Peptides
MOTS-C
10mg
16 amino acid mitochondrial-derived peptide. Metabolic research compound.
98.46% purity · Third-party tested · Batch UKPL-217 · View certificate
- Same-day dispatch before 3pm, Mon to Fri
- Add £44.01 more for free UK delivery
- Cold-chain shipping. Always. Dry-cold pack, Royal Mail Tracked 24
- Lost, damaged or wrong? Replaced free if you tell us within 48 hours.
- Research use only. For in-vitro laboratory research. Not for use in humans or animals, or in food, drugs or diagnostics. Not evaluated by the MHRA or FDA. The buyer is responsible for handling and regulatory compliance.
Bulk Pricing
Counted across your basket, any mix of products.
| Vials in basket | Discount | Per vial |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | None | £24.99 |
| 3-4 | 5% | £23.74 |
| 5-9 | 8% | £22.99 |
| 10-50 | 12% | £21.99 |
Bacteriostatic Water 10ml
Required to reconstitute lyophilised peptides.
What is MOTS-C?
MOTS-C, also written MOTS-c or MOTS c, is a 16 amino acid peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA, within the 12S rRNA gene. It is studied in metabolic and mitochondrial research, mainly for AMPK signalling. We supply it as lyophilised powder in 10mg and 40mg vials.
Full description
The sequence is MRWQEMGYIFYPRKLR. The formula is C₁₀₁H₁₅₂N₂₈O₂₂S₂, the molecular weight 2174.5 g/mol and the CAS number 1627580-64-6. The name stands for mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA type-c. Lee and colleagues (Cell Metab, 2015) found it after humanin, the first signalling peptide mapped to a short open reading frame in mitochondrial DNA.
MOTS-C Research Applications
- Mechanism: MOTS-c inhibits the folate cycle and its tethered de novo purine synthesis, leading to AMPK activation. Skeletal muscle appears to be its main target (Lee et al., 2015).
- Rodent metabolism: in mice, MOTS-c prevented age-dependent and high-fat-diet-induced insulin resistance, and diet-induced obesity (Lee et al., 2015).
- Nuclear signalling: after glucose restriction it moves into the nucleus in an AMPK-dependent way and regulates genes with antioxidant response elements, interacting with NRF2 (Kim et al., 2018).
- Exercise: in humans, exercise raised endogenous MOTS-c in skeletal muscle and in circulation (Reynolds et al., Nat Commun, 2021).
Study details
Typical designs look at AMPK signalling, folate cycle and purine synthesis flux, skeletal muscle metabolism and mitochondrial-to-nuclear signalling, in cell and rodent models.
MOTS-C vs Humanin and the Mitochondrial Derived Peptide Family
Both are encoded inside mitochondrial DNA, not the nuclear genome. Humanin, a 24 residue peptide from the 16S rRNA region, was found first and is studied mainly for cytoprotective and anti-apoptotic signalling. MOTS-C comes from the 12S rRNA region and acts through the folate cycle and AMPK. Choose MOTS-C for metabolic regulation or mitochondrial-nuclear signalling, and humanin for cytoprotection.
Research Overview
Kim and colleagues (Cell Metab, 2018) read MOTS-c as evidence that the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes encode factors that cross-regulate each other. In the nucleus it regulated a broad range of genes in response to glucose restriction.
Reynolds and colleagues (Nat Commun, 2021) studied mice aged 2, 12 and 22 months. MOTS-c regulated nuclear genes linked to metabolism and proteostasis, skeletal muscle metabolism, and myoblast adaptation to metabolic stress.
Product Specifications
- Molecular Formula
- C₁₀₁H₁₅₂N₂₈O₂₂S₂
- Molecular Weight
- 2174.5 g/mol
- CAS Number
- 1627580-64-6
- Sequence
- MRWQEMGYIFYPRKLR
- Encoding Region
- Mitochondrial 12S rRNA (MT-RNR1) short open reading frame
- Purity
- 98.46% (RP-HPLC)
- Batch
- UKPL-217
- Form
- White lyophilised powder
Certificate of Analysis
Third-party tested
- Batch
- UKPL-217
- Purity
- 98.46%
- Specification
- ≥98.0%
- Method
- RP-HPLC
- Lab
- Marfleet Analytical Services Ltd
- Tested
- Aug 2026
Need the certificate for an earlier batch? Request an older CoA
Storage and Reconstitution
Store MOTS-C powder at -20°C, away from light and moisture, for up to 24 months. After reconstitution, keep the solution at 2-8°C and use it within 4 weeks. For longer storage, freeze single-use aliquots at -20°C and avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Vials are sold on their own, without bacteriostatic water for mixing or other supplies.
