MOTS-c
Mitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the 12S rRNA-c
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What is MOTS-c?
MOTS-c is a very short peptide that your own mitochondria — the energy-making parts of your cells — produce naturally. Researchers study it for how it may influence blood-sugar handling, exercise physiology, and cellular-aging pathways in animal and lab models. It's sold here strictly as a research chemical for laboratory study, not for human or animal use.
Key terms:
MOTS-c is a mitochondrial-derived peptide (mdp).
MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded in the DNA of mitochondria, the cell's energy factories. It acts as a mitohormone — a hormone-like signal from mitochondria. Research describes it as keeping metabolism balanced, improving insulin sensitivity, and supporting longevity in study models. It works through the folate-AICAR-AMPK pathway, and under metabolic stress it can move into the cell nucleus to change which genes are active.
Key research areas
- Enhanced insulin sensitivity
- Improved glucose metabolism
- Activation of AMPK pathway
- Mitochondrial function optimization
- Exercise performance enhancement
- Potential longevity benefits
Researched dosing
This table shows how researchers structure study designs with MOTS-c — the dose ranges and schedules used in published research, presented as methodology reference, not usage instructions.
| Phase | Dose | Frequency | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metabolic studies | 5-10mg | Once daily | Subcutaneous |
| Longevity protocols | 15mg | 3x weekly | Subcutaneous |
| Exercise-performance studies | 10-15mg | Pre-workout | Subcutaneous |
| Starting dose | 5mg | Once daily | Subcutaneous |
| Low-dose combination protocol | 1mg | 3x weekly | Subcutaneous (abdomen) |
Commonly cycled 12 weeks on, 2+ weeks off.
How it works
At the cell level, MOTS-c research looks at how the peptide travels from mitochondria to the cell's control center (the nucleus) under stress, switching on genes involved in metabolism — the terms below just name that signaling pathway.
MOTS-c operates through the Folate-AICAR-AMPK pathway, inhibiting the folate cycle and leading to AMPK activation. Under metabolic stress, it translocates to the nucleus and binds to stress-response transcription factors (NRF2, ATF1/ATF7) to regulate gene expression involved in metabolism, antioxidant response, and cellular stress adaptation.
Molecular data
These figures — molecular weight, sequence, chain length — are the chemistry fingerprint researchers use to confirm a MOTS-c sample's identity before it goes into a study.
- Weight
- 2174.6 Da
- Length
- 16 amino acids
- Type
- Mitochondrial-derived peptide (MDP)
MRWQEMGYIFYPRKLR
Pharmacokinetics
This chart shows how quickly a research dose of MOTS-c is absorbed and cleared in animal studies — read it like a timer: the peak is when levels are highest, then the curve trails off as the compound clears.
- Peak
- 1 hr
- Half-life
- 4 hrs
- Cleared
- ~20 hrs
Lee et al. 2015
Research applications
This section lists the body systems and research areas scientists have studied for MOTS-c — mostly in animal and cell models — summarizing what's been studied in the literature, not medical claims about people.
Metabolic
Improves insulin sensitivity by ~30% in animal studies through AMPK activation. Enhances glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and improves glucose tolerance. Clinical trials show improved glucose homeostasis in Type 2 Diabetes - restores metabolic function through enhanced insulin receptor sensitization and AMPK-mediated metabolic regulation. Attenuated diet-induced obesity despite identical caloric intake in animal models. Promotes fatty acid oxidation and thermogenesis through mitochondrial activation.
Longevity
Mitohormone activity regulates metabolic homeostasis and promotes longevity. Acts as mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical performance as demonstrated in Reynolds et al. 2021.
Exercise
Single dose MOTS-c improved running time by 12% and distance by 15% in untrained mice. Chronic training increased MOTS-c protein expression 1.5-5-fold in muscle tissue. Exercise induces 11.9-fold increase in skeletal muscle MOTS-c in humans.
Dosage reference
- Doses used in research
- 5–15 mg
- Frequency in studies
- Once daily or 3x weekly, preferably morning
- Handling
- Reconstituted solution — research use only; not for administration
- Timeline reported in studies
- AMPK activation within 30 min, glucose improvements 1-2 weeks, full benefits 4-8 weeks
- Storage
- Lyophilized: room temp 3 weeks or freezer. Reconstituted: 2-8°C for 14 days
- Cycle length
- 4-12 weeks continuous or 3x weekly intermittent
- Break between cycles
- 2-4 weeks between continuous cycles
Interactions
This list shows which other metabolic-research compounds are studied alongside MOTS-c, and why.
Reconstitution & storage
This is the standard laboratory method for turning freeze-dried MOTS-c powder into a liquid research solution.
- Allow vial to reach room temperature (15-20 minutes)
- Calculate required BAC water volume using calculator below
- Draw BAC water into syringe
- Inject slowly down vial side (not directly onto powder)
- Gently swirl until dissolved (never shake vigorously)
- Store the reconstituted solution refrigerated (2–8°C), labeled with the date and concentration, for laboratory research use only.
