MOTS-c
MetabolicAlso known as Mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c
Evidence tier
Multiple human trials
2 human trials · 2 observational
- Researched since
- 2015
- Publications
- 247
- Mean purity
- 99.6%
- Vendors listing
- 23
Curo shows the highest mean assayed purity for MOTS-c at 99.9% across 1 lot record. Purity figures below come from the certificates named in each row.
Score breakdown
The score has two halves: the research base — how long the compound has been studied and how much has been published — and the quality of the evidence the market produces for it, aggregated across every vendor that carries it: assayed purity, lot-to-lot consistency, readable third-party certificates and those vendors’ review record. It measures the evidence base, not the merits or safety of the substance.
Studied since 2015 — 11 years of published research
How long the compound has been studied. Fifteen years or more of published literature earns full marks; a newer compound earns less.
247 publications indexed in PubMed
The volume of published literature located. Full marks at fifty or more publications.
Mean assayed purity 99.6% across 28 certificates
Average assayed purity on the certificates published by vendors that carry this compound. Full marks at 99.5%+, nothing at 95% or below.
±0.35 pts purity across lots, mean label deviation 9.4%
How tightly assayed purity and labeled-versus-actual mass hold across different lots. Rewards reproducible manufacturing.
23 of 23 listing vendors publish an accessible certificate policy
Whether the vendors carrying this compound publish per-lot certificates anyone can read without an account.
23 of 28 certificates from a recognised independent lab
Share of certificates issued by a recognised third-party testing lab rather than an unnamed or self-named one.
What is MOTS-c?
A mitochondrial-derived peptide studied for roles in cellular metabolism, insulin sensitivity and exercise physiology.
Studied in published research for metabolism, insulin sensitivity and exercise capacity.
Regulatory status
Labeled by vendors for laboratory research use only. Not approved as a medicine in the United States, United Kingdom, or European Union.
What the research examines
The areas of published research this compound appears in. These describe what the literature has studied — never a claim of benefit, effect or suitability for any use.
Published research
Published work is largely preclinical, in cell and animal models of metabolism. PepIndex does not evaluate clinical significance and does not describe administration.
- MOTS-c: A promising mitochondrial-derived peptide for therapeutic exploitation — Frontiers in endocrinology (2023)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in Frontiers in endocrinology (2023).
- MOTS-c Functionally Prevents Metabolic Disorders — Metabolites (2023)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in Metabolites (2023).
- The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance — Cell metabolism (2015)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in Cell metabolism (2015).
- MOTS-c: A Mitochondrial-Encoded Regulator of the Nucleus — BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology (2019)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology (2019).
- Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide MOTS-c Suppresses Ovarian Cancer Progression by Attenuating USP7-Mediated LARS1 Deubiquitination — Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) (2024)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) (2024).
- MOTS-c: A potential anti-pulmonary fibrosis factor derived by mitochondria — Mitochondrion (2023)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in Mitochondrion (2023).
- The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c relieves hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in gestational diabetes mellitus — Pharmacological research (2022)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in Pharmacological research (2022).
- MOTS-c attenuates lung ischemia-reperfusion injury via MYH9-Dependent nuclear translocation and transcriptional activation of antioxidant genes — Redox biology (2025)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in Redox biology (2025).
