OVERVIEW

MOTS-c is a mitochondria-derived peptide (MDP) composed of 16 amino acids that plays a critical role in metabolic regulation, mitochondrial function, and cellular stress response. Unlike traditional peptides, MOTS-c is synthesized within mitochondria and translocates to the nucleus, where it regulates gene expression related to energy metabolism and longevity.

Key Benefits of MOTS-c Research:

✔️ Enhances muscle metabolism and exercise capacity
✔️ Promotes fat oxidation and prevents obesity
✔️ Improves insulin sensitivity and helps prevent Type 2 diabetes
✔️ Protects against age-related diseases and enhances longevity
✔️ Supports cardiovascular and bone health

MOTS-c is being actively studied in metabolic disorders, aging research, and mitochondrial medicine.

RESEARCH

1. Muscle Metabolism & Exercise Performance

• MOTS-c enhances AMPK activation, improving glucose uptake in muscle tissue.
• Studies in mice show that MOTS-c increases endurance and muscle recovery post-exercise.
• Potential application: Exercise enhancement, muscle recovery, and metabolic health support.

2. Fat Metabolism & Obesity Prevention

• MOTS-c stimulates brown fat activation, promoting fat oxidation over storage.
• Research indicates that MOTS-c supplementation prevents adipose tissue dysfunction and white fat accumulation.
• Potential application: Obesity treatment, fat metabolism regulation, and ketogenic diet support.

3. Insulin Sensitivity & Diabetes Prevention

• Low MOTS-c levels are correlated with insulin resistance, particularly in obese individuals.
• MOTS-c supplementation enhances glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, making it a potential therapy for Type 2 diabetes.
• Potential application: Diabetes prevention, metabolic syndrome treatment, and insulin resistance improvement.

4. Longevity & Aging Research

• MOTS-c levels decline with age, and genetic studies link its variants to exceptional longevity (especially in Japanese centenarians).
• MOTS-c supplementation has been associated with improved mitochondrial function and protection against age-related diseases.
• Potential application: Longevity enhancement, anti-aging therapy, and mitochondrial function support.

5. Cardiovascular Health

• MOTS-c improves endothelial function, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in blood vessels.
• Clinical research shows lower MOTS-c levels correlate with a higher risk of coronary artery disease.
• Potential application: Cardiovascular disease prevention, blood vessel protection, and heart health improvement.

6. Bone Health & Osteoporosis Prevention

• MOTS-c activates the TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway, stimulating osteoblast activity and Type I collagen production.
• Studies suggest that MOTS-c enhances bone density and reduces fracture risk.
• Potential application: Osteoporosis prevention and bone regeneration therapy.

7. Metabolic Stress & Mitochondrial Function

• MOTS-c acts as a mitochondrial stress response peptide, regulating nuclear gene expression to counteract metabolic dysfunction.
• It influences glucose metabolism and antioxidant defense, offering protection against metabolic diseases.
• Potential application: Mitochondrial medicine, metabolic disease treatment, and cellular stress response regulation.

STRUCTURE

• Amino Acid Sequence: Met-Arg-Trp-Gln-Glu-Met-Gly-Tyr-Ile-Phe-Tyr-Pro-Arg-Lys-Leu-Arg
• Molecular Formula: C₁₀₁H₁₅₂N₂₈O₂₂S₂
• Molecular Weight: 2174.64 g/mol
• CAS Registry Number: 1627580-64-6
• Synonyms: Mitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the 12S rRNA-c (MT-RNR1), MOTS-c Peptide

CITATIONS

1. C. Lee, K. H. Kim, & P. Cohen. MOTS-c: A novel mitochondrial-derived peptide regulating muscle and fat metabolism. Free Radic. Biol. Med. (2016).
2. H. Lu et al. MOTS-c peptide regulates adipose homeostasis to prevent ovariectomy-induced metabolic dysfunction. J. Mol. Med. Berl. Ger. (2019).
3. K. H. Kim et al. MOTS-c translocates to the nucleus to regulate nuclear gene expression in response to metabolic stress. Cell Metab. (2018).
4. S.-J. Kim et al. MOTS-c enhances insulin sensitivity and regulates plasma metabolites. Physiol. Rep. (2019).
5. L. R. Cataldo et al. Plasma MOTS-c levels are associated with insulin sensitivity in lean but not obese individuals. J. Investig. Med. (2018).
6. N. Che et al. MOTS-c improves osteoporosis by promoting Type I collagen synthesis in osteoblasts via TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway. Eur. Rev. Med. Pharmacol. Sci. (2019).
7. N. Fuku et al. MOTS-c as a key player in exceptional longevity. Aging Cell (2015).
8. Q. Qin et al. Downregulation of circulating MOTS-c levels in patients with coronary endothelial dysfunction. Int. J. Cardiol. (2018).
9. Y. Yang et al. MOTS-c’s role in cardiovascular disease: Recent updates. Biomed. Pharmacother. (2019).