MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide encoded within the 12S rRNA gene. 2025 studies show it restores cardiac mitochondrial OXPHOS respiration and reduces fasting glucose/hypertrophy in T2D rat models, protects against acute lung injury, and delays weight gain in high-fat diet models. Analog CB411 shows superior stability for obesity/NASH. Levels decline 21% in elderly vs young adults.
Research status
preclinical
Sequence
MRWQEMGYIFYPRKLR
Molecular weight
2174.64 Da
Molecular formula
C101H152N28O22S2
For research use only. This summary is a research-scientific overview compiled from peer-reviewed sources. It is not medical advice and is not intended for human or veterinary consumption.
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Albert's Verdict
MOTS-c is the only mitochondrial-derived peptide I know of that translocates to the nucleus under metabolic stress — it's essentially your mitochondria sending an SOS that triggers whole-body adaptation. The insulin sensitivity data at 12 weeks is hard to ignore.
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Arrives as lyophilized (powder) form
Shipped freeze-dried for maximum stability and shelf life. See laboratory preparation guide for handling instructions.
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Research profile
A 16-residue peptide encoded within the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA locus, characterised in the primary literature as an AMPK activator and modulator of glucose homeostasis in preclinical models. For laboratory characterisation only.
Molecular formula
C100H155N29O26
Mechanism of action
Binding and functional-assay data for MOTS-c, from peer-reviewed in-vitro pharmacology publications. Values are receptor activity parameters — not clinical outcomes.
AMPK
AMP-activated protein kinase
Activator (in vitro)
In-vitro skeletal muscle and hepatocyte cultures report MOTS-c-induced AMPK phosphorylation, proposed as the primary energy-sensor mechanism.
Source: Lee et al., Cell Metab 2015
FR
Folate-methionine cycle
Modulator (in vitro)
Preclinical studies describe MOTS-c-mediated modulation of the folate-methionine one-carbon metabolism pathway upstream of AMPK activation.
Source: Lee et al., Cell Metab 2015
Receptor EC₅₀ values from in-vitro cAMP functional assays reported in peer-reviewed literature. In-vitro / preclinical characterisation only — no clinical or therapeutic claim is expressed or implied. Research use only.
Study framework
Study designs referencing this compound in the published literature. Descriptions cover framework only — phase, participant count, duration, and citation — not outcomes. Click a card to review the source directly.
Discovery paper
In-vitro + murine metabolic characterisation
Lee et al., Cell Metab 2015
Exercise-mimetic model
Aged-mouse muscle bioenergetics + exercise capacity
Reynolds et al., Nat Commun 2021
Structural biology
Cryo-EM structural characterisation review
Kim et al., Cell Rep 2018
Independent COA
≥99% purity · <0.05 EU/mL endotoxin · lot-specific
Freedom Diagnostic (accredited)
Compound comparison
Two published mitochondrial-targeted peptides with distinct primary targets in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Reference chemistry only.
| Compound | Sequence | MW | Half-life (lit.) | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
SS-31 (Elamipretide) peptide | 4 residues | 639.76 g/mol | ~3 hours (lit.) | Szeto Br J Pharmacol 2014 |
MOTS-c peptide | 16 residues | 2174.5 g/mol | in-vitro dependent | Lee Cell Metab 2015 |
Reference chemistry only. Receptor-binding indications are qualitative (compound engages / does not engage the receptor in in-vitro assays as reported in the cited literature). No comparative-effectiveness claim is expressed or implied.
For research use only.
Not for human or veterinary use. All data on this page reflects chemistry attributes, in-vitro pharmacology, and study-framework metadata from published peer-reviewed literature. No statement describes or implies any therapeutic effect in humans. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA; this product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Sold exclusively to qualified researchers and institutions.MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide encoded within the 12S rRNA gene. 2025 studies show it restores cardiac mitochondrial OXPHOS respiration and reduces fasting glucose/hypertrophy in T2D rat models, protects against acute lung injury, and delays weight gain in high-fat diet models. Analog CB411 shows superior stability for obesity/NASH. Levels decline 21% in elderly vs young adults. It has a molecular formula C101H152N28O22S2, mass 2174.64 Da. Its published amino-acid sequence is MRWQEMGYIFYPRKLR. Common synonyms in the literature include Mitochondrial ORF of the 12S rRNA type-c, Mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c, and MDP MOTS-c.
