MOTS -C - 5MG

MOTS-c Clinical Summary

MOTS-c is a 16–amino acid mitochondrial-derived peptide encoded by the 12S rRNA region of mitochondrial DNA. It acts as a metabolic regulator—primarily in skeletal muscle—and is increasingly recognized as a key signaling molecule for adaptation to metabolic stress.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

• Metabolic regulation & mitochondrial efficiency: MOTS-c inhibits the folate cycle and de novo purine biosynthesis, activating AMPK to drive energy balance and mitochondrial biogenesis—improving mitochondrial efficiency and stress resilience.^{[1][6][2][3][7][4]}
• Fat metabolism & fat loss: In animals, MOTS-c prevents diet-induced obesity and age-related fat gain by increasing fatty-acid oxidation and reducing hepatic/adipose lipid deposition. It upregulates mitochondrial fusion genes (OPA1, MFN2) important for fat metabolism.^[1][8][7]
• Insulin sensitivity & blood sugar control: MOTS-c improves skeletal-muscle insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake via AMPK activation and GLUT4 translocation. Exercise and adiponectin boost MOTS-c through the APPL1–SIRT1–PGC-1α pathway.^{[1][6][7][3][4][9]}
• Energy levels & endurance: MOTS-c increases exercise capacity and endurance in mice, mimicking aerobic-exercise benefits (better insulin sensitivity, antioxidant capacity, weight loss). In humans, acute/chronic exercise elevates MOTS-c in muscle and plasma and correlates with metabolic and performance improvements.^[10][11]
• Cellular resilience & stress adaptation: Under metabolic stress, MOTS-c translocates to the nucleus to regulate stress-adaptation genes (including ARE-containing targets), promoting resilience and healthy aging.^[2][4][5]
• Clinical & translational implications: MOTS-c levels decline with age and metabolic disease but rise with exercise or exogenous dosing; it’s being investigated for obesity, diabetes, aging, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.^{[12][10][5][11][4]}
• Dosage: While 10 mg appears in research protocols, there is no established clinical dosing guideline in humans; most data are from animal or in vitro studies.^[1][6][8]

Summary: MOTS-c is a mitochondrial-derived peptide with pleiotropic benefits across metabolic regulation, mitochondrial function, fat metabolism, insulin sensitivity, cellular resilience, and physical performance. Its mechanism centers on AMPK activation and mito-nuclear signaling, with translational potential for metabolic and age-related conditions.^{[1][6][2][12][7][3][10][4][5][11][9][8]}

References

1. Lee C, Zeng J, Drew BG, et al. Cell Metab. 2015;21(3):443-54. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2015.02.009.
2. Wan W, Zhang L, Lin Y, et al. J Transl Med. 2023;21(1):36. doi:10.1186/s12967-023-03885-2.
3. Lee C, Kim KH, Cohen P. Free Radic Biol Med. 2016;100:182-187. doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2016.05.015.
4. Zheng Y, Wei Z, Wang T. Front Endocrinol. 2023;14:1120533. doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1120533.
5. Mohtashami Z, Singh MK, Salimiaghdam N, Ozgul M, Kenney MC. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(19):11991. doi:10.3390/ijms231911991.
6. Yang B, Yu Q, Chang B, et al. BBA-Mol Basis Dis. 2021;1867(6):166126. doi:10.1016/j.bbadis.2021.166126.
7. Bhullar KS, Shang N, Kerek E, Wu K, Wu J. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):14291. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-93735-2.
8. Li Q, Lu H, Hu G, et al. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2019;513(2):439-445. doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.03.194.
9. Guo Q, Chang B, Yu QL, et al. Diabetologia. 2020;63(12):2675-2688. doi:10.1007/s00125-020-05269-3.
10. Woodhead JST, Merry TL. BBA-Gen Subj. 2021;1865(12):130011. doi:10.1016/j.bbagen.2021.130011.
11. Dieli-Conwright CM, Sami N, Norris MK, et al. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):16916. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-96419-z.
12. Merry TL, Chan A, Woodhead JST, et al. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2020;319(4):E659-E666. doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00249.2020.

All COA’s avail upon request by email info@truformlabs.com.

Storage & Handling (Research Use)

• Lyophilized (dry) peptide: Store sealed at −20 °C (long-term). Short-term storage up to 2–3 weeks at 2–8 °C is acceptable.
• After reconstitution: Store at 2–8 °C and use within 7 days, or aliquot into sterile vials and freeze at −20 °C for up to 3 months.
• Light & moisture: Protect from light; keep container tightly closed to avoid moisture uptake.
• Freeze–thaw: Avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles (use aliquots).
• Solvent compatibility: Choose sterile solvent compatible with your protocol; filter-sterilize if required by your procedures.
• Labeling: Clearly label aliquots with concentration, solvent, and date of preparation.

Storage guidance is general for research peptides and may be adjusted per your lab SOP.