↳ Research overview
What Is MOTS-C?
MOTS-C is a 16-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide (MDP) whose sequence is associated with a short open reading frame within mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA. It is investigated in mitonuclear signalling, metabolic-stress and cellular-energy research.
This guide covers MOTS-C's identity, its unusual mitochondrial-encoding origin and the research pathways in which it has been characterised.
For laboratory research context only. PepDirect supplies MOTS-C as a research material, not for human or veterinary use.
§ Identity
What is MOTS-C?
MOTS-C (Mitochondrial ORF within the twelve S rRNA type-C) is a short peptide encoded within the mitochondrial genome, one of a family of mitochondrial-derived peptides that includes humanin and the SHLP series. It has been investigated in cellular metabolic research and in mitonuclear (mitochondria-to-nucleus) signalling studies.
- Compound: MOTS-C (mitochondrial-derived peptide)
- Length: 16 amino acids
- Sequence: MRWQEMGYIFYPRKLR
- CAS number: 1627580-64-6
- Molecular formula: C101H152N28O22S2
- Molecular weight: ~2174.6 g/mol
- PubChem CID: 146675088
Lot-specific identity and purity should be verified against the printed lot number and its corresponding Certificate of Analysis.
§ Encoding
Where is MOTS-C encoded?
Unusually for a signalling peptide, MOTS-C is not encoded in nuclear DNA. Its open reading frame lies within the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA, a region historically considered non-coding. This mitochondrial origin is what places MOTS-C in the class of mitochondrial-derived peptides.
§ Mitonuclear
Why is MOTS-C studied in mitonuclear signalling?
'Mitonuclear signalling' refers to information flow between mitochondria and the nucleus. Under experimental metabolic stress, MOTS-C has been reported to translocate to the cell nucleus and to associate with transcriptional regulators, providing a laboratory model in which a mitochondrially-encoded peptide participates directly in nuclear gene-expression regulation.
Nuclear translocation has been reported in cell and animal models. It has not been demonstrated as an established human physiological process outside those research contexts.
§ Research pathways
What research pathways involve MOTS-C?
- AMPK-associated cellular energy signalling.
- Cellular metabolic-stress and glucose-metabolism experimental models.
- NRF2 / antioxidant-response pathway research.
- Mitonuclear communication (mitochondrial-to-nuclear signalling) research.
- Energy-homeostasis and exercise-physiology research in animal models.
The research pathways above describe published areas of investigation. They do not establish anti-ageing, longevity, exercise-enhancement or metabolic-enhancement outcomes.
§ Evidence
What does the evidence consist of?
- Cell / laboratory studies, receptor and signalling characterisation, nuclear translocation experiments.
- Animal / preclinical studies, metabolic and glucose-homeostasis endpoints, exercise-physiology experiments in rodent models.
- Human research, comparatively limited; published work is largely observational and cross-sectional (e.g. circulating MOTS-C associations in metabolic-health cohorts).
Preclinical and observational findings should not be treated as demonstrated clinical outcomes in humans.
§ vs NAD+
MOTS-C and NAD+
MOTS-C and NAD+ both appear in metabolic and mitochondrial research literature, and are sometimes discussed together for that reason. Chemically they are entirely different materials: MOTS-C is a 16-amino-acid peptide; NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a small-molecule coenzyme, not a peptide. Findings for one should not be attributed to the other.
§ Research product
View the MOTS-C research product
MOTS-C is supplied by PepDirect as a lyophilised research material with lot-specific documentation.
§ References
Selected research references
- MOTS-c · PubChem CID 146675088 (16-aa mitochondrial-derived peptide)PubChem (NCBI)
- The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis (Lee et al., 2015)PubMed · Cell Metabolism
- MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulatory peptide (nuclear translocation)PubMed · Reynolds et al. (Cell Metabolism)
- Mitochondrial-derived peptides in metabolism and ageing, reviewPubMed · Kim et al.
§ FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- What does MOTS-C stand for?
- Mitochondrial ORF within the twelve S rRNA type-C, a short open reading frame located within the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA.
- How many amino acids are in MOTS-C?
- 16 amino acids, sequence MRWQEMGYIFYPRKLR.
- Is MOTS-C encoded by mitochondrial DNA?
- Yes. Its open reading frame is located in the mitochondrial 12S rRNA region, which is why it is classified as a mitochondrial-derived peptide.
- Why is MOTS-C studied in mitochondrial research?
- Because it is a peptide encoded within mitochondrial DNA that has been reported to participate in mitonuclear signalling, AMPK-associated pathways and cellular metabolic-stress responses in laboratory and animal models.
- Is MOTS-C the same as NAD+?
- No. MOTS-C is a 16-amino-acid peptide. NAD+ is a small-molecule coenzyme, not a peptide. They are entirely different chemical materials, even though both appear in metabolic and mitochondrial research literature.
- Is PepDirect MOTS-C intended for human use?
- No. PepDirect supplies MOTS-C strictly as a laboratory research material. It is not marketed as a medicine, food supplement or product for human or veterinary use.
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