Indexed studies4 human-evidence of 4
- Effects of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists, Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors, and Their Combination on Neurohumoral and Mitochondrial Activation in Patients With Diabetes — Human — observational, 2025
We investigated the effects of the combined treatment with glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) on NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide), GDF-15 (growth differentiation factor 15), and MOTS-c (mitochondrial-derived peptide-c) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and high or very high cardiovascular risk. We studied 163 consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes who were treated with insulin…
- Circulating levels of MOTS-c in patients with breast cancer treated with metformin — Human — controlled trial, 2022
The mitokine MOTS-c is a mitochondrially-encoded "exercise-mimetic peptide" expressed in multiple tissues, particularly skeletal muscles, which can be detected as a circulating hormone in the blood. MOTS-c mechanisms of action (MoA) involve insulin sensitization, enhanced glucose utilization, suppression of mitochondrial respiration, and targeting of the folate-AICAR-AMPK pathway. Although MOTS-c MoA largely overlap those of the anti-diabetic biguanide metformin, the putative…
- Repeated Heat Stress Modulates the Levels of the Mitokines MOTS-C and FGF21 in Active Men during Calf Muscle Immobilization — Human — controlled trial, 2025
Heat stress, like exercise, can elicit beneficial mitochondrial adaptations and attenuate disuse muscle atrophy. The beneficial effects of heat therapy may in part be related to mitokines as they are released by the cells in response to perceived mitochondrial stress. This study thus investigated the effect of repeated heat exposures on mitokine response in the context of immobilization-induced muscle atrophy. A total of 19 physically active men underwent 4 wk of supervised t…
- Impact of Radiation Therapy on Serum Humanin and MOTS-c Levels in Patients with Lung or Breast Cancer — Human — observational, 2024
Lung and breast cancer are the most frequent causes of death from cancer globally. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the serum mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA-c (MOTS-c) and humanin levels in lung or breast cancer patients, and investigate the impacts of radiation therapy on the circulating levels of these peptides. 35 lung cancer patients, 34 breast cancer patients, and healthy volunteers as a control group were recruited in this prospective o…
Evidence digest
What the research on MOTS-c actually shows
The indexed literature on MOTS-c includes human clinical or observational records (4 human-clinical or observational records). This digest describes the shape of that evidence and links the records behind it. It does not judge whether MOTS-c is safe or effective for any purpose, and nothing here is medical advice — the material sold by the vendors in this index is labeled for laboratory research use only.
3 things the literature does not establish →
PepIndex describes what literature exists. We do not interpret it, assess clinical significance, or publish quantities, protocols or instructions for use.
Vendor comparison
| Vendor | Score here | Price / mg | Certificates | Mean purity | Label deviation | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CuroISO/IEC 17025 | 93.877% | — | 1 | 99.9% | 5.0% | |
| Polaris PeptidesISO/IEC 17025 | 93.877% | — | 1 | 99.9% | 15.0% | |
| Next Gen PeptidesISO/IEC 17025 | 91.497% | $3.67 (77%) | 2 | 99.5% | 3.3% | |
| PeptidePlugs | 89.790% | — | 6 | 99.7% | 8.5% | |
| Ascend ScienceISO/IEC 17025 | 89.691% | $3.24 (68%) | 3 | 99.7% | 21.6% | |
| Protide Health | 83.594% | $4.88 (102%) | 0 | — | — | |
| NeuroLabs Research | 83.486% | $3.50 (73%) | 0 | — | — | |
| Koi Peptides | 8394% | $4.00 (84%) | 0 | — | — | |
| Origin Labs | 81.885% | — | 1 | 99.3% | 25.5% | |
| Northline LabsISO/IEC 17025 | 79.493% | — | 1 | 99.6% | 1.0% | |
| ZC Labs | 79.384% | — | 3 | 99.6% | 6.4% | |
| Good Science Bio | 79.275% | $2.25 (47%) | 0 | — | — | |
