MOTS-c: Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide Research Guide (2026)
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Introduction (research-only scope)
MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded not in the nuclear genome but in mitochondrial DNA, within the 12S rRNA region. It belongs to a small class of mitochondrial-derived peptides and is studied as a signal from the mitochondrion to the rest of the cell. This guide covers the biology, the published evidence and how to verify research-grade material.
Research use only. The material described here is a laboratory reagent for in-vitro research by qualified professionals. It is not a medicine, supplement, cosmetic ingredient or veterinary product, is not for human or animal use, and nothing on this page is medical advice or a claim of effect in any person.
What is MOTS-c?
Discovered by Changhan Lee and Pinchas Cohen at USC and described in Cell Metabolism in 2015, MOTS-c (molecular mass 2174.6) is translated from a short open reading frame inside mitochondrial 12S rRNA. Its existence is part of a wider reappraisal of small proteins encoded by short open reading frames, summarised in a 2026 Epigenomics review. Peptra Labs supplies it as a lyophilised research reagent, 10 mg per vial.
How the reported mechanism works
Folate cycle and AMPK
The original work reported that MOTS-c acts on the folate one-carbon cycle, leading to accumulation of an intermediate that activates AMPK, the cell’s energy-sensing kinase. That is the mechanistic core of most subsequent studies.
Exercise induction and nuclear translocation
Later work reported that MOTS-c is induced by exercise and can translocate to the nucleus under metabolic stress, where it has been described as influencing stress-response gene expression.
Relationship to other mitochondrial peptides
It is studied alongside SS-31 in mitochondrial-function models, though the two are unrelated in structure; see MOTS-c vs SS-31.
What the published evidence covers
The evidence base is preclinical: cell models, mouse studies and observational work on endogenous MOTS-c levels. There are no completed controlled human trials of administered MOTS-c. The 2021 Nature Communications paper is the most cited on exercise and age-related decline in mice, and the 2015 Cell Metabolism paper remains the reference for the AMPK mechanism. Independent groups have reproduced parts of the biology, which places it in a better evidential position than most peptides in this catalog, but still far from clinical evidence.
How to verify a MOTS-c research peptide is real and pure
Two tests answer two different questions: mass spectrometry confirms identity (expected molecular mass 2174.6), HPLC quantifies purity. Our specification is at least 98%. The published report for batch QYA055 reported 99.2% purity and can be checked on the testing laboratory’s own platform: third-party verification. Match the batch number printed on your vial against the lab reports archive rather than relying on a certificate image; what a valid certificate must contain is explained in how to read a certificate of analysis.
Storage and reconstitution
Store the lyophilised material sealed, dry and protected from light at 2 to 8 °C for routine laboratory use, colder for long-term archiving. After reconstitution with bacteriostatic water, keep refrigerated and use within the window your protocol defines; repeated freeze-thaw cycles degrade peptides. General handling for all our reagents is in the peptide storage protocol.
Regulatory status
MOTS-c is an endogenous human peptide, not an authorised medicine anywhere, and no marketing authorisation exists. It is not named individually on the WADA Prohibited List; section S0 covers substances without approval for human therapeutic use. Research-grade material supplied here is not a medicine and is for in-vitro laboratory use only. The wider framework, including anti-doping status, is described in the peptide risk profile.
Why labs choose our MOTS-c
Batch-numbered vials, published reports where a batch has been tested, shipping from an EU warehouse with tracking (no customs inside the EU) and prices shown with VAT included. Product page: MOTS-c 10 mg. Country-by-country sourcing questions are covered in the buyer guide Buy MOTS-c in Europe.
References
- Lee C et al. The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance. Cell Metab. 2015. PubMed 25738459
- Reynolds JC et al. MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis. Nat Commun. 2021. PubMed 33473109
- Emerging regulators of human physiology and disease: sORF-encoded microproteins. Epigenomics. 2026. PubMed 42576277