Updated April 2026

MOTS-c Dosing Protocol

Founder & Lead Researcher · B.S. Civil Engineering, UCLA

Last updated: April 2026

Complete Dosing & Safety Guide for MOTS-c, a Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide Used in Metabolic Research, covering community dosing schedules, reconstitution math, exercise-signaling rationale, and current human-evidence limits.

Half-life

~1-2 hours circulating (estimated)

Dose range

5-10 mg bolus or 0.2-1 mg/day

Status

Not FDA-approved

WADA

Prohibited (AMPK activator)

Need to calculate reconstitution and dosing units? Use the calculate injection units.

Quick Reference Dosing Card

Peptide Name

MOTS-c

Use Case

Research users commonly explore MOTS-c for mitochondrial, metabolic, and endurance-capacity support.

Aliases

Mitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the 12S rRNA type-c; MOTS-c peptide

Category / Class

Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide (MDP)

Half-Life

~1-2 hours circulating (estimated); intracellular and tissue persistence remains uncertain

Dosing Frequency

Daily low-dose protocols or intermittent bolus protocols

Dose Range

5-10 mg per injection (community bolus); 0.2-1 mg/day for low-dose daily approaches

Titration Schedule

Bolus: 5 mg every 5 days; intermittent: 5 mg 2x weekly -> 5-10 mg 2-3x weekly; low-dose daily: 200 mcg/day -> +200 mcg every 2 weeks -> 1 mg/day

Common Vial Sizes

5mg, 10mg

Route of Administration

Subcutaneous (SubQ)

Regulatory Status

Unregulated research compound. Not FDA-approved. FDA lists MOTS-c as ineligible for compounding. Prohibited by WADA under S4.4.1 (AMPK activators).

Key Stat

Old mice treated with MOTS-c doubled treadmill running time and outperformed middle-aged comparators in the 2021 Nature Communications study.

Peptide Name	MOTS-c
Use Case	Research users commonly explore MOTS-c for mitochondrial, metabolic, and endurance-capacity support.
Aliases	Mitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the 12S rRNA type-c; MOTS-c peptide
Category / Class	Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide (MDP)
Half-Life	~1-2 hours circulating (estimated); intracellular and tissue persistence remains uncertain
Dosing Frequency	Daily low-dose protocols or intermittent bolus protocols
Dose Range	5-10 mg per injection (community bolus); 0.2-1 mg/day for low-dose daily approaches
Titration Schedule	Bolus: 5 mg every 5 days; intermittent: 5 mg 2x weekly -> 5-10 mg 2-3x weekly; low-dose daily: 200 mcg/day -> +200 mcg every 2 weeks -> 1 mg/day
Common Vial Sizes	5mg, 10mg
Route of Administration	Subcutaneous (SubQ)
Regulatory Status	Unregulated research compound. Not FDA-approved. FDA lists MOTS-c as ineligible for compounding. Prohibited by WADA under S4.4.1 (AMPK activators).
Key Stat	Old mice treated with MOTS-c doubled treadmill running time and outperformed middle-aged comparators in the 2021 Nature Communications study.

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What Is MOTS-c?

MOTS-c dosing protocol research centers on a peptide your body already makes - one that may play a key role in how your cells handle metabolic stress, energy production, and aging. MOTS-c is a 16-amino acid peptide first described in 2015 by Dr. Pinchas Cohen and colleagues. It belongs to a family called mitochondrial-derived peptides (MDPs), which also includes Humanin and SHLP-family peptides.

What makes MOTS-c unusual is where it comes from. Most peptides are coded by DNA in the cell's nucleus. MOTS-c is coded by DNA inside the mitochondria - the structures that generate energy in every cell. Think of it as a signal flare sent from your cell's power plant to the rest of the cell, telling it to adapt when energy demand is high.

In preclinical research, MOTS-c activates a key energy-sensing pathway called AMPK, which helps cells take in glucose, burn fat, and adapt to metabolic stress. Animal studies have shown improvements in insulin sensitivity, body-composition markers, and age-related physical decline. In one notable study, old mice treated with MOTS-c doubled their treadmill running time.