| Ascension Peptides | 77.286% | $5.00 (105%) | 1 | 99.7% | 5.8% | |
| Modern AminosISO/IEC 17025 | 74100% | — | 2 | 99.8% | 8.3% | |
| Simple Peptide | 7489% | — | 1 | 99.8% | 10.6% | |
| American PeptidesISO/IEC 17025 | 73.5100% | $10.00 (209%) | 1 | 99.9% | 12.8% | |
| Vertex Labs | 70.170% | — | 1 | 99.8% | 7.9% | |
| BioLongevity Labs | 69.274% | $5.50 (115%) | 0 | — | — | |
| Biotech Peptides | 67.463% | $4.50 (94%) | 0 | — | — | |
| Eternal Peptides | 65.165% | $5.00 (105%) | 0 | — | — | |
| Mile High Compounds | 64.594% | $4.67 (98%) | 3 | 98.9% | 5.1% | |
| Improved Peptides | 61.189% | $6.90 (145%) | 1 | 99.0% | 6.5% | |
| Evolve Peptides | 60.967% | $6.00 (126%) | 0 | — | — |
Certificate records
| Vendor | Lot | Tested | Lab | Labeled | Assayed | Discrepancy | Purity | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PeptidePlugs | 03510L-DK | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 10 mg | 11.09 mg | 10.9% | 99.9% | Vendor-published | |
| Ascend Science | AS-MS10-2 | Kovera Labs and/or ILS Labs | 20 mg | 11.03 mg | 44.9% | 99.8% | Vendor-published | |
| ZC Labs | ZCLa2607301118 | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 40 mg | 37.89 mg | 5.3% | 99.6% | Vendor-published | |
| Origin Labs | Orig2607270906 | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 10 mg | 12.55 mg | 25.5% | 99.3% | Vendor-published | |
| Ascend Science | AS-MS20 | ILS Labs | 20 mg | 23.28 mg | 16.4% | 99.6% | Vendor-published | |
| PeptidePlugs | 160-04-DK | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 40 mg | 40.41 mg | 1.0% | 99.5% | Vendor-published | |
| ZC Labs | ZCLa2607160039 | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 40 mg | 43.28 mg | 8.2% | 99.5% | Vendor-published | |
| Curo | MOTS10ZO626 | BTLabs | 10 mg | 10.5 mg | 5.0% | 99.9% | Vendor-published | |
| Ascend Science | AS-MS40 | ILS Labs | 40 mg | 41.39 mg | 3.5% | 99.7% | Vendor-published | |
| PeptidePlugs | 149-01-DK | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 10 mg | 9.99 mg | 0.1% | 99.9% | Vendor-published | |
| Next Gen Peptides | MS40-08 | ILS Laboratories | 40 mg | 41.28 mg | 3.2% | 99.9% | Vendor-published | |
| Modern Aminos | BX-P-B7M9 | Analysis FreedomDiagnostics | 40 mg | 37.65 mg | 5.9% | 99.6% | Vendor-published | |
| ZC Labs | ZCLa2606080085 | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 40 mg | 42.25 mg | 5.6% | 99.6% | Vendor-published | |
| PeptidePlugs | DK-134-BZ | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 40 mg | 38.86 mg | 2.9% | 99.5% | Vendor-published | |
| PeptidePlugs | SM-140-GN | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 40 mg | 46.62 mg | 16.5% | 99.4% | Vendor-published | |
| Vertex Labs | 2606020199 | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 10 mg | 10.79 mg | 7.9% | 99.8% | Vendor-published | |
| Mile High Compounds | KVR-2026-4DAB54 | Cohen Lab, USC | 40 mg | 35.2 mg | 12.0% | 99.0% | Vendor-published | |
| Modern Aminos | BX-P-W9H8 | Analysis FreedomDiagnostics | 10 mg | 11.07 mg | 10.7% | 99.9% | Vendor-published | |
| Next Gen Peptides | MTS40-07 | ILS Laboratories | 40 mg | 41.39 mg | 3.5% | 99.0% | Vendor-published | |
| Northline Labs | NLL-8502644 | ILS Laboratories | 10 mg | 10.1 mg | 1.0% | 99.6% | Vendor-published | |
| Simple Peptide | MOT10-052026-2 | Analysis FreedomDiagnostics | 10 mg | 11.06 mg | 10.6% | 99.8% | Vendor-published | |
| Mile High Compounds | MOT-010-MH-03 | Mile High Compounds | 10 mg | 9.8 mg | 2.0% | 98.5% | Vendor-published | |
| Mile High Compounds | MOT-040-MH-01 | Mile High Compounds | 40 mg | 39.5 mg | 1.3% | 99.1% | Vendor-published | |
| Improved Peptides | IP-MOTSC-2026-001 | Confirmed | 10 mg | 10.65 mg | 6.5% | 99.0% | Vendor-published | |
| Polaris Peptides | POL-M10-07 | Unknown Lab | 10 mg | 11.5 mg | 15.0% | 99.9% | Vendor-published | |
| American Peptides | MOTS10-0318 | Excellence in HPLC-MS Analysis | 10 mg | 11.28 mg | 12.8% | 99.9% | Vendor-published | |
| Ascension Peptides | 24-01260229 | MZ Biolabs | 10 mg | 9.42 mg | 5.8% | 99.7% | Vendor-published | |
| PeptidePlugs | 2602150176 | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 10 mg | 11.97 mg | 19.7% | 99.8% | Vendor-published |