2018

Journal Article

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

Contractility measurements of human uterine smooth muscle to aid drug development

2017

Journal Article

Subtle modifications to oxytocin produce ligands that retain potency and improved selectivity across species

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

Subtle modifications to oxytocin produce ligands that retain potency and improved selectivity across species

2017

Journal Article

Nanoparticle cellular uptake by dendritic wedge peptides: achieving single peptide facilitated delivery

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

Nanoparticle cellular uptake by dendritic wedge peptides: achieving single peptide facilitated delivery

2017

Journal Article

Development of a human vasopressin V1a-receptor antagonist from an evolutionary-related insect neuropeptide

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

Development of a human vasopressin V1a-receptor antagonist from an evolutionary-related insect neuropeptide

2017

Journal Article

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

Synthesis of multivalent [Lys8]-oxytocin dendrimers that inhibit visceral nociceptive responses

2016

Conference Publication

Pharmacological Probes for Oxytocin/vasopressin Gpcr Subtypes Based On In-Vertebrate Peptide Homologs

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.

Pharmacological Probes for Oxytocin/vasopressin Gpcr Subtypes Based On In-Vertebrate Peptide Homologs

2016

Journal Article

Design and characterization of superpotent bivalent ligands targeting oxytocin receptor dimers via a channel-like structure

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

Design and characterization of superpotent bivalent ligands targeting oxytocin receptor dimers via a channel-like structure

2016

Conference Publication

Expression and function of vasopressin receptor subtypes in human myometrium: implications for effective tocolysis

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.

Expression and function of vasopressin receptor subtypes in human myometrium: implications for effective tocolysis

2016

Conference Publication

Miklos Bodanszky Award Lecture Probing the Functional Complexity of Ancient Oxytocin in Health and Disease

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.

Miklos Bodanszky Award Lecture Probing the Functional Complexity of Ancient Oxytocin in Health and Disease

2015

Conference Publication

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.

New pharmacological tools to investigate oxytocin receptors in neurodevelopmental brain disorders

2015

Journal Article

Methods, setup and safe handling for anhydrous hydrogen fluoride cleavage in Boc solid-phase peptide synthesis

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

Methods, setup and safe handling for anhydrous hydrogen fluoride cleavage in Boc solid-phase peptide synthesis

2015

Journal Article

Lipid bilayer crossing-the gate of symmetry. Water-soluble phenylproline-based blood-brain barrier shuttles

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

Lipid bilayer crossing-the gate of symmetry. Water-soluble phenylproline-based blood-brain barrier shuttles

2015

Conference Publication

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.

Re-Examining the Importance of Vasopressin Receptors in Myometrial Contraction.

2014

Journal Article

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

Discovery, synthesis, and structure: activity relationships of conotoxins

2014

Journal Article

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

Selenoether oxytocin analogues have analgesic properties in a mouse model of chronic abdominal pain

2013

Journal Article

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

Oxytocic plant cyclotides as templates for peptide G protein-coupled receptor ligand design

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2027
    Intestinal Biofilms - New opportunities in diagnosing and treating gut disorders
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2025
    Super-resolution platform to accelerate biological and molecular research
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    Investigating gastrointestinal biofilms regarding biochemistry and links with clinical manifestations (2023 MSHRSS Co-funded Collaboration Grant led by MSH)
    Metro South Research Support Scheme Co-funded Collaboration Grant
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    Venom-derived blood-brain-barrier shuttles
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Molecular probe development for high specificity and spatiotemporal control
    ARC Future Fellowships
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2019
    Chemical Purification Network
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2019
    In vivo imaging system for tracking inflammation, infection, cancer, pain and bioactive molecules
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2022
    Development of oxytocin receptor specific tracers for improved breast cancer management
    Cancer Australia
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Development of oxytocin receptor specific tracers for improved breast cancer management
    Cancer Council Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Multichannel peptide synthesiser to accelerate UQ's biodiscovery pipeline and peptide drug development programs
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2022
    Understanding biological pathways underlying social behaviour in humans (ARC Linkage Project administered by the University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2021
    Novel therapeutic approaches to improve gastrointestinal wound healing - GUTPEPTIDES
    University of Vienna
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2018
    Mapping the location and function of oxytocin and vasopressin receptors throughout the gut
    Ferring Research Institute
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2018
    Gastrointestinal wound healing as a therapeutic approach to treat gastrointestinal disorders
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Intranasal Oxytocin - does it reach the central nervous system ?
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    Individual function and social role of oxytocin-like neuropeptides in ants
    Medical University of Vienna
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Markus Muttenthaler is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Targeting bacterial biofilms in patients with gastrointestinal disorders

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Mark Blaskovich

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Venom-derived peptides to study heart function and treat cardiovasculardisease

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Nathan Palpant

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Discovery and development of highly stable venom-derived peptide drug leads.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Johan Rosengren

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Molecular probes to study the role of OTR in health and disease

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of venom-derived blood-brain barrier shuttles

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Johan Rosengren

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Medicinal chemistry strategies to remove bacterial biofilms associated with gastrointestinal disorders

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Mark Blaskovich

Completed supervision

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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