MOTS-c (Mitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the 12S rRNA-c) is a 16-amino acid mitochondria-derived peptide (MDP) encoded within the mitochondrial genome, a relatively recent discovery that has reshaped understanding of mitochondria as active endocrine signaling organs rather than passive energy producers.

Research has focused on MOTS-c’s role in AMPK activation, glucose and fatty acid metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and exercise-mimetic signaling. Studies published in the journal Cell Metabolism identified its ability to regulate the folate cycle and methionine metabolism, placing it at the intersection of metabolic homeostasis and cellular stress response.

Each Etched Research vial contains 10mg of lyophilized powder, purity-verified at ≥99% via HPLC and mass spectrometry. Batch-specific Certificate of Analysis included.

Specifications:
– Molecular Formula: C₉₅H₁₅₇N₂₇O₂₈S₂
– Molecular Weight: 2174.47 g/mol
– Sequence: MRWQEMGYIFYPRKLR
– Purity: ≥99% (HPLC + Mass Spectrometry)
– Form: Lyophilized powder
– Storage: -20°C (lyophilized); 4°C once reconstituted, use within 30 days

FOR IN VITRO RESEARCH USE ONLY. NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION, INGESTION, OR ANY IN VIVO USE.

Research at a Glance

What it is: A 16-amino-acid peptide that the body’s own mitochondria encode.
Researchers have studied it for: metabolism and insulin signaling, how muscle mitochondria respond to exercise, and bone loss in animal models.
Evidence level: Almost all animal and cell work. The little human data measured natural MOTS-c rising after exercise, not injected peptide.
The short version: MOTS-c research centers on an energy sensor called AMPK, mostly in mice and cells. Researchers call it an “exercise mimetic” because it seems to nudge some of the same energy pathways exercise does, at least in animals. The human case is thin, and this is a research summary, not a reason to use anything.

Read the research →