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MOTS-c Compound

An editorial digest of the MOTS-c peptide literature — the mitochondrial-derived metabolic regulator read study by study, with the human-data gaps and the compounded-access reality stated plainly.

MOUSE TESTS, HUMAN REPORTS, AND FDA PAGES

Where the MOTS-c peptide facts came from.

This list covers animal tests, cells in dishes, human blood reports, reviews, and FDA pages. Each link opens the named source.

Go back to the findingsSee the short answers

What You Will Find in the Source List

Mouse studies measured sugar, weight, running, and grip. Human reports measured MOTS-c already in people's blood.

Each numbered claim leads to a source below. Items 1–15 cover the tests and reviews.

Items 16–18 are FDA pages used for the law and pharmacy answer. Each source shows the animal, amount, finding, or rule behind a claim.

PubMed is a U.S. list of medical studies. Its page gives a short summary and links to the paper.

Other study links open the publisher's page. Links about pharmacy law open FDA.gov.

  1. Lee C, Zeng J, Drew BG, Sallam T, Martin-Montalvo A, Wan J, Kim SJ, Mehta H, Hevener AL, de Cabo R, Cohen P. The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance. Cell Metab. 2015;21(3):443-454. ↗
  2. Reynolds JC, Lai RW, Woodhead JST, Joly JH, Mitchell CJ, Cameron-Smith D, Lu R, Cohen P, Graham NA, Benayoun BA, Merry TL, Lee C. MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis. Nat Commun. 2021;12(1):470. ↗
  3. Kim KH, Son JM, Benayoun BA, Lee C. The Mitochondrial-Encoded Peptide MOTS-c Translocates to the Nucleus to Regulate Nuclear Gene Expression in Response to Metabolic Stress. Cell Metab. 2018;28(3):516-524.e7. ↗
  4. Wan W, Zhang L, Lin Y, Rao X, Wang X, Hua F, Ying J. Mitochondria-derived peptide MOTS-c: effects and mechanisms related to stress, metabolism and aging. J Transl Med. 2023;21(1):36. ↗
  5. Kim SJ, Miller B, Mehta HH, Xiao J, Wan J, Arpawong TE, Yen K, Cohen P. The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c is a regulator of plasma metabolites and enhances insulin sensitivity. Physiol Rep. 2019;7(13):e14171. ↗
  6. Du C, Zhang C, Wu W, Liang Y, Wang A, Wu S, Zhao Y, Hou L, Ning Q, Luo X. Circulating MOTS-c levels are decreased in obese male children and adolescents and associated with insulin resistance. Pediatr Diabetes. 2018;19(5):1058-1064. ↗
  7. Zempo H, Kim SJ, Fuku N, et al. A pro-diabetogenic mtDNA polymorphism in the mitochondrial-derived peptide, MOTS-c. Aging (Albany NY). 2021;13(2):1801-1817. ↗
  8. Gao Y, Wei X, Wei P, Lu H, Zhong L, Tan J, Liu H, Liu Z. MOTS-c Functionally Prevents Metabolic Disorders. Metabolites. 2023;13(1):125. ↗
  9. Yi X, Hu G, Yang Y, Li J, Jin J, Chang B. Role of MOTS-c in the regulation of bone metabolism. Front Physiol. 2023;14:1149120. ↗
  10. Zheng Y, Wei Z, Wang T. MOTS-c: A promising mitochondrial-derived peptide for therapeutic exploitation. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023;14:1120533. ↗
  11. Tekin S, Bir LS, Avci E, et al. Comparison of Serum Mitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the 12S rRNA-c (MOTS-c) Levels in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis and Healthy Controls. Cureus. 2022;14(7):e26981. ↗
  12. Fuku N, Pareja-Galeano H, Zempo H, et al. The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c: a player in exceptional longevity? Aging Cell. 2015;14(6):921-923. ↗
  13. Kumagai H, Kim SJ, Miller B, et al. MOTS-c modulates skeletal muscle function by directly binding and activating CK2. iScience. 2024;27(11):111212. ↗
  14. Bolignano D, Greco M, Presta P, Duni A, et al. The Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide MOTS-c May Refine Mortality and Cardiovascular Risk Prediction in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients: A Multicenter Cohort Study. Blood Purif. 2024;53(9-10):1-12. ↗
  15. Pham T, Taberner A, Hickey A, Han JC. Mitochondria-derived peptide MOTS-c restores mitochondrial respiration in type 2 diabetic heart. Front Physiol. 2025;16:1602271. ↗
  16. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Bulk Drug Substances Used in Compounding Under Section 503A of the FD&C Act. FDA, Human Drug Compounding (verified 2026-05-29). ↗
  17. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding That May Present Significant Safety Risks. FDA, Human Drug Compounding (MOTS-c listed under nominated but withdrawn substances; safety concerns retained). ↗
  18. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. July 23-24, 2026: Meeting of the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee (agenda lists BPC-157, KPV, TB-500, and MOTS-c as bulk drug substances being considered for inclusion on the 503A Bulks List). FDA Advisory Committee Calendar (verified 2026-05-29). ↗