MOTS-c (10mg)

For Laboratory Research Use Only — Not for Human or Animal Consumption. Not for distribution. Must be 18+ to purchase. MOTS-c (Mitochondrial Open reading frame of the Twelve S rRNA type-c) is a 16–amino-acid peptide encoded not in nuclear DNA but within the mitochondrial genome itself, in the 12S rRNA gene. It belongs to the mitochondrial-derived peptide (MDP) family and is studied as a signalling molecule that carries information outward from the mitochondrion — a class of compound sometimes described in the literature as a “mitokine.”

Mechanism of Action

MOTS-c is described in the published literature as acting on the folate–methionine cycle, where inhibition of that pathway leads to accumulation of the purine biosynthesis intermediate AICAR, an endogenous activator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Downstream AMPK activation is associated in these models with shifts in glucose flux and lipid metabolism. Separate work reports that under metabolic stress MOTS-c translocates to the nucleus, where it is described as regulating stress-response and proteostasis gene expression. Because AMPK is the same node targeted by well-characterised compounds such as metformin, MOTS-c is frequently used as a comparator in AMPK-pathway research.

Research History

MOTS-c was first characterised in 2015 by Lee, Cohen and colleagues in Cell Metabolism, in the work that established the mitochondrial-derived peptide concept alongside humanin. A 2021 Nature Communications paper reported that MOTS-c expression in human skeletal muscle rises substantially following exercise, and examined its effects on physical capacity across young, middle-aged and aged rodent cohorts. One MOTS-c analog, CB4211, progressed to an early-phase human safety study before development was discontinued when the sponsoring company dissolved. The compound remains, at present, a preclinical research subject.

Active Research Areas

Current research focuses on: AMPK-pathway activation and its downstream effects on glucose and lipid handling in cell and rodent models; skeletal-muscle mitochondrial bioenergetics and the PGC-1α axis; MOTS-c as an exercise-responsive signalling peptide and its behaviour in aged versus young tissue; and its use as a reference compound in comparative mitochondrial-derived-peptide screening. It is also studied for nuclear translocation behaviour under metabolic stress, which distinguishes it mechanistically from receptor-agonist peptides.

Specifications

Formulated as a 10mg lyophilized vial for enhanced laboratory stability and reconstitution accuracy. Store sealed away from light contact. Store in a controlled climate matrix at −20°C for long-term research asset protection.

Where can I read the research on MOTS-c?

We do not paraphrase research findings on this page. For a compound supplied for laboratory use, the primary sources are what matter, and they are public: the peer-reviewed record is indexed on PubMed, and registered clinical studies are listed on ClinicalTrials.gov. Both are maintained by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and are free to search.

How much does MOTS-c cost?

MOTS-c (10mg) is $59.95 per vial, in stock and available for immediate dispatch — that works out to $6.00 per mg, which is the figure worth comparing across suppliers, since headline vial prices are not comparable when vial sizes differ. There are no hidden surcharges, no payment-processor fees added at checkout, and no minimum order. Delivery is costed separately and transparently: same-day Bay Area courier from $19.95 depending on your city, or flat-rate FedEx 2Day nationwide. You can check the exact courier fee for your city before you order. Volume and institutional pricing is available for laboratories ordering in quantity — email support@sfbayareapeptides.com with your requirements.

How is MOTS-c tested?

Every lot is independently tested by a third-party laboratory, with identity and purity confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Testing is carried out on each lot before it is released for sale.

MOTS-c and NAD+ — why they are studied together

MOTS-c acts upstream, on the folate cycle and AMPK; NAD+ (500mg) is a redox cofactor consumed directly by mitochondrial metabolism and by the sirtuins. Because both sit on the mitochondrial-energetics axis but enter it at different points, they are the most commonly co-acquired pair in our Metabolic Research category. The 500mg NAD+ presentation is specified where cofactor availability rather than signalling is the variable under study. Laboratories working on broader metabolic models typically add Tirzepatide (30mg).

Where can I buy MOTS-c?

You can buy MOTS-c online directly from this page. SF Bay Area Peptides is a San Francisco–based research-compound supplier shipping nationwide, and we hold stock locally rather than drop-shipping — which is why same-day delivery is possible at all. Order before 12:00 p.m. Pacific on a business day and your order qualifies for same-day courier delivery across the San Francisco Bay Area — San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Fremont, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara and 100+ more cities. Outside the Bay Area, orders ship FedEx 2Day in temperature-controlled packaging anywhere in the United States. See full delivery zones and pricing. Payment is by debit or credit card at checkout — see how payment works if you would like the detail before ordering. For Laboratory Research Use Only — Not for Human or Animal Consumption. Not for distribution. Must be 18+ to purchase.