MOTS-c research peptide is provided by Zama Biosciences for laboratory research, with batch-specific documentation and quality information.
MOTS-c is a sixteen-amino-acid peptide, Met-Arg-Trp-Gln-Glu-Met-Gly-Tyr-Ile-Phe-Tyr-Pro-Arg-Lys-Leu-Arg (MRWQEMGYIFYPRKLR). Molecular formula C101H152N28O22S2, molecular weight 2174.6 g/mol.
What distinguishes it is where the sequence comes from. MOTS-c is encoded not in nuclear DNA but within the mitochondrial genome — specifically inside the 12S ribosomal RNA gene. It belongs to a small class of mitochondrial-derived peptides, and its discovery in 2015 was significant because it established that mitochondrial DNA encodes signalling molecules acting outside the organelle, not merely components of the respiratory chain.
Research context
Published work examines MOTS-c in relation to AMP-activated protein kinase activation, the folate–methionine cycle and de novo purine synthesis, along with glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity in muscle preparations.
A separate and unusual strand concerns nuclear translocation: under metabolic stress, MOTS-c has been reported to move into the nucleus and influence transcription of stress-response genes. A peptide encoded by the mitochondrial genome regulating nuclear gene expression is a genuinely notable finding, and it is much of why the peptide has held research attention.
Note that the field is young by the standards of most compounds in this catalogue — MOTS-c has been studied for roughly a decade, so the literature is thinner and more provisional than for long-established sequences.
For additional background, see this PubMed review of MOTS-c and mitochondrial-derived peptides, or the MOTS-c research guide for a summary of the sequence and technical data.
Specification
CAS number 1627580-64-6. Supplied as a white lyophilized powder, soluble in water. This batch assayed at 99.77% purity, verified by HPLC and LC-MS at ILS Lab. Available in 5mg, 10mg, 20mg and 40mg presentations.
Handling
Reconstitute with bacteriostatic or sterile water, introducing the diluent against the vial wall and swirling gently rather than shaking. The sequence contains two methionine residues, which are among the more oxidation-prone amino acids — protecting from air and light matters more here than for sequences without them.
Store lyophilized at −20°C protected from light; refrigerate at 2–8°C once reconstituted.
Ships with a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis. Cross-check the batch ID printed on your vial against the CoA before use — see the guide to reading a CoA if you are unfamiliar with the format.
Frequently asked questions about MOTS-c
What makes MOTS-c different from other research peptides?
Its origin. Almost every peptide in this catalogue is encoded in nuclear DNA or synthesised to a designed sequence. MOTS-c is encoded within the mitochondrial genome, inside the 12S rRNA gene, making it one of a small class of mitochondrial-derived peptides. That matters beyond trivia: it established that mitochondrial DNA encodes signalling molecules acting outside the organelle, which reframed how mitochondria are understood to communicate with the rest of the cell.
Is MOTS-c stable in solution?
Less forgiving than sequences of similar length. The sequence carries two methionine residues, and methionine is among the most oxidation-prone amino acids — the thiether sulfur oxidises to methionine sulfoxide on exposure to air, which changes the molecule. Minimise headspace and exposure time, protect from light, and prepare working dilutions fresh where the protocol allows. Lyophilized at −20°C it is stable long-term; reconstituted, refrigerate at 2–8°C.
What purity should MOTS-c be?
This batch assayed at 99.77% by HPLC with identity confirmed by LC-MS at ILS Lab. Given the methionine content, mass spectrometry is particularly worth checking on the Certificate of Analysis — oxidised methionine adds 16 Da per residue, so a mass spectrum reveals oxidation that an HPLC purity figure alone may not flag clearly.
Which MOTS-c dosage should I select?
This is a research supply decision rather than a protocol one. The 5mg, 10mg, 20mg and 40mg presentations contain the same compound from the same batch; larger vials reduce cost per milligram but commit you to more material once opened. Because reconstituted peptide has a finite working life, matching vial size to consumption rate over your study period usually matters more than unit price.
Research use only. Not for human or veterinary use, not for use in diagnostic procedures, and not evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
