Overview
In plain English
MOTS-C is unusual: it is coded by your mitochondria — the parts of the cell that make energy — rather than by the DNA in the cell nucleus.
It is used for metabolic health: insulin sensitivity, energy, body composition and exercise capacity. It is taken in the morning, five days on and two days off, ideally 30 to 60 minutes before training or food. Your own levels rise with exercise and fall with age, which is the basis of most of the interest in it.
- What it isA 16-amino-acid peptide encoded by mitochondrial DNA
- Mainly used forInsulin sensitivity, metabolic health, energy, exercise capacity
- Typical protocol2mg daily, 5 days on / 2 off, for 4–8 weeks
How it works
What it actually does
Cells have a master switch that flips them from storing energy to burning it. MOTS-C turns that switch on.
It does it indirectly. Rather than binding a receptor, it shifts one metabolic pathway so that a natural activator builds up inside the cell — and that activator flips the switch.
Downstream, mouse studies reported more glucose taken into muscle without needing extra insulin, more fat burned, and resistance to diet-induced weight gain.
The science in detail
MOTS-C belongs to a small class of mitochondrial-derived peptides — short open reading frames encoded within mitochondrial ribosomal RNA genes rather than nuclear DNA. Humanin and the SHLP series arise from the 16S rRNA gene; MOTS-C from the 12S. Lee et al. (Cell Metabolism, 2015) identified the peptide, showed it circulates, and characterised its metabolic activity.
Its mechanism is indirect and unusual. Rather than binding a cell-surface receptor, MOTS-C acts on the folate-methionine one-carbon cycle, suppressing flux through de novo purine biosynthesis. The consequence is accumulation of AICAR — 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide — an endogenous intermediate that allosterically activates AMP-activated protein kinase. AMPK activation is therefore downstream of a metabolite shift rather than of direct binding, which separates MOTS-C from biguanides such as metformin, which raise the AMP:ATP ratio by inhibiting respiratory complex I, and from direct AMPK agonists.
Once AMPK is engaged the profile is conventional catabolic signalling: increased GLUT4 translocation and insulin-independent glucose uptake in skeletal muscle, increased fatty acid oxidation, and suppression of lipogenic and gluconeogenic programmes. In the original mouse work this presented as resistance to diet-induced obesity and improved insulin sensitivity.
MOTS-C also has a nuclear role. Kim et al. (Cell Metabolism, 2018) reported that under metabolic stress the peptide translocates to the nucleus, associates with stress-responsive transcription factors and regulates antioxidant response element-driven genes. That gives it a retrograde signalling function — mitochondria issuing adaptive instructions to the nuclear genome — and it is the feature drawing most current research attention.
Reynolds et al. (Nature Communications, 2021) characterised MOTS-C as exercise-responsive: circulating and skeletal muscle levels rise with exercise in humans, and administration to aged mice improved measures of physical capacity and muscle homeostasis. That work underlies its description as an exercise-mimetic in the literature. Endogenous levels decline with age, and a mitochondrial DNA variant altering the peptide sequence has been examined in relation to longevity in East Asian cohorts.
Evidence
What the research shows
Made by your mitochondria
One of a small group of peptides coded in mitochondrial DNA rather than the cell nucleus.
Turns on the cell's energy-burning switch
It activates AMPK — the master regulator that shifts cells from storing to burning fuel.
Improved insulin sensitivity in mice
The original work reported better glucose handling and resistance to diet-induced obesity.
Rises with exercise in humans
Human levels increase with exercise; ageing mice given it showed improved physical capacity.
Mixing & dosage
How to mix and dose it
These are the mixing and dosage instructions supplied by Purist Peptides and the manufacturer for this product.
A 3ml vial of bacteriostatic water is included free with every peptide vial you order, so you have what you need to mix this on arrival.
MOTS-C 10mg
Step 1 — mix your vial
- Draw up 1ml of bacteriostatic water into a syringe
- Wipe the rubber top of your vial with an alcohol swab and let it dry
- Insert the needle then slowly and carefully push the water down the inside wall of the vial — do not inject water straight onto the peptide powder
- Gently roll the vial between your palms until the powder dissolves completely
- Do not shake
- Allow to settle in the fridge for 5–10 minutes. The liquid should look clear
Step 2 — draw & inject your dose
Use a 1ml insulin syringe to draw and inject your dose. A 1ml syringe = 100 units.
