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Purely Peptides
Research Catalog

Compound monograph

MOTS-c

MOTS-c is a sixteen-amino-acid peptide encoded by a short open reading frame within the mitochondrial 12S rRNA, rather than by the nuclear genome.

Published: 2026-09-04Literature/identifier verification: 2026-08-23
Mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA-cMitochondrial-derived peptides

01

Identity & nomenclature

MOTS-c is a sixteen-amino-acid peptide encoded by a short open reading frame within the mitochondrial 12S rRNA, rather than by the nuclear genome.

MOTS-c stands for mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA-c. The PubChem record cited here is described as the human trifluoroacetate salt form; a free-base preparation will differ in mass accordingly.

Declared aliases and development codes: Mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA-c.

02

Molecular properties

Molecular formulaC101H152N28O22S2
Molecular mass2174.6 Da
CAS Registry Number1627580-64-6
PubChem CID146675088
UNIIA5CV6JFB78

03

Structural characteristics

The discovery report identifies the encoding short open reading frame within mitochondrial DNA and describes cellular actions inhibiting the folate cycle and its tethered de novo purine biosynthesis, leading to AMPK activation. A subsequent report describes nuclear translocation and regulation of nuclear gene expression following metabolic stress in an AMPK-dependent manner, including interaction with antioxidant-response-element-regulating transcription factors such as NFE2L2/NRF2.

04

Molecular targets & mechanisms

AMPK signaling

AMP-activated protein kinase · AMPK pathway

A serine/threonine kinase complex that senses low cellular ATP and phosphorylates substrates that increase ATP generation and decrease ATP consumption. Reported as a central mediator of the cellular response to energetic stress and of multiple aspects of mitochondrial homeostasis.

05

Analytical considerations

The two sulfur atoms in the molecular formula correspond to sulfur-containing residues and are relevant to oxidation-related degradation pathways. Because the reference PubChem record is a trifluoroacetate salt, counterion content must be established before a mass result is compared against that record.

06

Verified bibliography

  1. The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance.

    Lee C, Zeng J, Drew BG, Sallam T, Martin-Montalvo A, Wan J, Kim SJ, Mehta H, Hevener AL, de Cabo R, Cohen P

    Cell metabolism · 2015-03-03 · Journal Article

    current
    PMID 25738459PMC4350682DOI 10.1016/j.cmet.2015.02.009MOTS-cAMP-activated protein kinase
  2. The Mitochondrial-Encoded Peptide MOTS-c Translocates to the Nucleus to Regulate Nuclear Gene Expression in Response to Metabolic Stress.

    Kim KH, Son JM, Benayoun BA, Lee C

    Cell metabolism · 2018-07-05 · Journal Article

    current
    PMID 29983246PMC6185997DOI 10.1016/j.cmet.2018.06.008MOTS-cAMP-activated protein kinase
  3. AMPK: guardian of metabolism and mitochondrial homeostasis.

    Herzig S, Shaw RJ

    Nature reviews. Molecular cell biology · 2017-10-04 · Review

    current
    PMID 28974774PMC5780224DOI 10.1038/nrm.2017.95MOTS-cAMP-activated protein kinase

10

Methodology & citation verification

Reference identity is checked against official PubMed metadata. Local deterministic receipts bind each normalized title and canonical metadata record to its verification date. Scientific values remain absent when an authoritative source has not been verified.

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