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Rx MOTS-c

A flat-laid digest of the MOTS-c mitochondrial-derived-peptide literature — every study, dose figure, and access fact set out in order, with the human-data gaps and regulatory status laid bare.

Where each numbered study came from

How to check the MOTS-c peptide references

Each claim points to a numbered paper below. The list names the authors, journal, year, and two ways to find the paper.

Return to the study findingsOpen the short answers

What each study number lets you check

A study number in brackets can look like fine print. The number takes you to the matching paper in this list.

The list covers animals, cells in dishes, and human blood. It also includes reviews that sum up earlier work.

Each findings page says when researchers only drew blood. A blood comparison can't prove what caused a result.

A DOI is a permanent code for finding one paper. PubMed is a public library page that lists medical studies.

You can also check the authors, journal, year, and pages. Start with the full study list below.

  1. Lee C, Zeng J, Drew BG, Sallam T, Martin-Montalvo A, Wan J, Kim SJ, Mehta H, Hevener AL, de Cabo R, Cohen P. The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance. Cell Metab. 2015;21(3):443-454. ↗
  2. Reynolds JC, Lai RW, Woodhead JST, Joly JH, Mitchell CJ, Cameron-Smith D, Lu R, Cohen P, Graham NA, Benayoun BA, Merry TL, Lee C. MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis. Nat Commun. 2021;12(1):470. ↗
  3. Kim KH, Son JM, Benayoun BA, Lee C. The Mitochondrial-Encoded Peptide MOTS-c Translocates to the Nucleus to Regulate Nuclear Gene Expression in Response to Metabolic Stress. Cell Metab. 2018;28(3):516-524.e7. ↗
  4. Wan W, Zhang L, Lin Y, Rao X, Wang X, Hua F, Ying J. Mitochondria-derived peptide MOTS-c: effects and mechanisms related to stress, metabolism and aging. J Transl Med. 2023;21(1):36. ↗
  5. Jiang J, Chang X, Nie Y, et al. Peripheral Administration of a Cell-Penetrating MOTS-c Analogue Enhances Memory and Attenuates Abeta1-42- or LPS-Induced Memory Impairment through Inhibiting Neuroinflammation. ACS Chem Neurosci. 2021;12(8):1506-1518. ↗
  6. Tekin S, Bir LS, Avci E, et al. Comparison of Serum Mitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the 12S rRNA-c (MOTS-c) Levels in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis and Healthy Controls. Cureus. 2022;14(7):e26981. ↗
  7. Alser M, Ramanjaneya M, Anwardeen NR, Donati F, Botre F, Jerobin J, Bettahi I, Mohamed NA, Abou-Samra AB, Elrayess MA. The Effect of Chronic Endurance Exercise on Serum Levels of MOTS-c and Humanin in Professional Athletes. Rev Cardiovasc Med. 2022;23(5):181. ↗
  8. Kong BS, Lee C, Cho YM. Mitochondrial-Encoded Peptide MOTS-c, Diabetes, and Aging-Related Diseases. Diabetes Metab J. 2023;47(3):315-324. ↗
  9. Luo YH, Xie L, Li JY, Xie Y, Li MQ, Zhou L. Serum MOTS-C Levels are Decreased in Obese Children and Associated with Vascular Endothelial Function. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2023;16:1125-1133. ↗
  10. Gao Y, Wei X, Wei P, Lu H, Zhong L, Tan J, Liu H, Liu Z. MOTS-c Functionally Prevents Metabolic Disorders. Metabolites. 2023;13(1):125. ↗
  11. Domin R, Pytka M, Ruchala M. MOTS-c Serum Concentration Positively Correlates with Lower-Body Muscle Strength and Is Not Related to Maximal Oxygen Uptake - A Preliminary Study. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(19):14951. ↗
  12. Lee C. Nuclear transcriptional regulation by mitochondrial-encoded MOTS-c. Mol Cell Oncol. 2019;6(2):e1549464. ↗
  13. Kumagai H, Kim SJ, Miller B, et al. MOTS-c modulates skeletal muscle function by directly binding and activating CK2. iScience. 2024;27(11):111212. ↗
  14. Bolignano D, Greco M, Presta P, Duni A, et al. The Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide MOTS-c May Refine Mortality and Cardiovascular Risk Prediction in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients: A Multicenter Cohort Study. Blood Purif. 2024;53(10):824-837. ↗