Description
MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide, molecular formula C101H152N28O22S2, molecular weight 2,174.6 g/mol, CAS 1627580-64-6, first described in 2015. What makes it unusual among peptides is its origin: rather than being encoded by nuclear DNA, it is encoded by the mitochondrial genome, the small, separate set of DNA found inside mitochondria, the energy-producing compartments of cells.
MOTS-c belongs to a class of molecules called mitochondrial-derived peptides (MDPs), a relatively new category in peptide science since only a handful have been identified so far. Its sequence, MRWQEMGYIFYPRKLR, is encoded within the 12S rRNA gene of mitochondrial DNA, a region previously thought not to produce proteins at all, which is part of why its discovery drew significant research interest. Because of its mitochondrial origin, MOTS-c research has centered heavily on metabolic regulation, particularly insulin sensitivity, exercise-related adaptation, and cellular energy homeostasis, positioning it differently from nuclear-DNA-encoded metabolic peptides.
MOTS-c is supplied as a white to off-white lyophilized powder, soluble in water, stored refrigerated at 2–8°C. This product is strictly for research purposes only.
PubChem Reference: View compound profile on NIH PubChem
This product is strictly for research purposes only. Not approved for human or animal use.
Key Characteristics
MOLECULAR PROFILE
Formula: C101H152N28O22S2
Weight: 2174.6 g/mol
CAS: 1627580-64-6
Sequence: 16 amino acids
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Form: White to off-white lyophilized powder
Solubility: Water-soluble
Storage: Keep refrigerated 36–46 °F (2–8 °C)
Stability: Stable when properly stored
MOTS-c in Published Research
Research since MOTS-c’s 2015 characterization has focused on its role as a mitochondrial-to-nuclear signaling molecule, a peptide that appears to communicate the metabolic state of mitochondria to the rest of the cell. Studies have investigated its effects on AMPK activation (a central regulator of cellular energy balance), insulin sensitivity in animal models of diet-induced obesity, and exercise-induced changes in circulating MOTS-c levels. Because MDPs are a young research category overall, much of this work remains preclinical.
Frequently Asked Questions :
What is MOTS-c studied for?
Metabolic regulation, insulin sensitivity, and exercise adaptation, as a mitochondrial-derived peptide that signals cellular energy status.
What makes MOTS-c different from other research peptides?
It’s encoded by mitochondrial DNA rather than nuclear DNA, one of only a handful of known peptides in this class.
What benefits are reported in studies?
Preclinical research associates it with AMPK activation and improved insulin sensitivity in animal models; this remains an active, developing research area.
How should it be reconstituted and stored?
Bacteriostatic water, refrigerate 2–8°C.
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