MOTS-c

Category: peptide

Aliases: Mitochondrial ORF of the 12S rRNA type-c

Pharmacological Mechanism

Encoded within the mitochondrial 12S rRNA open reading frame — one of the first 'mitochondrial-derived peptides' characterised (Lee 2015). Translocates to nucleus under metabolic stress; activates AMPK → modulates glycolytic + fatty-acid oxidation pathways. Declines with age. Exogenous administration improves insulin sensitivity and exercise capacity in rodent models.

Dosing Guidelines

• SC: Typical 6.67 mg (Range: 5–10 mg)
• IM: Typical 6.67 mg (Range: 5–10 mg)

Target Organ Systems

• endocrine

Interactions

• Humanin (synergistic): Fellow mitochondrial-derived peptide (MDP). Different receptor targets (TRKA+B for humanin, AMPK axis for MOTS-c); potentially complementary.

Pathways It Modulates

• Mitochondrial-encoded peptide signaling (activator) — AMPK (exercise-mimetic from mt-12S)

Chemical Identifiers

• PubChem CID: 146675088
• Formula: C101H152N28O22S2
• Molecular weight: 2174.6 g/mol
• InChIKey: WYTHCOXVWRKRAH-LOKRTKBUSA-N
• SMILES: CC[C@H](C)[C@@H](C(=O)N[C@@H](CC1=CC=CC=C1)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC2=CC=C(C=C2)O)C(=O)N3CCC[C@H]3C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCNC(=N)N)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCCN)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(C)C)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCNC(=N)N)C(=O)O)NC(=O)[C@H](CC4=CC=C(C=C4)O)NC(=O)CNC(=O)[C@H](CCSC)NC(=O)[C@H](CCC(=O)O)NC(=O)[C@H](CCC(=O)N)NC(=O)[C@H](CC5=CNC6=CC=CC=C65)NC(=O)[C@H](CCCNC(=N)N)NC(=O)[C@H](CCSC)N