For laboratory and educational research use only. Not medical advice.
Women's Peptide Research
Ask Vera
Home  /  Database  /  MOTS-c
Weight & Metabolicpreclinical

MOTS-c

mitochondrial-derived peptide
Weight & Metabolic · CAS 1627580-64-6
ASK VERA ABOUT THIS ↗BUY NOW ↗
Category
Weight & Metabolic
Evidence grade
D
PubMed records
304
Female-tagged
58
Sex-analysis
1
CAS
1627580-64-6
D
Evidence grade D, Preclinical / animal evidence only across 304 indexed studies. No human trial data. How grades work →
Female evidence: None
MOTS-c: of 304 PubMed records, 58 are tagged as including female subjects and 1 carry a sex-analysis tag.Counts reflect PubMed records as of 2026-07-17. “Female” uses the Female MeSH filter and “sex-analysis” the Sex Factors MeSH filter, automated proxies pending manual study-level review. Methodology →

Overview

MOTS-c is a mitochondrial-derived peptide, a 16-residue sequence encoded within the 12S ribosomal RNA region of mitochondrial DNA. Its origin inside the mitochondrial genome gives it an unusual profile among signaling peptides and has made it a notable tool compound in metabolic and mitochondrial research.

In vitro and in preclinical systems, MOTS-c has been studied for its activation of the AMPK energy-sensing pathway and its influence on glucose and lipid metabolism, along with effects on the folate cycle and metabolic-stress responses. Researchers in metabolic and exercise physiology have used it as a research material to probe how mitochondrial signals communicate with cellular energy pathways.

What makes MOTS-c notable for a metabolic and longevity catalog is its identity as a mitochondrially encoded regulator of whole-cell energetics. Whether these mechanisms translate to female physiology remains an open research question; our evidence review tracks how many of the underlying studies included women.

Summary

MOTS-c is a mitochondrial-derived peptide studied in metabolic and exercise-physiology research. Notably, some animal work reports sex-specific effects, but human female data is absent.

Evidence in women

Menstrual cycle
Unstudied
No menstrual cycle interaction data.
Pregnancy & lactation
Unstudied
No pregnancy or lactation safety data.
Hormonal interactions
Unstudied
Some rodent work suggests estrogen may modulate mitochondrial-peptide effects, but this is uncharacterized in humans.
Perimenopause & menopause
Unstudied
No data in perimenopausal or menopausal populations.
Sex differences
No evidence
In the indexed literature, some studies used female animals and a smaller number reported sex differences in rodents, an unusually high share for this database, though no human female data exists.

Mechanism

Studied for activation of the AMPK energy-sensing pathway and regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism in preclinical models.

Reported dosing & routes

◐

We don't give dosing or medical advice. The figures below describe what was used in published research, not a recommendation. Decide with your clinician.

Reported range (literature)Reported in animal studies only; no established human dose.
Routessubcutaneous
Female-specific dosingNot established

Contraindications: not established

Side effects

Reported in the research literature. Sex-specific incidence has not been separately analysed in the available records.

insufficient human data to characterize

MOTS-c reconstitution calculator

Enter this vial's amount, the bacteriostatic water you add, and a target amount to get the concentration and the U-100 syringe units to draw. Handling arithmetic for research use, not a dose recommendation.

Reconstitution

1
2
3

Draw for MOTS-c

5
units on a U-100 insulin syringe
020406080100
U-100 insulin syringe — 1 mL = 100 units
That's 0.05 mL drawn to the 5-unit mark.
Concentration5 mg/mL (5,000 mcg/mL)
Volume to draw0.05 mL
Doses per vial40

Reference chart at 5 mg/mL

Target amountVolume (mL)U-100 units
100 mcg0.02 mL2
250 mcg0.05 mL5
500 mcg0.1 mL10
750 mcg0.15 mL15
1000 mcg0.2 mL20

Research-use arithmetic only. This tool converts a vial amount, diluent volume, and a target amount into a concentration and syringe draw for laboratory handling. It is not dosing guidance, a recommendation, or a claim of safety or efficacy, and it does not account for overfill, dead space, or peptide purity. Nothing here is medical advice. “U-100” means 100 units = 1 mL; confirm your syringe graduation before measuring. See the reconstitution & storage handbook for handling detail.