How to reconstitute and handle
To mix MOTS-C powder, let the vial and the bacteriostatic water reach room temperature and swab both stoppers with alcohol. Add the water slowly down the inside wall of the vial and swirl gently until dissolved. Do not shake or vortex. The solution should be clear and colourless.
- Two methionines, a tryptophan and two tyrosines make the sequence sensitive to oxidation. Keep headspace small, protect it from light and do not leave dilute solutions at room temperature.
- At 2174.5 g/mol, 10mg of MOTS-C is 4.60 µmol.
For the full method, see the peptide reconstitution guide and the reconstitution calculator.
Research References
- The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance (Lee et al., Cell Metab, 2015)
- MOTS-c translocates to the nucleus to regulate nuclear gene expression in response to metabolic stress (Kim et al., Cell Metab, 2018)
- MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis (Reynolds et al., Nat Commun, 2021)
Published research on MOTS-C is indexed on PubMed. See our full UK buyer's guide for MOTS-C.
MOTS-C Price (UK)
MOTS-C is for sale in 2 vial sizes, priced from £24.99 for 10mg to £69.99 for 40mg. Every size ships from our UK facility, each with its own batch certificate. UK delivery is £4.50 by Royal Mail Tracked 24, free over £69.
| Vial | Price | Cost per mg | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOTS-C 10mgThis page | £24.99 | £2.50 | In stock |
| MOTS-C 40mg | £69.99 | £1.75Best value | In stock |
Prices are in GBP per vial and match the basket. See the FAQ for delivery and payment options, and quality & testing for how each batch is checked.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does MOTS-C activate AMPK?
Indirectly. Lee and colleagues (2015) found MOTS-c inhibits the folate cycle and the de novo purine synthesis tethered to it, and that this leads to AMPK activation.
What is a mitochondrial derived peptide?
A signalling peptide encoded by a short open reading frame in mitochondrial DNA, not in the nuclear genome. Humanin was identified first and MOTS-c second.
Is MOTS C peptide the same as humanin?
No. MOTS-C is a 16 residue peptide from the 12S rRNA region, linked to the folate cycle and AMPK. Humanin is a 24 residue peptide from the 16S rRNA region, studied mainly for cytoprotection.
What is the MOTS-C amino acid sequence?
MRWQEMGYIFYPRKLR, written out as Met-Arg-Trp-Gln-Glu-Met-Gly-Tyr-Ile-Phe-Tyr-Pro-Arg-Lys-Leu-Arg. It is encoded within the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene.
Has MOTS-C been studied in humans?
The cited human data are observational. Reynolds and colleagues (2021) found that exercise raised endogenous MOTS-c in human skeletal muscle and in circulation. Interventional studies are preclinical, and MOTS-C is not an approved medicine.
What is in a MOTS-C vial?
10mg of MOTS-C as white lyophilised powder. A 40mg vial is also sold, with its own batch and certificate.
Where can I buy MOTS-C in the UK?
You can buy MOTS-C online from UK Peptide Lab. MOTS-C is for sale in 10mg and 40mg vials from UK stock. Orders placed before 3pm (UK time) on a working day are dispatched the same day, and UK delivery is free over £69.
What purity is your MOTS-C 10mg?
98.46% by RP-HPLC for batch UKPL-217, against a 98.0% specification. Marfleet Analytical Services ran the test, and the certificate is published in the certificate section.
Is MOTS C peptide legal to buy in the UK?
It can be bought in the UK for in-vitro laboratory research. MOTS-C is not an approved medicine and is sold for research use only, to buyers aged 18 or over.
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