MOTS-C
A 16-residue peptide encoded in the mitochondrial 12S rRNA region, described in 2015 as a regulator of metabolic homeostasis.
- Purity
- 99.2%
- Lot
- PU-544B
- Format
- Lyophilized powder
- Third-party tested
- Discreet packaging
- Same-day shipping
- Encrypted checkout
For research use only. Not for human consumption.
Mechanism of Action
MOTS-c is a short peptide encoded within the mitochondrial genome rather than the nuclear genome - one of a small set of mitochondrial-derived peptides. Its 2015 description in Cell Metabolism reported regulation of metabolic homeostasis through an AMPK-associated pathway.
A 2018 Cell Metabolism study reported that the peptide translocates to the nucleus under metabolic stress and participates in regulating nuclear gene expression, which is the basis for describing it as mitochondrial-to-nuclear signalling. A 2024 study in iScience reported direct binding to and activation of casein kinase 2 in skeletal muscle.
Research Findings
Published studies span gestational hyperglycaemia and insulin resistance models, bone metabolism, pulmonary fibrosis, lung ischaemia-reperfusion, ovarian cancer progression and cardiomyopathy models. Endpoints have been biochemical, transcriptional and histological.
Reviews published between 2022 and 2026 collect this material and discuss the peptide in the context of ageing and age-related disease. Human interventional data are not indexed.
Storage & Reconstitution
Sealed lyophilized vials are stored in the dark. The peptide-formulation literature regards the dry solid as the stable state and the solution as the fragile one: refrigeration at 2-8 degrees C is standard for short holding periods, and minus 20 degrees C or colder for long-term storage. Vials are brought to room temperature before opening so that atmospheric moisture does not condense onto the cold solid.
For reconstitution, the diluent is added slowly down the inner wall of the vial rather than directly onto the cake, and the vial is swirled rather than shaken - agitation at an air-liquid interface is a well-documented driver of peptide aggregation. The solid should dissolve to a clear, particle-free solution; persistent cloudiness or visible particulate indicates the material should not be used.
Reconstituted solution is held at 2-8 degrees C and protected from light. Freeze-thaw cycling is the single most avoidable cause of loss, so where a solution must be frozen it is aliquoted first into single-use volumes. Working aliquots are labelled with the lot number so that any result can be traced back to the certificate of analysis for that lot.
- Physical form
- Lyophilized powder, sealed vial
- Sealed storage
- 2-8 C short term / -20 C long term
- Reconstituted
- 2-8 C, protected from light
- Diluent
- Bacteriostatic water, added down the vial wall
- Avoid
- Shaking, freeze-thaw cycling, direct light
Handling summary
References
Every entry below links to its PubMed record. Publication is not endorsement: several of these papers report limitations, negative findings or adverse events, and they are listed for that reason.
- [1]MOTS-c: A promising mitochondrial-derived peptide for therapeutic exploitation(opens PubMed in a new tab)
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) · 2023 · PMID 36761202
- [2]MOTS-c Functionally Prevents Metabolic Disorders(opens PubMed in a new tab)
Metabolites · 2023 · PMID 36677050
- [3]MOTS-c: A Mitochondrial-Encoded Regulator of the Nucleus(opens PubMed in a new tab)
Bioessays · 2019 · PMID 31378979
- [4]
- [5]MOTS-c: A potential anti-pulmonary fibrosis factor derived by mitochondria(opens PubMed in a new tab)
Mitochondrion · 2023 · PMID 37307934
- [6]Role of MOTS-c in the regulation of bone metabolism(opens PubMed in a new tab)
Front Physiol · 2023 · PMID 37200834