Research At a Glance
- Research Category
- Mitochondrial & Metabolic Research
- Peptide Length
- 16 amino acids (mitochondrial-derived peptide)
- Purity
- ≥ 99% (HPLC)
- Published Studies
- ~245 indexed
- Storage
- Lyophilized: 2–8 °C, protected from light. Reconstituted: 2–8 °C, use within 30 days.
Published-study figures are approximate PubMed result counts and indicate the volume of available literature only. Purity reflects third-party analytical testing on the corresponding lot; see the Quality Assurance Center for lot-matched certificates.
What Is MOTS-c?
MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded by mitochondrial DNA, first identified in 2015. Unlike most peptides studied in metabolic research, MOTS-c originates from the mitochondrial genome itself, and researchers study it as a signaling molecule that communicates between mitochondria and the cell nucleus, particularly under conditions of metabolic stress.
Why Researchers Study It
MOTS-c has become a focus of mitochondrial and metabolic research programs for several reasons:
- AMPK pathway activation — MOTS-c is studied for its effects on AMP-activated protein kinase, a central regulator of cellular energy metabolism, with research models showing downstream effects on fatty acid oxidation and glucose uptake
- Exercise physiology models — circulating MOTS-c levels have been observed to rise during exercise in research models, making it a compound of interest in exercise-mimetic and skeletal muscle metabolism research
- Aging and senescence research — MOTS-c levels have been observed to decline with age in research models, prompting investigation into its role in age-related metabolic and cellular senescence pathways
- Nuclear signaling mechanisms — research has characterized MOTS-c's translocation from mitochondria to the nucleus, where it is studied for its role in regulating gene expression related to stress response
What the Published Literature Shows
A body of peer-reviewed research has characterized MOTS-c across multiple physiological systems. Research published in Frontiers in Genetics and related journals has documented MOTS-c's role in retrograde mitochondria-to-nucleus signaling and its involvement in glucose uptake, lipid metabolism, and insulin resistance research models. Separate research programs have investigated MOTS-c in cardiovascular research models, where studies observed effects on cardiac remodeling and inflammatory markers in pressure-overload research models, and in pancreatic islet cell research, where studies have examined its relationship to cellular senescence pathways relevant to diabetes research.
This growing literature base has positioned MOTS-c as a reference compound in mitochondrial bioenergetics and cellular stress-response research programs.
Source
Reynolds JC, et al. MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis. Nat Commun. 2021. Additional literature available via PubMed .
Compound Specifications
| Classification | Mitochondrial-derived peptide |
|---|---|
| Amino acid length | 16 |
| Format | Lyophilized powder |
| Purity | ≥99% (HPLC-verified per lot) |
| Storage | −20°C; refrigerate 2–8°C after laboratory handling |
Certificate of Analysis
Every lot is independently tested and lot-matched. View Certificates of Analysis