At a glance
Type
Mitochondrial-derived peptide (16 aa)
Molecular weight
≈2174.6 g/mol
Studied for
MetabolismInsulin sensitivityExercise capacityAMPK
MOTS-c is a mitochondrial-derived peptide — a small 16-amino-acid peptide encoded not in the cell’s nucleus but inside the mitochondria themselves. It is a genuinely novel class of signalling molecule, studied for metabolism, insulin sensitivity and exercise capacity.
How MOTS-c works
MOTS-c is encoded within the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene and acts mainly on skeletal muscle. It interferes with the folate–purine pathway, causing the natural AMP analog AICAR to build up, which activates AMPK — the cell’s master metabolic switch. Through AMPK it regulates metabolic balance, improves insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake, and supports exercise capacity; under stress it can even move into the nucleus to adjust stress-response genes.
What the research shows
- Discovery (Lee et al., Cell Metabolism 2015). Identified MOTS-c and showed it activates AMPK and improves insulin sensitivity in obese and aged mice.
- Exercise & aging (Reynolds et al., Nat Commun 2021). Exercise raises MOTS-c in human muscle and plasma; treatment improved physical performance across ages in mice.
- Metabolite profile (Kim et al., 2019). MOTS-c shifted plasma metabolites and improved insulin sensitivity.
Candour: evidence is mainly cell and animal work, with emerging human data limited to exercise/biomarker observations; there are no established human trials of MOTS-c administration. Use belongs under a physician’s guidance.
Molecular specification
| Type | Mitochondrial-derived peptide (16 aa) |
| Sequence | MRWQEMGYIFYPRKLR |
| Molecular formula | C101H152N28O22S2 |
| Molecular weight | ≈2174.6 g/mol |
| CAS number | 1627580-64-6 |
Quality and sourcing
Every batch of Azzurri Wellness MOTS-c is compounded through a Registered 503B outsourcing facility under GMP-compliant processes, HPLC-tested for purity and potency, and third-party lab verified. Shipped cold-pack when needed to protect stability.
References
- Lee C, et al. The Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide MOTS-c Promotes Metabolic Homeostasis and Reduces Obesity and Insulin Resistance. Cell Metab. 2015;21(3):443–454. PubMed
- Reynolds JC, et al. MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis. Nat Commun. 2021;12(1):470. Nature
- Kim KH, et al. The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c is a regulator of plasma metabolites and enhances insulin sensitivity. Physiol Rep. 2019;7(13):e14171. Wiley
Compiled by the Azzurri Wellness Research Team and checked against the cited literature. Educational only — not medical advice.