MOTS-c is not FDA-approved and has no completed efficacy trial of the native peptide in humans. The most relevant human data comes from CB4211, an analog that completed Phase 1a/1b development. This page is educational and research-reference only.

How MOTS-c Works: Mitochondrial-to-Nuclear Metabolic Signaling

MOTS-c works through several overlapping pathways - not just one. Here is what each pathway does and why researchers find it interesting.

Energy Sensing and Fat Burning (AMPK Activation)

MOTS-c triggers your cells' built-in energy sensor, a pathway called AMPK. Think of AMPK as a fuel gauge: when energy is low, AMPK flips on and tells cells to pull in more glucose, burn stored fat, and make mitochondria work more efficiently. MOTS-c activates AMPK by interfering with folate and purine metabolism, which causes a molecule called AICAR to build up - and AICAR is one of AMPK's natural "on" switches.

Stress Adaptation at the Gene Level (Nuclear Translocation)

When your body is under metabolic stress - exercise, fasting, or energy depletion - MOTS-c can physically move from the cell's cytoplasm into the nucleus, where it turns on genes involved in stress adaptation and antioxidant defense. This mitochondria-to-nucleus communication is one of the features that makes MOTS-c unique among peptides.

Muscle Preservation (Anti-Myostatin Signaling)

Myostatin is a protein that limits muscle growth - the more myostatin activity you have, the harder it is to build or keep muscle. Research has linked MOTS-c to reduced myostatin signaling, which supports the idea that MOTS-c may help preserve muscle mass during aging or in obesity contexts.

Exercise-Mimetic Pattern

MOTS-c activates many of the same pathways that exercise does - improved endurance, better metabolic flexibility, and enhanced stress tolerance. In animal studies, MOTS-c-treated mice showed physical performance gains that overlapped with exercise-trained comparators.

Together, these pathways position MOTS-c as a metabolic-stress adaptation peptide rather than a single-target compound. It works across energy sensing, gene regulation, muscle preservation, and exercise-like signaling simultaneously.

Tools for this Protocol

Pep Pal calculator for reconstitution and units.
peptide reconstitution calculator to lock in syringe draw volume.

MOTS-c Dosing Protocol and Dosage Schedule

MOTS-c has no clinically established dosing standard - all protocols below are community-derived from practitioner and self-experimenter experience. Three main approaches exist, and the right one depends on your goals and comfort level:

Bolus protocol is the most common starting point: a short burst of 5 mg injections over about 3 weeks, followed by an extended rest period. Simple and time-limited.
Intermittent protocol uses more frequent injections (2-3 times per week) at higher cumulative doses. Used by those seeking a more sustained exposure window.
Low-dose daily protocol starts very low (200 mcg/day) and escalates gradually. This approach prioritizes a cautious ramp-up and longer cycle duration.

The table below shows all three approaches with week-by-week schedules.

Bolus protocol (common)

Weeks 1-3

5 mg every 5 days

Four injections total over 20 days. Morning dosing and pre-exercise timing are commonly used.

Bolus rest period

Weeks 4-28

No dosing

Minimum 4-week off period. Many protocols limit repeats within a 6-month window.

Intermittent initiation

Weeks 1-2

5 mg, 2x weekly

Conservative tolerance check before escalating frequency or dose.

Intermittent maintenance

Weeks 3-4

5-10 mg, 2-3x weekly

Escalate only if well tolerated. Monitor glucose if combined with other AMPK-active strategies.

Low-dose daily initiation

Weeks 1-2

200 mcg daily

Start-low model based on allometric and half-life considerations.

Low-dose escalation

Weeks 3-8

+200 mcg every 2 weeks

Typical progression: 400 mcg, 600 mcg, 800 mcg, then 1,000 mcg daily max in this framework.

