Longevity · Research Phase
MOTS-c
No lawful US pathway
01 · Overview
A 16-amino acid mitochondrial-derived peptide encoded by a short open reading frame in the 12S rRNA gene of mitochondrial DNA. In mice and cells, MOTS-c targets skeletal muscle, inhibits the folate cycle and de novo purine synthesis, and activates AMPK (PMID 25738459).
Under metabolic stress it translocates to the nucleus in an AMPK-dependent manner to regulate nuclear genes, including antioxidant response genes (PMID 29983246).
02 · Research summary & key findings
MOTS-c treatment prevented age-dependent and high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance and diet-induced obesity in mice (Lee et al., Cell Metabolism, 2015) (PMID 25738459). It enhanced physical performance in young, middle-aged, and old mice, and late-life treatment improved physical capacity and healthspan (PMID 33473109). In humans, exercise increases MOTS-c in skeletal muscle and circulation (PMID 33473109), and circulating levels are reported to decline with age (PMID 41303353). Therapeutic evidence is from animal studies; no human efficacy trials of MOTS-c itself have been reported.
03 · Regulatory status
MOTS-c is in the research phase with limited clinical data in humans. Current evidence is primarily derived from preclinical (animal or in vitro) studies.
No lawful pathway today
MOTS-c is not FDA-approved and does not currently have a lawful prescription or compounding pathway in the United States, so we do not sell it and will not book a consultation for it. That can change: in 2026 FDA began reviewing several peptides for compounding. If you are working on the goal it is studied for, a licensed clinician can tell you what is lawfully available, which may be something else.
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Looking for a lawful, clinician-prescribed option for longevity and healthy ageing?
MOTS-c is a research compound, is not FDA-approved, and has no lawful US compounding pathway, so we do not offer it and no clinician we work with will prescribe it. Products sold online as “research chemicals” are not made or tested to the standards required of medicines. If you are working on longevity and healthy ageing, a licensed clinician can tell you at a free consultation whether an FDA-approved or lawfully compounded treatment fits you, or whether nothing does.
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04 · Administration routes
- Subcutaneous injection
References
- [1]The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance Cell Metab, 2015. PMID 25738459
- [2]The Mitochondrial-Encoded Peptide MOTS-c Translocates to the Nucleus to Regulate Nuclear Gene Expression in Response to Metabolic Stress Cell Metab, 2018. PMID 29983246
- [3]MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis Nat Commun, 2021. PMID 33473109
- [4]Insights into the Biomarker Potential of Humanin and Mots-c Expression and Telomere Length in Alzheimer's Disease Int J Mol Sci, 2025. PMID 41303353
Primary literature
- PubMed: "MOTS-c"
Peer-reviewed literature indexed by the National Library of Medicine.
- ClinicalTrials.gov: "MOTS-c"
Registered interventional and observational studies, including status and phase.
- PubChem: "MOTS-c"
Chemical structure, molecular properties, and bioactivity data.
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Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational and research purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any peptide therapy. The Peptide Association does not endorse or recommend any specific treatment protocol. See our editorial policy for how this content is produced and reviewed. Clinicians: join the network.