Peptide library · Skin & longevity
MOTS-c
Mitochondrial peptide
Research stage16amino acids, encoded in your mitochondria's own DNA
What it is
A peptide made by your mitochondria that acts as a metabolic signal through AMPK, the cell's energy sensor.
Why researchers are interested
- Exercise raises MOTS-c naturally.
- In mice it countered diet induced obesity and insulin resistance (Cell Metabolism 2015).
- It improved physical capacity in older mice (Nature Communications 2021).
Good to know
- Human efficacy trials of MOTS-c itself haven't been published.
- FDA advisory panel voted 7 to 5 in July 2026 to allow compounding.
Evidence level: 2 of 5
Sources
Lee et al., Cell Metab 2015; Reynolds et al., Nat Commun 2021; AJMC, Jul 2026
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Educational content only. Not medical advice. Last reviewed 2026-10-17.