Low-dose maintenance

Weeks 9-12+

Up to 1 mg daily

May extend to 16 weeks in some protocols. Equal off-cycle is commonly used.

Phase	Weeks	Weekly Dose	Notes
Bolus protocol (common)	Weeks 1-3	5 mg every 5 days	Four injections total over 20 days. Morning dosing and pre-exercise timing are commonly used.
Bolus rest period	Weeks 4-28	No dosing	Minimum 4-week off period. Many protocols limit repeats within a 6-month window.
Intermittent initiation	Weeks 1-2	5 mg, 2x weekly	Conservative tolerance check before escalating frequency or dose.
Intermittent maintenance	Weeks 3-4	5-10 mg, 2-3x weekly	Escalate only if well tolerated. Monitor glucose if combined with other AMPK-active strategies.
Low-dose daily initiation	Weeks 1-2	200 mcg daily	Start-low model based on allometric and half-life considerations.
Low-dose escalation	Weeks 3-8	+200 mcg every 2 weeks	Typical progression: 400 mcg, 600 mcg, 800 mcg, then 1,000 mcg daily max in this framework.
Low-dose maintenance	Weeks 9-12+	Up to 1 mg daily	May extend to 16 weeks in some protocols. Equal off-cycle is commonly used.

Evidence Level Notice and Dosing Notes

Evidence level: No completed human efficacy trial has established a definitive native MOTS-c dosing standard. Current schedules are preclinical plus community-derived.

Why multiple protocols: Bolus, intermittent, and low-dose-daily models exist because MOTS-c dosing practice developed outside a formal phase-3 titration framework.

Timing: Morning and pre-exercise administration are common because endogenous MOTS-c is exercise-inducible and linked to metabolic-stress signaling.

Drug interaction context: MOTS-c and metformin both activate the same energy-sensing pathway (AMPK). Using them together could amplify effects on blood sugar and metabolism. If you are taking metformin or other glucose-lowering medications, monitor your response closely.

Missed dose: Bolus protocols usually resume when remembered; intermittent protocols generally skip missed doses and continue regular schedule without double dosing.

MOTS-c Reconstitution Guide

The MOTS-c reconstitution table below shows you exactly how much bacteriostatic (BAC) water to add to your vial and how much liquid to draw for each dose. Start by finding your vial size in the left column, then choose how much BAC water you want to add - more water means a more dilute solution, which makes small doses easier to measure. Read across to find the draw volume and syringe units for your target dose. Entries marked with an asterisk (*) require a syringe larger than 1 mL.

Vial Size: 5 mg

BAC Water: 1.0 mL

Concentration: 5 mg/mL

10 mg: N/A (vial max 5 mg)

5 mg: 1.0 mL (100 units)

2.5 mg: 0.50 mL (50 units)

1 mg: 0.20 mL (20 units)

Vial Size: 5 mg

BAC Water: 2.0 mL

Concentration: 2.5 mg/mL

10 mg: N/A (vial max 5 mg)

5 mg: 2.0 mL (200 units*)

2.5 mg: 1.0 mL (100 units)

1 mg: 0.40 mL (40 units)

Vial Size: 10 mg

BAC Water: 1.0 mL

Concentration: 10 mg/mL

10 mg: 1.0 mL (100 units)

5 mg: 0.50 mL (50 units)

2.5 mg: 0.25 mL (25 units)

1 mg: 0.10 mL (10 units)

Vial Size: 10 mg

BAC Water: 2.0 mL

Concentration: 5 mg/mL

10 mg: 2.0 mL (200 units*)

5 mg: 1.0 mL (100 units)

2.5 mg: 0.50 mL (50 units)

1 mg: 0.20 mL (20 units)

Vial Size: 10 mg

BAC Water: 3.0 mL

Concentration: 3.33 mg/mL

10 mg: 3.0 mL (300 units*)

5 mg: 1.50 mL (150 units*)

2.5 mg: 0.75 mL (75 units)

1 mg: 0.30 mL (30 units)