Frequently asked questions

Answers drawn only from MOTS-c's research facts and, where reviewed, its sex-disaggregated evidence. Nothing here is medical advice, dosing, or a claim of safety or efficacy.

What is MOTS-c?

MOTS-c, also known as mitochondrial-derived peptide, is a research compound in our weight metabolic category. MOTS-c is a mitochondrial-derived peptide studied in metabolic and exercise-physiology research.

Is MOTS-c studied in women?

MOTS-c: of 304 PubMed records, 58 are tagged as including female subjects and 1 carry a sex-analysis tag. We grade this none: no PubMed record for MOTS-c is tagged as including female subjects, so its effects in women are effectively unstudied. That blank is the finding, not a safety signal, and we do not fill it with guesses.

Has MOTS-c been studied during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Unstudied. No pregnancy or lactation safety data. This is not a safety clearance or a recommendation. Vera, our research chat, deliberately hard-stops on pregnancy, breastfeeding, and trying-to-conceive questions rather than answer them.

What evidence grade does MOTS-c have, and why?

MOTS-c carries evidence grade D. Preclinical / animal evidence only across 304 indexed studies. No human trial data.. Grades are derived from the research record, never hand-assigned; see how grades work.

Is there a female-specific dose for MOTS-c?

No. A female-specific dose for MOTS-c is not established, and this site does not provide dosing or medical advice. Any figures we show describe what published research used, not a recommendation. Decide anything about use with a qualified clinician.

How is MOTS-c administered in research?

In the published literature, MOTS-c is administered via subcutaneous. Reported dose ranges on the Dosing tab describe what studies used for laboratory research, not a protocol for people. We don't provide dosing.

What side effects have been reported for MOTS-c?

Effects reported in the research literature include insufficient human data to characterize. Sex-specific incidence has not been separately analysed in the available records, so these are not broken out for women.

What is the CAS number for MOTS-c?

The CAS registry number for MOTS-c is 1627580-64-6. It is also referred to as mitochondrial-derived peptide, MOTS-C, MOTSc, MOTS c, MOT-C, MOTC. Use it to confirm identity against a Certificate of Analysis.

How should MOTS-c be stored and handled?

MOTS-c sold for research is supplied as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder. Lyophilized peptides are generally kept cold and dry, at roughly -20°C for longer-term storage and 2-8°C short-term, protected from light. Once reconstituted they are typically refrigerated and used within a short window, avoiding repeated freeze-thaw cycles. This is general laboratory handling for research use only, not a directive for human use. Always follow the handling and purity details on the product's Certificate of Analysis.

Where can I buy MOTS-c for research?

For laboratory research use, MOTS-c is available from our research-use partner, Aurevena Research. Applying code research15 takes 15% off. We may earn a commission when you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you. Products are for laboratory research use only.

Buy MOTS-c at Aurevena Research
Research-use supplier: MOTS-c is available from our research-use vendor for laboratory use. Code research15 for 15% off, applied automatically at checkout. We may earn a commission when you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you. Products are for laboratory research use only.
Buy now →

Related peptides

4X Blend (Methionine / Choline / Carnitine / Dexpanthenol)·
Multi-ingredient blend, its female evidence is reviewed per ingredient, not for the combination.
5-Amino-1MQD
5-Amino-1MQ: of 3 PubMed records, 2 are tagged as including female subjects and 0 carry a sex-analysis tag.
8X Blend (L-Carnitine / L-Arginine / Methionine / Inositol / Choline / B6 / B5 / B12)·
Multi-ingredient blend, its female evidence is reviewed per ingredient, not for the combination.
AdipotideD
Adipotide: of 4 PubMed records, 2 are tagged as including female subjects and 0 carry a sex-analysis tag.

Educational information for laboratory and research use only. Not medical advice, a recommendation, or a claim of safety or efficacy; no personal dosing. “Unstudied” means no qualifying study was found, not that a compound is safe or unsafe.