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.
AMPK pathway activation, initial glucose tolerance improvements
Enhanced exercise capacity, improved insulin sensitivity
Sustained metabolic benefits, potential body composition improvements
Maximum mitochondrial function enhancement, metabolic flexibility
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.
Community data
Community Insights
Based on data the community reported. Not clinical proof.
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