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)

61 - 80 of 86 works

2013

Journal Article

Evaluation of diverse peptidyl motifs for cellular delivery of semiconductor quantum dots Optical Nanosensing in Cells

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

Evaluation of diverse peptidyl motifs for cellular delivery of semiconductor quantum dots Optical Nanosensing in Cells

2013

Conference Publication

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

Insights into the molecular evolution of oxytocin receptor ligand binding

2013

Conference Publication

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

Peptide-mediated cellular delivery of semiconductor quantum dots

2012

Journal Article

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

Exploring bioactive peptides from natural sources for oxytocin and vasopressin drug discovery

2012

Journal Article

Abundance and diversity of Conus species (Gastropoda: Conidae) at the northern tip of New Ireland province of Papua New Guinea

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.

Abundance and diversity of Conus species (Gastropoda: Conidae) at the northern tip of New Ireland province of Papua New Guinea

2012

Journal Article

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

Discovery of defense- and neuropeptides in social ants by genome-mining

2012

Conference Publication

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. 32nd European Peptide Symposium, Athens, Greece, 2-7 September 2012. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/psc.2447

Novel sources for potent and selective GPCR modulators

2012

Conference Publication

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

Pharmacological characterization of circular plant peptides with oxytocin-like activity

2012

Conference Publication

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 applications of natural peptide libraries

2011

Journal Article

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

Site-specific pKa determination of selenocysteine residues in selenovasopressin using 77Se NMR

2011

Journal Article

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

Structure-activity studies on alpha-conotoxins

2011

Conference Publication

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.

Conotoxins - blueprints for GPCR drug discovery?

2010

Journal Article

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

Modulating oxytocin activity and plasma stability by disulfide bond engineering

2010

Journal Article

Ligand-based peptide design and combinatorial peptide libraries to target G protein-coupled receptors

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

Ligand-based peptide design and combinatorial peptide libraries to target G protein-coupled receptors

2010

Journal Article

α-Conotoxin AuIB isomers exhibit distinct inhibitory mechanisms and differential sensitivity to stoichiometry of α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

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

α-Conotoxin AuIB isomers exhibit distinct inhibitory mechanisms and differential sensitivity to stoichiometry of α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

2010

Journal Article

Solving the alpha-conotoxin folding problem: Efficient selenium-directed on-resin generation of more potent and stable nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antaqonists

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

Solving the alpha-conotoxin folding problem: Efficient selenium-directed on-resin generation of more potent and stable nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antaqonists

2010

Conference Publication

Oxytocin agonist design - A selenocysteine mimetic reveals a functional selectivity switch for the human oxytocin receptor

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

Oxytocin agonist design - A selenocysteine mimetic reveals a functional selectivity switch for the human oxytocin receptor

2010

Journal Article

p-Nitrobenzyl protection for cysteine and selenocysteine: A more stable alternative to the acetamidomethyl group

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

p-Nitrobenzyl protection for cysteine and selenocysteine: A more stable alternative to the acetamidomethyl group

2009

Other Outputs

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.

Peptide engineering - controlling the folding of disulfide-rich peptides

2009

Book Chapter

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

Selenocystine peptides - synthesis, folding and applications

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

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Medicinal chemistry strategies to remove bacterial biofilms associated with gastrointestinal disorders

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Mark Blaskovich

  • 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

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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