Vial Size	BAC Water Added	Concentration	10 mg Dose	5 mg Dose	2.5 mg Dose	1 mg Dose
5 mg	1.0 mL	5 mg/mL	N/A (vial max 5 mg)	1.0 mL (100 units)	0.50 mL (50 units)	0.20 mL (20 units)
5 mg	2.0 mL	2.5 mg/mL	N/A (vial max 5 mg)	2.0 mL (200 units*)	1.0 mL (100 units)	0.40 mL (40 units)
10 mg	1.0 mL	10 mg/mL	1.0 mL (100 units)	0.50 mL (50 units)	0.25 mL (25 units)	0.10 mL (10 units)
10 mg	2.0 mL	5 mg/mL	2.0 mL (200 units*)	1.0 mL (100 units)	0.50 mL (50 units)	0.20 mL (20 units)
10 mg	3.0 mL	3.33 mg/mL	3.0 mL (300 units*)	1.50 mL (150 units*)	0.75 mL (75 units)	0.30 mL (30 units)

Step-by-Step Reconstitution Instructions

Step-by-step vial preparation visual for peptide reconstitution.

Allow vial to reach room temperature briefly before opening.
Swab peptide vial and BAC water stoppers with alcohol.
Draw planned BAC water volume into a sterile syringe.
Inject slowly against vial wall, not directly onto powder.
Gently swirl or roll until dissolved; avoid vigorous shaking.
Confirm clear solution and label concentration/date.
Refrigerate at 2-8C immediately and target use within 7 days for potency.

Need exact syringe units for a custom vial size or BAC water volume? Use the free Peptide Reconstitution Calculator.Open Calculator

MOTS-c Side Effects and Safety

No one has formally studied MOTS-c side effects in a human clinical trial. What we know about safety comes from three sources: animal studies, an early-stage trial of CB4211 (a modified version of MOTS-c), and self-reports from the research community. This means side effect data is limited and may not capture rare or long-term risks.

Injection-site effects: Most common reports include transient redness, swelling, bruising, and in analog programs occasional persistent nodules.

Metabolic effects: Headache, lightheadedness, or appetite change can occur, especially during fasting or when combined with other glucose-lowering strategies.

USADA-reported signals: Self-experimenter reports include palpitations, insomnia, fever, and local irritation; long-term safety remains unknown.

Drug interaction caution: MOTS-c and metformin both activate the same energy-sensing pathway (AMPK). Using them together could amplify effects on blood sugar and metabolism. If you are taking metformin or other glucose-lowering medications, monitor your response closely.

Contraindication context: Formal contraindications are not established, but regulatory status and pathway breadth warrant conservative use boundaries in research settings.

MOTS-c Clinical Trial and Research Results

Most of what we know about MOTS-c comes from animal studies and lab experiments - not human clinical trials. The table below summarizes the key published research. The most important thing to note: no study has yet tested native MOTS-c as a treatment in humans. The closest human data comes from CB4211, a modified version (analog) of MOTS-c that completed an early-stage safety trial. Animal results have been promising - particularly for metabolic health and physical performance in aging - but animal results do not always translate to humans.

Lee et al. 2015

Preclinical • 7-8 weeks

HFD and aged mouse models

MOTS-c prevented diet-induced obesity trends and improved insulin-resistance markers in mouse models.

Reynolds et al. 2021

Preclinical + human observational • 2-8 weeks in mice

Young, middle-age, and old mice; human exercise sampling

Old mice showed major endurance gains; exercise sharply increased endogenous human skeletal-muscle MOTS-c.

CB4211 Phase 1a/1b (NCT03998514)

Phase 1a/1b analog trial • 7 to 28 days

Healthy adults and obese subjects with NAFLD

Daily SubQ analog dosing was reported as generally well tolerated with favorable liver-enzyme and glucose trends.

Kim et al. 2019

Preclinical • Model-dependent

Diet-induced obesity mouse model

Improved insulin sensitivity and favorable plasma-metabolite profile shifts in obesity-linked pathways.

