Peptide reference
MOTS-c
Mitochondrial ORF of the 12S rRNA type-c · a mitochondrial-derived peptide
A 16-amino-acid peptide encoded not by nuclear DNA but within the mitochondrial genome itself.
Residues
16
Molecular weight
~2174.6 g/mol
Encoded by
MT-RNR1 (12S rRNA)
Class
Mitochondrial-derived peptide
Researched effects
Areas MOTS-c has been studied in. Every card carries an evidence-level badge.
Insulin sensitivity
Improved glucose disposal and reduced insulin resistance in diet-induced obese mice.
Diet-induced obesity resistance
Reduced fat mass accumulation on a high-fat diet.
AMPK activation
The central proposed signalling action underlying its metabolic effects.
Exercise response
Circulating and skeletal-muscle MOTS-c rise acutely with exercise in humans.
Metabolic gene regulation
Translocates to the nucleus under metabolic stress and influences nuclear gene expression.
Age-related decline
Circulating levels have been reported to fall with age.
Longevity association
The m.1382A>C mitochondrial variant, which alters MOTS-c, has been associated with longevity in Japanese cohorts.
Skeletal muscle function
Improved physical capacity in aged mice.
Bone and metabolic markers
Early small human work exists but remains preliminary.
Sequence
Sixteen residues, N-terminus to C-terminus. Hover a node to inspect; filter by class to isolate.
Hover or focus a residue to inspect.
Sequence: MRWQEMGYIFYPRKLR. Sixteen residues in order: Met, Arg, Trp, Gln, Glu, Met, Gly, Tyr, Ile, Phe, Tyr, Pro, Arg, Lys, Leu, Arg.
Amino acid composition
How the sixteen positions distribute across twelve unique residues.
Arginine
Methionine
Tyrosine
Tryptophan
Glutamine
Glutamic acid
Glycine
Isoleucine
Phenylalanine
Proline
Lysine
Leucine
Structural properties
Four readouts characterising the chain.
Readout · 01
Net charge ≈ +4
Four basic residues (3× Arg, 1× Lys) against a single acidic Glu. The strong positive charge is relevant to membrane interaction and cellular uptake.
Readout · 02
Four aromatic residues
1× Trp, 2× Tyr and 1× Phe give strong absorbance at 280 nm, useful for analytical quantification.
Readout · 03
Two methionines
Susceptible to oxidation, a known handling and stability consideration for the peptide.
Readout · 04
No cysteine
No disulphide bonds; the peptide is short and largely unstructured in solution.
Proposed mechanisms
Pathways inferred from cell and rodent studies. Proposed / largely preclinical — not confirmed human mechanism.
Research & regulatory status
Not an approved medicine.
MOTS-c has no marketing authorisation as a drug in the US, UK or EU. It is sold only as a research chemical.
Non-approved substance in sport.
As an unapproved pharmacological agent it falls under WADA category S0, prohibited at all times.
Evidence is overwhelmingly preclinical.
The bulk of the literature is rodent and cell work from a small number of groups; human data is mostly observational, and long-term safety data in humans is absent.
The overwhelming majority of published evidence is preclinical, and long-term human safety data is absent.