Lyophilized: Room temperature (up to 3 weeks) or freezer, use within 3 weeks at room temperature; longer in freezer
Reconstituted: 2-6°C, use within 14 days
Open the MOTS-c reconstitution calculatorQuality indicators
These are the visual and lab-report checks researchers use to confirm a MOTS-c sample is pure and correctly identified — a quick sanity check against the Certificate of Analysis (COA), not a guarantee.
White to Off-White Powder - Lyophilized powder should appear uniform without discoloration, indicating proper storage and purity >95%.
Clear Solution After Reconstitution - Should be colorless and clear after reconstitution without particles, cloudiness, or foaming.
Sequence Verification - Confirm peptide is MRWQEMGYIFYPRKLR sequence. Request Certificate of Analysis (CoA) showing purity >95% by RP-HPLC.
Limited Human Data - Clinical safety data is limited. Start with conservative doses (5-10mg) and monitor carefully.
No FDA Approval - Not FDA-approved for human therapeutic use. Available only as research peptide.
WADA Banned Substance - Prohibited by World Anti-Doping Agency as AMPK activator for athletic performance enhancement.
What to expect
This timeline summarizes what animal-model research literature has reported at each stage of a study — research context for comparing studies, not a personal-results promise.
Animal studies reported AMPK-pathway activation with early improvements in glucose tolerance
Animal studies reported improved exercise capacity and insulin sensitivity
Sustained metabolic effects reported, with body-composition changes in some models
Peak reported mitochondrial-function and metabolic-flexibility endpoints
Safety notes
This section covers how MOTS-c is regulated and handled in a laboratory setting, including its WADA-prohibited status for competitive athletes — research-use-only scope, not medical safety advice for people.
- Not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Monitor blood glucose if using diabetes medications - may require dose adjustments
- May cause mild injection site reactions (redness, swelling)
- Prohibited by WADA for competitive athletes (metabolic modulator)
- Not FDA-approved for human therapeutic use - available only as research peptide
Regulatory status
- Not approved by the FDA for any indication.
- Prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
- Supplied and described for laboratory research use only — not for human or veterinary use.
Frequently asked questions
What is MOTS-c?
MOTS-c is a mitochondrial-derived peptide (MDP) — a short, 16-amino-acid peptide encoded by the mitochondrial genome rather than by nuclear DNA. It acts as a mitohormone and is studied in animal and cell models for its role in metabolic-homeostasis and cellular-stress pathways. Lux BioPure supplies it strictly as a research chemical for laboratory study, not for human or animal use.
What class of compound is MOTS-c?
MOTS-c is classified as a mitochondrial-derived peptide, with 16 amino acids, the sequence MRWQEMGYIFYPRKLR, and a molecular weight near 2,175 daltons. In research it is described as operating through the Folate-AICAR-AMPK pathway and, under metabolic stress, translocating to the nucleus to bind stress-response transcription factors — neutral biochemical descriptions of the pathways scientists study.
How is MOTS-c typically reconstituted for research use?
In the lab, MOTS-c powder is first allowed to reach room temperature, then reconstituted with bacteriostatic water: the water is added slowly down the vial side rather than directly onto the powder, and the vial is gently swirled — never shaken vigorously — until dissolved. The reconstituted research solution is labeled and refrigerated. This is standard peptide-handling methodology, not a usage instruction.
How should reconstituted MOTS-c be stored in the lab?
Lyophilized MOTS-c can be held at room temperature for up to about three weeks, or longer in a freezer. Once reconstituted with bacteriostatic water, the solution is kept at roughly 2–6°C and used within about 14 days. Researchers confirm a sound sample by its uniform white to off-white powder, a clear colorless solution, and a Certificate of Analysis showing purity above 95%.
Is MOTS-c legal to purchase for research in Canada?
Lux BioPure sells MOTS-c in Canada strictly as a research-use-only chemical for laboratory study — it is not for human or animal use and is not offered as a drug or supplement. MOTS-c is not FDA-approved and appears on the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list, so it is not permitted for competitive athletes.
References
Yin et al. showed MOTS-c significantly alleviated hyperglycemia in GDM mouse model, improved insulin sensitivity, and reduced birth weight abnormalities. Human study found significantly lower serum MOTS-c levels in GDM patients versus controls.
View StudyHyatt et al. showed single dose MOTS-c improved running time by 12% and distance by 15% in untrained mice. Chronic training increased MOTS-c protein expression 1.5-5-fold in muscle tissue, demonstrating both acute and chronic exercise-enhancing effects.
View StudyReynolds et al. demonstrated MOTS-c significantly enhanced physical performance in young, middle-aged, and old mice. Exercise induced 11.9-fold increase in skeletal muscle MOTS-c in humans. Acts as mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical performance.
View Study