Kumagai et al. 2021

Preclinical + human correlation • Model-dependent

Obese mice and human blood correlation data

Reduced myostatin signaling with inverse relationship between circulating MOTS-c and myostatin.

Ming et al. 2016

Preclinical • 12 weeks

Ovariectomized mice

MOTS-c dosing reduced bone-loss markers through AMPK-associated pathways.

Kong et al. 2025

Preclinical + human correlation • Variable

Aged and diabetic models plus human serum analyses

Reported islet-cell senescence protection and lower circulating MOTS-c in type-2 diabetes cohorts.

Fuku et al. 2015

Genetic association • Observational

Japanese longevity cohorts

Mitochondrial-region variants linked to exceptional longevity hypotheses.

Trial	Phase	Duration	Population	Key Result
Lee et al. 2015	Preclinical	7-8 weeks	HFD and aged mouse models	MOTS-c prevented diet-induced obesity trends and improved insulin-resistance markers in mouse models.
Reynolds et al. 2021	Preclinical + human observational	2-8 weeks in mice	Young, middle-age, and old mice; human exercise sampling	Old mice showed major endurance gains; exercise sharply increased endogenous human skeletal-muscle MOTS-c.
CB4211 Phase 1a/1b (NCT03998514)	Phase 1a/1b analog trial	7 to 28 days	Healthy adults and obese subjects with NAFLD	Daily SubQ analog dosing was reported as generally well tolerated with favorable liver-enzyme and glucose trends.
Kim et al. 2019	Preclinical	Model-dependent	Diet-induced obesity mouse model	Improved insulin sensitivity and favorable plasma-metabolite profile shifts in obesity-linked pathways.
Kumagai et al. 2021	Preclinical + human correlation	Model-dependent	Obese mice and human blood correlation data	Reduced myostatin signaling with inverse relationship between circulating MOTS-c and myostatin.
Ming et al. 2016	Preclinical	12 weeks	Ovariectomized mice	MOTS-c dosing reduced bone-loss markers through AMPK-associated pathways.
Kong et al. 2025	Preclinical + human correlation	Variable	Aged and diabetic models plus human serum analyses	Reported islet-cell senescence protection and lower circulating MOTS-c in type-2 diabetes cohorts.
Fuku et al. 2015	Genetic association	Observational	Japanese longevity cohorts	Mitochondrial-region variants linked to exceptional longevity hypotheses.

Native MOTS-c has not completed a formal human treatment trial. The closest human data comes from CB4211, a MOTS-c analog that completed Phase 1a/1b testing and showed favorable safety signals and encouraging trends in liver enzymes and glucose. The animal data is strong - especially for metabolic health and exercise capacity - but a clear gap remains between preclinical promise and proven human benefit. As of April 2026, no active MOTS-c or MOTS-c analog trials are registered on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Storage and Handling

Lyophilized (powder)

-20C or below

12+ months

Lyophilized (powder)

2-8C

Several months

Lyophilized (powder)

Room temperature

Weeks (shipping tolerance)

Reconstituted

2-8C

Up to 7 days

Reconstituted aliquots

-20C

2-3 months

State	Temperature	Duration
Lyophilized (powder)	-20C or below	12+ months
Lyophilized (powder)	2-8C	Several months
Lyophilized (powder)	Room temperature	Weeks (shipping tolerance)
Reconstituted	2-8C	Up to 7 days
Reconstituted aliquots	-20C	2-3 months

Protect from light, avoid repeat freeze-thaw cycles, and favor small aliquots for planned use windows. MOTS-c is a short peptide and may lose activity faster in solution than larger compounds.

MOTS-c vs Humanin vs SS-31

MOTS-c is one of three mitochondria-related peptides that come up frequently in longevity and metabolic research. The table below compares them side by side. The key takeaway: all three involve mitochondria, but they work in very different ways and target different problems. MOTS-c is focused on metabolic adaptation and exercise-like signaling, Humanin on protecting brain cells from stress-related death, and SS-31 on stabilizing mitochondrial membranes in disease states.

