Gympietides

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Dendrocnide moroides produces these neurotoxic peptides Dendrocnide-moroides-SF25004-02.jpg
Dendrocnide moroides produces these neurotoxic peptides

Gympietides are a peptide family of neurotoxins that target pain receptors and permanently change and inactivate voltage-gated sodium channels in sensory neurons to produce long-lasting pain. The highly stable nature of these peptides means that they can repeatedly stimulate these sensory neurons, prolonging the pain. [1] Their 3D molecular structure makes Gympietides similar to spider or cone snail toxins. [2] [3]

Contents

The species Dendrocnide moroides produces gympietides. These toxins give D. moroides its notoriously painful toxic stings, which can last for a few hours. [4] Dendrocnide excelsa also produces gympietides. [2]

Name

They get their name after the species of plant Dendrocnide moroides , commonly known as gympie-gympie. [4]

Structure

All known gympietides have a very similar primary structure. The tertiary structure of Excelsatoxin A was determined via NMR spectroscopy, showing a cystine-knot structure. The other members of the family are predicted to have very similar 3D structures. [2] 

>sp|P0DQP4|NTXA_DENMD           Moroidotoxin A IPRCDSPLCSLFRIGLCGDKCFCVPLPIVGICVPSV>sp|P0DQP3|NTXA_DENEC           Excelsatoxin A LPRCDSPFCSLFRIGLCGDKCTCVPLPIFGLCVPDV>tr|A0A7G9XV74|A0A7G9XV74_DENEC Excelsatoxin B LPRCDSPFCSLFRMGLCGDKCICVPLPIFGICVPNV

Medicine

They could have potential therapeutic use in pain relief by providing a scaffold. [3] [ clarification needed ]

References

  1. ↑ "Gympietides: the unexpected toxin of Australia – theGIST". the-gist.org. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
  2. 1 2 3 Gilding, Edward K.; Jami, Sina; Deuis, Jennifer R.; Israel, Mathilde R.; Harvey, Peta J.; Poth, Aaron G.; Rehm, Fabian B. H.; Stow, Jennifer L.; Robinson, Samuel D.; Yap, Kuok; Brown, Darren L.; Hamilton, Brett R.; Andersson, David; Craik, David J.; Vetter, Irina (2020-09-16). "Neurotoxic peptides from the venom of the giant Australian stinging tree". Science Advances. 6 (38) eabb8828. Bibcode:2020SciA....6.8828G. doi:10.1126/sciadv.abb8828. PMC   7494335 . PMID   32938666.
  3. 1 2 Queensland, The University of; Lucia, Australia Brisbane St; Gatton, QLD 4072 +61 7 3365 1111 Other Campuses: UQ; Maps, UQ Herston; Queensland, Directions © 2025 The University of. "Native stinging tree toxins match the pain of spiders and cone snails". UQ News. Retrieved 2025-07-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. 1 2 "The stinging tree's ouch". cosmosmagazine.com. 2020-09-17. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
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