MOTS-c

MOTS-c is a small signaling peptide made of 16 amino acids that is encoded right inside mitochondrial DNA, which makes it stand out from most peptides. It’s best known in research for the way it links mitochondrial activity to how genes behave in the cell nucleus.

It has a solid research base, with work exploring how it taps into AMPK signaling to influence energy and metabolic pathways (Lee et al., 2015, Cell Metabolism). That’s why it comes up often in studies on cellular energy and metabolism.

Research Applications

• Mitochondrial signaling research
• Cellular energy and metabolism studies
• AMPK pathway research
• Glucose and lipid metabolism models

Supplied as a lyophilized powder for stability.

See also: NAD⁺, SS-31, and Epitalon.

Scientific Background

For decades, mitochondria were viewed primarily as energy-producing organelles. Advances in genomics later revealed that the mitochondrial genome encodes bioactive peptides capable of regulating systemic physiology. MOTS-c was identified within the 12S rRNA region of mitochondrial DNA as one of the first peptides shown to function as a circulating metabolic signal.

Subsequent studies demonstrated that MOTS-c is expressed across multiple tissues and can translocate to the nucleus in response to metabolic or oxidative stress. Its levels decline with aging, while exercise and metabolic challenges are associated with increased expression, suggesting a role in adaptive signalling.

This positioning at the intersection of mitochondrial biology, metabolic regulation, and aging research has made MOTS-c a peptide of considerable interest in laboratory investigations of energy homeostasis and cellular stress adaptation.

MOTS-c Structure

Peptide Class: Mitochondrial-encoded signaling peptide
Amino Acid Sequence: MRWQEMGYIFYPRKLR
Molecular Formula: C₁₀₁H₁₅₂N₂₈O₂₂S₂
Molecular Weight: ~2174.6 g/mol
CAS Number: 1627580-64-6
PubChem CID: 146675088

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