With 1ml of water added, each 0.1ml (10 units) you draw = 1mg of MOTS-C.
| Stage | Dose | On the syringe |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 2mg daily | 20 units (0.2ml) |
Vial duration at standard dose: 5 days
When to inject: Morning preferred, 30 to 60 minutes before exercise or food. 5 days on, 2 days off.
Cycle length: 4 to 8 weeks, then reassess.
MOTS-C 40mg
Step 1 — mix your vial
- Draw up 2ml of bacteriostatic water into a syringe
- Wipe the rubber top of your vial with an alcohol swab and let it dry
- Insert the needle then slowly and carefully push the water down the inside wall of the vial — do not inject water straight onto the peptide powder
- Gently roll the vial between your palms until the powder dissolves completely
- Do not shake
- Allow to settle in the fridge for 5–10 minutes. The liquid should look clear
Step 2 — draw & inject your dose
Use a 1ml insulin syringe to draw and inject your dose. A 1ml syringe = 100 units.
With 2ml of water added, each 0.1ml (10 units) you draw = 2mg of MOTS-C.
| Stage | Dose | On the syringe |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 2mg daily | 10 units (0.1ml) |
Vial duration at standard dose: 4 weeks
When to inject: Morning preferred, 30 to 60 minutes before exercise or food. 5 days on, 2 days off.
Cycle length: 4 to 8 weeks, then reassess.
How to inject
- Wipe your injection site with an alcohol swab and let it dry
- Pinch a small fold of skin on your abdomen
- Insert the needle at a 45-degree angle into the pinched skin
- Slowly push the plunger down until empty
- Pull the needle out and apply gentle pressure with the swab
- Dispose of the needle safely in a sharps container — never recap or reuse
Storage
Keep refrigerated at 2 to 6 degrees Celsius at all times after mixing. Do not freeze. Protect from light and label the vial with the date you reconstituted it. Discard any solution that is hazy, discoloured or contains particles.
For informational purposes only. This is not medical advice. Speak to a qualified healthcare professional before starting any compound.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What makes MOTS-C different from other peptides?
Its origin. Almost all research peptides are fragments or analogues of nuclear-encoded proteins. MOTS-C is transcribed from mitochondrial DNA, within the 12S rRNA gene, which places it in the small class of mitochondrial-derived peptides alongside humanin and the SHLPs.
Does MOTS-C bind a receptor?
No specific cell-surface receptor has been established. The characterised mechanism is metabolic: inhibition of folate-cycle flux, accumulation of AICAR, and consequent AMPK activation. Its nuclear translocation under stress is a separate, intracellular mode of action.
How is it described as an exercise mimetic?
Reynolds et al. (Nature Communications, 2021) showed that MOTS-C rises in muscle and plasma following exercise, and that administering it to aged mice improved measures of running capacity and muscle homeostasis. The term describes an overlap in signalling, not an equivalence to training.
What is the difference between the 10mg and 40mg vials?
Peptide mass only; the material is from the same synthesis and assay standard. The 40mg vial is intended for extended experimental series and gives a higher concentration for a given diluent volume.
How is purity verified?
Every batch is assayed by Bioindustrial Services in Boksburg, an independent biotechnology laboratory, using HPLC. We do not self-certify. The signed certificate of analysis for each batch — lab number, method and assayed result — is published on our quality standards page.
How long does delivery take?
Orders are dispatched from within South Africa with tracking. Timelines by region and courier are set out on our delivery process page.
What is the returns policy?
Unopened vials in original condition may be returned within the stated window; full terms are in our refund policy.
Ready to order MOTS-C?
Independently assayed to 99%+ purity. Research use only.
Add to cart — R 750.00The Purist Research Standard
Precision-engineered peptides designed to maintain structural integrity under rigorous laboratory conditions.
Optimized Logistics & Fulfillment
Our logistics and fulfillment protocols are engineered to prioritize research stability.
≥99% Research-Grade Purity
Every compound is synthesized to exceed a 99% purity threshold.
Third-Party Laboratory Verified
We maintain total transparency through independent COA.
Precision Lyophilization Technology
Our advanced flash-freeze and vacuum-drying process.
Controlled Synthesis Environment
Produced in sterile, ISO-compliant facilities.
Targeted Research Utility
Engineered as reliable biological models.
Recommended Products
Essential Compounds for Precision Research: Top-Tier Peptides Verified for Structural Integrity.
Testimonials
Real feedback from customers who prioritize purity, precision, and uncompromising quality standards.