Origin

MOTS-c: Mitochondrial DNA (12S rRNA)

Humanin: Mitochondrial DNA (16S rRNA)

SS-31 (Elamipretide): Synthetic designed tetrapeptide

Size

MOTS-c: 16 amino acids (~1,915 Da)

Humanin: 24 amino acids (~2,687 Da)

SS-31 (Elamipretide): 4 amino acids (~640 Da)

Primary Mechanism

MOTS-c: Folate-AICAR-AMPK activation with nuclear signaling

Humanin: Anti-apoptotic signaling and stress-survival pathways

SS-31 (Elamipretide): Cardiolipin binding and mitochondrial membrane stabilization

Primary Focus

MOTS-c: Metabolic adaptation and exercise-mimetic context

Humanin: Neuroprotection and anti-apoptotic context

SS-31 (Elamipretide): Mitochondrial disease and membrane integrity

Clinical Depth

MOTS-c: No native trial; analog Phase 1a/1b

Humanin: Preclinical

SS-31 (Elamipretide): Advanced clinical development history

WADA Status

MOTS-c: Prohibited

Humanin: Not explicitly listed

SS-31 (Elamipretide): Not explicitly listed

Feature	MOTS-c	Humanin	SS-31 (Elamipretide)
Origin	Mitochondrial DNA (12S rRNA)	Mitochondrial DNA (16S rRNA)	Synthetic designed tetrapeptide
Size	16 amino acids (~1,915 Da)	24 amino acids (~2,687 Da)	4 amino acids (~640 Da)
Primary Mechanism	Folate-AICAR-AMPK activation with nuclear signaling	Anti-apoptotic signaling and stress-survival pathways	Cardiolipin binding and mitochondrial membrane stabilization
Primary Focus	Metabolic adaptation and exercise-mimetic context	Neuroprotection and anti-apoptotic context	Mitochondrial disease and membrane integrity
Clinical Depth	No native trial; analog Phase 1a/1b	Preclinical	Advanced clinical development history
WADA Status	Prohibited	Not explicitly listed	Not explicitly listed

MOTS-c, Humanin, and SS-31 are mechanistically distinct and are not interchangeable despite overlapping mitochondrial framing.

MOTS-c is generally positioned for metabolic and performance adaptation, while Humanin is more neuroprotective and SS-31 more membrane-structural.

Route, dose units, and trial maturity differ materially across all three compounds.

See the Humanin Protocol and SS-31 Protocol for compound-specific guides.

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Frequently Asked Questions - MOTS-c

Q1: What is the starting dose of MOTS-c?

Common community starts are 5 mg per injection using intermittent schedules, or 200 mcg daily in low-dose escalation frameworks. No clinically established native MOTS-c dose exists.

Q2: What is MOTS-c's half-life?

Circulating half-life is commonly estimated around 1-2 hours, but tissue persistence and downstream signaling duration may outlast plasma presence.

Q3: What results can be expected from MOTS-c?

In animal studies, MOTS-c improved how cells handle energy - including better blood sugar control, favorable shifts in body composition, and significantly better physical endurance (old mice doubled their treadmill running time in one study). However, these results come from animals, not humans. No human efficacy trial has been completed for native MOTS-c, so expectations should be conservative. The closest human data comes from a modified version (CB4211) that showed encouraging but early-stage safety and metabolic signals.

Q4: How do you reconstitute MOTS-c?

A common setup is 10 mg with 1 mL BAC water (10 mg/mL), where 5 mg equals 0.50 mL or 50 units on a U-100 syringe. Inject diluent down the vial wall and refrigerate promptly.

Q5: Is MOTS-c FDA-approved?

No. MOTS-c is not FDA-approved for therapeutic use and is listed as ineligible for compounding by FDA guidance. It is also prohibited by WADA.

