Cellular metabolism and signaling research on MOTS-C
MOTS-C is a mitochondrial-derived peptide studied through cellular metabolism, AMPK signaling, stress response, and intracellular trafficking.
Overview
MOTS-C is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded within the mitochondrial 12S rRNA region. Its discovery expanded the idea that mitochondrial DNA can produce short signaling peptides in addition to the proteins classically associated with oxidative phosphorylation.
Cell-based research has connected MOTS-C exposure with folate–methionine metabolism, purine intermediates, AICAR accumulation, and AMPK phosphorylation. Separate work has examined stress-dependent movement of MOTS-C into the nucleus and associated transcriptional responses, indicating that localization can be part of the experimental mechanism.
These findings make MOTS-C useful for controlled studies of mitochondrial signaling and cellular stress. Results remain sensitive to cell type, concentration, timing, and peptide handling. The sources do not establish safety, efficacy, dosing, administration, or an expected outcome in humans or animals.
References
Peer-reviewed sources for the research summarised above. Vivo summarises published, third-party science and does not conduct or sponsor this research.
- Lee C, Zeng J, Drew BG, et al. (2015). The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance. Cell Metabolism; 21(3):443–454. View source ↗
- Kim KH, Son JM, Benayoun BA, Lee C (2018). The mitochondrial-encoded peptide MOTS-c translocates to the nucleus to regulate nuclear gene expression in response to metabolic stress. Cell Metabolism; 28(3):516–524.e7. View source ↗
- Merry TL, Chan A, Woodhead JST, et al. (2020). Mitochondrial-derived peptides in energy metabolism. American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism; 319(4):E659–E666. View source ↗