MOTS-c
Also known as: Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide MOTS-c
MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded in the mitochondrial genome. Discovered in 2015. Animal data shows insulin-sensitisation and exercise-mimetic effects. Human trials are early; community practice is well ahead of the published evidence base.
Last reviewed · Panya.health editorial
Panya scores vendors against an 11-signal rubric. Vendors at or above 70 out of 100 are routable; below 70 are documented but get no Panya affiliate link. For prescription peptides like Mounjaro and Wegovy, Panya routes today through licensed clinicians. For research peptides like MOTS-c, vendor scorecards land in a follow-up sprint after legal review and payment processor selection. Until then, the page surfaces commonly-mentioned vendor names so adults can do their own diligence. We do not yet earn commission on any MOTS-c vendor.
Not medical advice. MOTS-c is not approved for human medical use in most jurisdictions. The data below is what users do; it is not what regulators have validated. You decide your risk profile.
What it does, and how
MOTS-c (Mitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the 12S rRNA-c) is one of a small number of peptides encoded directly in the mitochondrial genome rather than the nuclear genome. Discovered by Pinchas Cohen's group at USC in 2015. Animal studies show MOTS-c improves insulin sensitivity, increases mitochondrial respiration, and replicates several exercise-induced metabolic adaptations (AMPK activation, glucose uptake). It crosses into the nucleus to regulate gene transcription related to metabolic stress. Human plasma levels decline with age and are lower in obese and type-2 diabetic individuals. The first human pharmacokinetic study published in 2023; therapeutic trials remain limited.
Typical practice
Community practice runs 5 to 10 mg per week, divided into 2 to 3 subcutaneous injections. Cycles typically 6 to 8 weeks. Some users report metabolic markers (fasting glucose, HOMA-IR) responding within 4 weeks. Reconstitution typically 10 mg vial in 2 mL bacteriostatic water. There is no established 'optimal' human dose from trials; the dosing here reflects what users do, not what regulators have validated.
The dosing above is community practice, not a regulator-validated protocol. Trial-validated dosing for MOTS-c in humans does not exist for most use cases listed.
Risks and contraindications
Most-reported side effects in user reports: mild injection-site reactions, occasional flushing in the first week. Theoretical concerns: MOTS-c influences AMPK and metabolic gene transcription, which intersects with how metformin and GLP-1 medications work; users on metformin or tirzepatide should be aware of stacking implications and not assume additive safety. Long-term human safety is uncharacterised. Pregnancy: avoid. Cancer history: consult oncologist; mitochondrial peptides are an active research area in cancer biology and the picture isn't fully resolved.
Where this stands legally
Not FDA-approved. Sold as research chemical. Active research in clinical trials for metabolic indications.
Not a controlled substance. Research-chemical category.
Not on EMA's approved list. Research-chemical category.
Not formally scheduled. Sold by some Bangkok longevity and wellness clinics with prescriber oversight.
TGA prescription-required for personal import.
Where users say they source it
Names below are sourced from community discussion. None are currently scored against the Panya 11-signal rubric. Panya does not earn commission on any of these. You can search them yourself; treat the list as a starting point for your own diligence, not an endorsement.
- Pure RawzPending Panya 11-signal audit
- Limitless LifePending Panya 11-signal audit
- BDMS Wellness Clinic (Bangkok, occasional protocol)Pending Panya 11-signal audit
Full vendor scorecards for MOTS-c land in a follow-up sprint after lawyer review and payment processor selection. We will not route users to any vendor that scores below 70 on the rubric.
Papers worth reading directly
- Lee et al. — The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity. Cell Metab, 2015 →
- Reynolds et al. — MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline. Nat Commun, 2021 →
- Yen et al. — The mitochondrial derived peptide humanin: a putative regulator of metabolism and lifespan. Cell Metab, 2013 (review covering MOTS-c context) →
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Adjacent reading
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