Q6: What are the most common side effects of MOTS-c?

Most reported effects are injection-site irritation, occasional headache or lightheadedness, appetite changes, and in some reports palpitations or insomnia.

Q7: How does MOTS-c compare to SS-31 and Humanin?

All three are mitochondria-related peptides, but they work differently. MOTS-c focuses on metabolic adaptation - helping cells handle energy stress and mimicking some effects of exercise. Humanin is focused on protecting cells (especially brain cells) from stress-related damage and death. SS-31 is a synthetic peptide that stabilizes mitochondrial membranes, primarily studied for mitochondrial diseases and heart failure. See the comparison table above for a detailed side-by-side breakdown.

Q8: What vial sizes are available for MOTS-c?

5 mg and 10 mg lyophilized vials are the most common formats.

Q9: How much bacteriostatic water should be added to MOTS-c?

For 10 mg vials, 1 mL is common for bolus protocols; 2-3 mL setups are often used for finer low-dose measurement precision.

Q10: What is the maximum dose of MOTS-c studied?

Preclinical doses in mice are far higher than common community schedules after allometric translation. Community protocols generally cap near 10 mg per injection.

Q11: How should reconstituted MOTS-c be stored?

Store refrigerated at 2-8C and target use within 7 days. For longer windows, aliquot and freeze at -20C before repeated access.

Q12: Are any MOTS-c clinical trials currently active?

As of February 2026, there are no active registered MOTS-c or MOTS-c analog therapeutic trials on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Q13: Where can I calculate reconstitution and syringe units?

Use the PepPal calculator for exact dose-to-unit conversions.

Q14: Where can I compare peptide suppliers?

Browse the PepPal supplier directory for current supplier listings.

Sources & Research

Lee C, Zeng J, Drew BG, et al. "The Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide MOTS-c Promotes Metabolic Homeostasis and Reduces Obesity and Insulin Resistance." Cell Metabolism, 2015 DOI.
Reynolds JC, Lai RW, Woodhead JST, et al. "MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis." Nature Communications, 2021 DOI.
Wan W, Zhang L, Lin Y, et al. "Mitochondria-derived peptide MOTS-c: effects and mechanisms related to stress, metabolism and aging." Journal of Translational Medicine, 2023 DOI.
Kim KH, Son JM, Benayoun BA, Lee C. "The mitochondrial-encoded peptide MOTS-c translocates to the nucleus to regulate nuclear gene expression in response to metabolic stress." Cell Metabolism, 2018 DOI.
Kim SJ, Miller B, Kumagai H, et al. "The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c is a regulator of plasma metabolites and enhances insulin sensitivity." Physiological Reports, 2019 DOI.
Kumagai H, Coelho AR, Wan J, et al. "MOTS-c reduces myostatin and muscle atrophy signaling." American Journal of Physiology Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2021 DOI.
Ming W, Lu G, Xin S, et al. "MOTS-c protects against ovariectomy-induced bone loss by regulating osteoclast activity." Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2016.
Kong BS, Lee H, L'Yi S, et al. "Mitochondrial-encoded peptide MOTS-c prevents pancreatic islet cell senescence to delay diabetes." Experimental and Molecular Medicine, 2025 DOI.
Fuku N, Pareja-Galeano H, Zempo H, et al. "The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c: a player in exceptional longevity?" Aging Cell, 2015 DOI.
CohBar Phase 1a/1b topline release for CB4211 (MOTS-c analog). Link.
ClinicalTrials.gov record NCT03998514. Link.
Mohtashami Z, Singh MK, Taye N, et al. "MOTS-c, the Most Recent Mitochondrial Derived Peptide in Human Aging and Age-Related Diseases." International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022 DOI.
USADA explainer on MOTS-c and anti-doping status. Link.

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Disclaimer

The information on this page is for educational and research reference purposes only. MOTS-c is an experimental research compound that is not FDA-approved for any indication. No compounds discussed on this site are intended for human consumption. This is not medical advice.

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