Gympietides

Dendrocnide moroides produces these neurotoxic peptides

Gympietides are a peptide family of neurotoxins that target pain receptors and permanently change and inactivate voltage-gates 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]}

The species Dendrocnide moroides produces gympietides. Theses toxins give D. moroides its notoriously painful toxic stings which can last for a few hours. ^[4]

Name

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

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. 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. Queensland, The University of; Lucia, Australia Brisbane St; Gatton, QLD 4072 [phone] 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.
4. "The stinging tree's ouch". cosmosmagazine.com. 2020-09-17. Retrieved 2025-07-12.