MOTS-c
MOTS-c (Mitochondrial ORF of the 12S rRNA-c)
Research Parameters
- Typical Dose Range
- Research: 5 to 10 mg per administration, 2 to 3 times weekly
- Half-Life
- Short plasma half-life; downstream metabolic effects persist longer
- Administration Route
- Subcutaneous
Dosing information is for research purposes only and has not been evaluated by the FDA.
MOTS-c is the closest thing research has found to an exercise-in-a-molecule. That framing is imprecise, it doesn't replicate the full benefit of training, but the research keeps finding that the downstream metabolic effects overlap significantly with what exercise produces: improved insulin sensitivity, better glucose uptake in muscle tissue, enhanced fat oxidation, and mitochondrial biogenesis. That overlap is why researchers call it an exercise mimetic.
It's also one of the newest peptides in research rotation, discovered in 2015, which puts it in a different category than older peptides here. Less human data, more active investigation. Research covers metabolic flexibility, age-related metabolic decline, and obesity. MOTS-c levels drop with age, and the research is actively examining whether restoring them supports metabolic function in aging populations.
For research purposes only.
Mechanism of Action
MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA, specifically a hidden open reading frame within the 12S ribosomal RNA gene. It's a mitochondrial-derived peptide (MDP), a class only fully characterized in the last decade. It appears to function as a signaling molecule the mitochondria use to coordinate metabolic response across the rest of the body, activating AMPK pathways and regulating glucose and fatty acid metabolism.
Citations
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is MOTS-c used for in research?
Research focuses on insulin sensitivity, metabolic flexibility, exercise capacity, and age-related metabolic decline. It's the first well-characterized mitochondrial-derived peptide. For research purposes only.
- Why is MOTS-c called an exercise mimetic?
Because the downstream effects (improved glucose uptake, enhanced fat oxidation, mitochondrial biogenesis) overlap with some of the metabolic benefits produced by exercise. It doesn't replicate all of exercise, but the overlap is what drives the name. For research purposes only.
- How does MOTS-c compare to SS-31 for mitochondrial research?
SS-31 protects the mitochondrial membrane from damage; MOTS-c is a signaling molecule produced by mitochondria that affects systemic metabolism. Different roles in the same system. For research purposes only.