MOTS-c

Mitochondrial-derived peptide · also listed as MOTC-C

A 16-amino-acid peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA. Studied for its role as a signalling molecule between the mitochondria and the nucleus.

Sizes

• 10mg / vial — $90 (currently out of stock)

Specifications

• CAS number: 1627580-64-6
• Molecular formula: C101H152N28O22S2
• Molecular weight: 2174.6 g/mol
• Sequence: Met-Arg-Trp-Gln-Glu-Met-Gly-Tyr-Ile-Phe-Tyr-Pro-Arg-Lys-Leu-Arg
• Form: Lyophilised powder
• Storage: −20°C, protected from light

What it is

MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide, and what makes it genuinely unusual is where its instructions live: it is encoded in mitochondrial DNA, not nuclear DNA. Mitochondria were long treated as passive power plants. MOTS-c is direct evidence that they send instructions back to the rest of the cell.

Background

MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded within mitochondrial DNA rather than the nuclear genome, which makes it unusual among research peptides. It was first described in 2015.

How it works

Under metabolic stress MOTS-c moves from the mitochondria to the nucleus and binds regions of nuclear DNA, altering stress-response gene expression. Upstream of that it acts on the folate–purine cycle to raise AICAR levels, which activates AMPK — the same downstream signal exercise produces.

Why researchers order it

It sits at the intersection of two active research areas — mitochondrial signalling and metabolic regulation — and it is one of the few peptides where the mechanism is unusually well characterised. Also listed by some suppliers as MOTC-C; same compound.

Studied in

• AMPK activation and metabolic-homeostasis models
• Exercise-mimetic and insulin-sensitivity literature
• Mitochondrial-to-nuclear retrograde signalling

Handling and storage

Add 2ml to the 10mg vial for 5mg/ml. Swirl gently until clear. Store unopened vials at −20°C, protected from light; lyophilised powder is stable for years that way and tolerates shipping at ambient temperature. Solutions prepared for analysis should be held at 2–8°C, protected from light. Repeated freeze–thaw cycles compromise sample integrity.

Stability notes for this sequence

• The sequence contains methionine, which oxidises in solution. Keep reconstituted material out of light and recap the vial promptly.
• The sequence contains tryptophan, which is light-sensitive. Store solutions in the dark.
• The sequence contains asparagine or glutamine, which deamidate slowly in neutral-to-alkaline solution. Refrigerate solutions and use them within the window on the storage guide.
• Lyophilised powder is stable for years at −20°C in the dark and tolerates days at ambient temperature in transit.

Specification in brief

MOTS-c is a 16-residue peptide with the molecular formula C101H152N28O22S2 and a molecular weight of 2174.6 g/mol, CAS registry number 1627580-64-6. The vial is sealed and lot-numbered, holds lyophilised powder, and is kept at −20°C protected from light until it ships.

Sizes and price

MOTS-c is sold per vial in one size: 10mg at $90 (currently out of stock). Any quantity can be ordered from a single vial upward; ten vials make a sealed box. Shipping is a flat $10 within the United States and free on orders of $250 or more.

Evidence at a glance

The 1 paper cited below is 1 animal study. None is a controlled study of MOTS-c in humans, and this page does not claim otherwise.

Also in Longevity

• NAD+ — Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
• Epithalon — Epitalon · Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly tetrapeptide

Side by side

• NAD+ vs MOTS-c
• Epithalon vs MOTS-c

Further reading

• Cognitive and longevity peptide comparison
• How to read a certificate of analysis
• Lyophilised peptide storage and stability
• Reconstitution concentration calculator

References

1. Lee C et al. (2015). The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance. Cell Metab. PubMed 25738459 · SummaryMOTS-c, encoded in mitochondrial DNA, acted on skeletal muscle via AMPK and prevented diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance in mice.

For laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. Nothing on this page is a claim of safety or efficacy, and none of it has been evaluated by the FDA.