Gympietides
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]
The species Dendrocnide moroides produces gympietides. These toxins give D. moroides its notoriously painful toxic stings, which can last for a few hours.[4]
Name
[edit | edit source]They get their name after the species of plant Dendrocnide moroides, commonly known as gympie-gympie.[4]
Medicine
[edit | edit source]They could have potential therapeutic use in pain relief by providing a scaffold.[3][clarification needed]
References
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