MOTS-c: Research, Handling and Batch Documentation

Identity and research status

Also referred to as

Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide, MOTS-c peptide

Sequence

Met-Arg-Trp-Gln-Glu-Met-Gly-Tyr-Ile-Phe-Tyr-Pro-Arg-Lys-Leu-Arg

Single-letter Code

MRWQEMGYIFYPRKLR

Molecular Weight

2174.7 g/mol

Length

16 amino acids

Encoded By

MT-RNR1, mitochondrial genome, within the 12S rRNA sequence

Class

Mitochondrial-derived peptide

Full Name

Mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA type-c

Proposed Target

Folate cycle and de novo purine biosynthesis, upstream of AMPK

Oxidation-prone Residues

Two methionines and two tyrosines

Appearance

White lyophilised powder

CAS number

1627580-64-6

Mechanism, in brief

MOTS-c is a 16 amino acid peptide encoded not in the nuclear genome but in the mitochondrial one, within the MT-RNR1 gene that also encodes the 12S ribosomal RNA. That origin is the most distinctive thing about it. Mitochondria were long assumed to encode only the thirteen respiratory chain subunits, and the identification of short open reading frames producing biologically active peptides established a class of molecules, the mitochondrial-derived peptides, of which MOTS-c is the most studied.

1. Mitochondrial origin. Encoded within the MT-RNR1 gene of the mitochondrial genome, in a short open reading frame overlapping the 12S ribosomal RNA sequence.
2. Folate cycle inhibition. Reported to target the folate cycle and its tetrahydrofolate-dependent de novo purine biosynthesis pathway.
3. AICAR accumulation. Inhibition of that pathway leads to accumulation of AICAR, an endogenous activator of AMP-activated protein kinase.
4. AMPK activation. AMPK activation is the proximate driver of the reported metabolic effects, including improved glucose handling in skeletal muscle.
5. Nuclear translocation. Under metabolic stress MOTS-c has been reported to translocate to the nucleus and influence expression of stress-responsive nuclear genes, a mode of action distinct from the folate cycle route.

The full research write-up, including the findings behind each claim and the model each came from, is on the MOTS-C 10mg 10mg page.

Vial sizes available

Every size of MOTS-c Volta lists, in stock or not. Each is a separate catalogue page with its own batch number and specification table.

• MOTS-C 10mg 10mgBatch #: VPMC10100
  In stock
• MOTS-C 20mg 20mgBatch #: VPMC20100
  Restocking

Purity and batch documentation

Volta's release specification is >99% (HPLC). That is a threshold we set. >99% is the specification every batch is released to. The figure on a certificate is what a laboratory measured for one lot.

• SideChain Analytics reported 99.4% by HPLC-MS/MS on September 24, 2026.

  Covers the MOTS-C 10mg vial.

  Read the certificateVerify on lab's website (Verify on SideChain Analytics's website, opens in a new tab)

Research on MOTS-c

Handling and stability

Regulatory context

United States

Not FDA-approved. Removed from FDA Category 2 on April 15, 2026. PCAC review scheduled July 23-24, 2026. Research chemical.

Canada

Not approved.

United Kingdom

Not approved.

• the legal status of research peptides in Canada
• Health Canada's regulatory position

Primary sources

1. 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). PMID 25738459
2. Jamnick NA, Livingston PD, et al.. MOTS-c partially protects against skeletal muscle deterioration in C26 cachexia. Frontiers in Medicine (2026). PMID 42266945
3. Santhanam SS, Jayaraman S, et al.. MOTS-c preserves mitochondrial subpopulation bioenergetics and genome integrity. Molecular Biology Reports (2026). PMID 42228044
4. Amado CA, Agüero J, et al.. MOTS-c: How a secreted mitochondrial microprotein may become a potential treatment for inflammatory conditions. Journal of Translational Medicine (2026). PMID 42243958
5. Musolino M, Roumeliotis A, et al.. MOTS-c is associated with oxidative stress and arterial stiffness in peritoneal dialysis patients. International Urology and Nephrology (2026). PMID 42126770
6. Li H, Zhang Y, et al.. Mitochondria-derived peptide hydrogel augments mitochondrial transplantation for promoting cardiac repair. Bioactive Materials (2027). PMID 42633281