Investigation of MOTS-c to date is primarily preclinical, with the majority of citations concentrated in animal models and in-vitro assays rather than randomized controlled human trials. Published work referencing MOTS-c spans Metabolic regulation studies: The original 2015 Cell Metabolism paper demonstrated that MOTS-c treatment prevented age-dependent and high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance in mice, reduced body weight, and improved glucose homeostasis through AMPK activation in skeletal muscle. MOTS-c acts as an exercise mimetic, causing cells to behave as if exercise has occurred, Physical performance studies: Mice of all ages treated with MOTS-c showed improvements in endurance, strength, and overall physical capacity. In particular, older mice (equivalent to 65+ in human years) doubled their running capacity on a treadmill compared to untreated controls, even outrunning untreated middle-aged mice. Treatment also improved grip strength, stride length, and balance, and NAD+ and sirtuin research: MOTS-c elevates NAD+ levels and activates sirtuins (particularly SIRT1), metabolic cofactors critical for cell survival and energy metabolism. This represents an important connection to other aging-related pathways. Proposed mechanisms in the literature include AMPK pathway activation: directly activates AMP-activated protein kinase in skeletal muscle, triggering metabolic adaptations and glucose uptake and NAD+/SIRT1 activation: elevates NAD+ levels and activates sirtuins (particularly SIRT1), critical metabolic cofactors for cell survival. None of this material describes therapeutic outcomes in humans, and BioInfinity does not sell, market, or provide dosing guidance for MOTS-c outside laboratory research.
Lyophilized MOTS-c arrives as a fluffy off-white solid inside a sealed sterile vial. Because it ships as a lyophilized peptide (2174.64 Da), the powder is best stored between 2–8 °C prior to reconstitution and returned to −20 °C in aliquots for long-term storage post-reconstitution. Reconstitution is typically performed with bacteriostatic water (0.9 % benzyl alcohol preserved) rather than sterile water because the preservative extends solution stability once the vial has been punctured. Warming the reconstituted solution to room temperature before drawing helps redissolve any peptide that has settled against the vial wall. Avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles: for peptides in this molecular-weight range (2174.64 Da), freeze–thaw stress is one of the most common causes of loss-of-purity between batches.
Every batch of MOTS-c ships with a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis produced by an ISO-accredited third-party analytical laboratory. Reversed-phase HPLC confirms the assay against the expected 2174.64 Da mass (C101H152N28O22S2); mass spectrometry validates the exact monoisotopic mass; endotoxin (LAL) testing confirms bacterial-contamination limits appropriate for laboratory research; and residual-solvent panels confirm the manufacturing pipeline. The lot number on the outer label matches the COA on the public /coa-library page — every purity claim is independently verifiable before you open the vial.
For the full mechanistic profile, published references, and constraint notes on MOTS-c, see the MOTS-c research page. All references cited on that page are peer-reviewed primary literature.
Research use only. MOTS-c is sold strictly for in-vitro and animal research. It is not a drug, food, supplement, or cosmetic and is not intended for human or veterinary consumption. No statements on this page describe or imply any therapeutic effect.
Commonly studied alongside in laboratory settings
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The Mot-C lived up to my expectations and then some! There was a bit of a shipping mix up and I can’t say enough about the great and responsive customer service. The folks at Bioinfinity have my business!
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Top of the line company, product purity second to none.
As advertised, Bioinfinity lab is my go to source for all peptides. Always have been consistent in purity and fast shipping.
Reviews are submitted by verified buyers via per-order tokenized links. Reviews are evaluated for product-focused content; any review containing therapeutic claims (cured, treats, healed, etc.) may be edited or hidden to maintain compliance with FDA and platform guidelines.
Research Use Only: This product is intended for laboratory research purposes only. Not for human consumption.
