MOTS-C 10mg / 40mg

Buy high-purity MOTS-c (10mg / 40mg) in Australia. Third-party lab tested at >99% purity. Australian-domestic shipping, AUD pricing, supplied for laboratory research use only.

About MOTS-c

MOTS-c (Mitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the Twelve S rRNA-c) is a 16-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide (MDP) encoded within the 12S ribosomal RNA region of mitochondrial DNA. It was identified in 2015 by the Cohen laboratory at the University of Southern California and is one of the founding members of a new class of peptides that exemplify retrograde mitochondrial-to-nuclear signalling. In published research, MOTS-c has rapidly become one of the most studied mitochondrial peptides in metabolic, ageing and exercise biology, with research interest concentrated on AMPK activation, glucose homeostasis, insulin sensitivity and mitochondrial-nuclear cross-talk.

Optic Labs supplies MOTS-c as a lyophilised powder in 10mg and 40mg research vials, third-party HPLC tested to >99% purity. The product is distributed Australian-domestic from Sydney, NSW, for in vitro and laboratory research applications. MOTS-c is supplied strictly for laboratory research, development or analytical use and is not intended for human consumption.

Product specifications

• Compound: MOTS-c (mitochondrial-derived peptide)
• CAS number: 1627580-64-6
• Molecular formula: C₇₈H₁₂₃N₂₁O₂₃S₂
• Molecular weight: ~1791.07 g/mol
• Sequence: Met-Arg-Trp-Gln-Glu-Met-Gly-Tyr-Ile-Phe-Tyr-Pro-Arg-Lys-Leu-Arg (16 amino acids)
• Form: Lyophilised powder
• Purity: >99% by HPLC
• Available sizes: 10mg vial / 40mg vial
• Storage: 2–8°C, protect from light. Reconstituted: 2–8°C, used within 30 days.
• Origin: Manufactured to research-grade specifications, third-party HPLC verified
• Shipping: Australia-wide domestic dispatch from Sydney, NSW

Research background

MOTS-c was first characterised by Lee, Cohen and colleagues in 2015, using a bioinformatic approach to scan small open reading frames within mitochondrial DNA. The 12S rRNA-encoded peptide was shown to be biologically active, present in plasma and skeletal muscle, and capable of translocating to the nucleus under metabolic stress to regulate gene expression. The discovery established mitochondrial-derived peptides as a distinct class of regulatory signalling molecules.

• AMPK activation: in cell-culture and rodent skeletal muscle research, MOTS-c administration has been associated with activation of AMP-activated protein kinase, a master regulator of cellular energy balance, with downstream effects on glucose uptake and fatty acid oxidation.
• Glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity: in published rodent research, MOTS-c has been investigated for effects on insulin-stimulated glucose disposal, hepatic glucose production and whole-body insulin sensitivity in models of diet-induced metabolic dysregulation.
• Mitochondrial-nuclear retrograde signalling: in cellular research, MOTS-c has been shown to translocate to the nucleus under metabolic stress and modulate expression of antioxidant response element (ARE) and other stress-responsive genes through interactions with NRF2 and related transcription factors.
• Exercise biology: in animal-model research, MOTS-c has been examined as a potential exercise mimetic, with studies reporting changes in running capacity, muscle metabolic gene expression and substrate utilisation.
• Ageing research: circulating MOTS-c levels have been investigated in published research as candidate biomarkers of mitochondrial function across the lifespan, with studies examining age-related declines in plasma MOTS-c and associations with metabolic phenotypes.
• Bone and adipose tissue research: in cell-culture and animal models, MOTS-c has been studied for effects on osteoblast differentiation and adipocyte metabolism through AMPK-dependent pathways.
• Cardiovascular research: exploratory studies have examined MOTS-c in the context of myocardial energetics, ischaemia-reperfusion injury models and vascular function.

For a more detailed research summary, see our MOTS-c mitochondrial peptide longevity research guide and our what are peptides explainer. Researchers working with reconstitution should also reference our peptide reconstitution guide.

Reconstitution and handling

MOTS-c is supplied as a lyophilised powder and must be reconstituted with bacteriostatic water before use in any laboratory protocol. A common laboratory approach for the 10mg vial is reconstitution in 2ml of bacteriostatic water to yield a 5mg/ml working stock, or in 1ml for a 10mg/ml stock. For the 40mg vial, 4ml yields a 10mg/ml stock, or 2ml yields a 20mg/ml stock — researchers working with the larger vial typically aliquot reconstituted material to limit freeze-thaw cycles. The bacteriostatic water should be drawn into a sterile syringe and injected slowly down the inside wall of the lyophilised vial, allowing the peptide cake to dissolve passively rather than through agitation. Reconstituted MOTS-c should be aliquoted, refrigerated at 2–8°C and protected from light, with research stocks typically used within 30 days. For dilution maths across alternative volumes, see our reconstitution calculator guide. For long-term storage protocols, see our peptide storage guide.

Commonly stacked research peptides

In published research and laboratory protocols, MOTS-c is often examined alongside other mitochondrial, longevity and metabolic research compounds:

• SS-31 — mitochondrial-targeted peptide commonly co-investigated with MOTS-c in oxidative phosphorylation and cardiolipin protection research.
• NAD+ — co-investigated in mitochondrial redox and longevity research; NAD+ supports the sirtuin and electron-transport-chain pathways studied alongside MOTS-c.
• Glutathione — examined alongside MOTS-c in research on mitochondrial redox status and antioxidant defence.
• Epithalon — telomere and longevity research peptide commonly grouped with MOTS-c in anti-ageing study designs.
• 5-Amino-1MQ — NNMT inhibitor examined alongside MOTS-c in research on cellular methylation balance and metabolic phenotypes.

For broader context on combined research designs, see our peptide research stacks overview.

Frequently asked questions

Is MOTS-c legal in Australia?

MOTS-c is a naturally occurring mitochondrial-derived peptide and is not a scheduled substance under the Australian Poisons Standard, but it is not registered as a therapeutic good with the TGA. Optic Labs supplies MOTS-c strictly for laboratory, research and analytical use only, not as a therapeutic good. For a full overview of how the Therapeutic Goods Administration treats research peptides in Australia, see our peptide legality and TGA compliance guide.

What is MOTS-c?

MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded within the 12S rRNA region of mitochondrial DNA, identified in 2015 as one of the first mitochondrial-derived peptides. In published research it is studied as a regulator of cellular energy balance, glucose homeostasis and mitochondrial-nuclear retrograde signalling. For more detail, see our MOTS-c mitochondrial peptide research guide.

What does MOTS-c do in published research?

In published research, MOTS-c is studied for its effects on AMPK activation, insulin sensitivity, glucose homeostasis, mitochondrial-to-nuclear retrograde signalling, and as a candidate exercise mimetic in rodent models. It is also investigated as a circulating biomarker of mitochondrial function in ageing research. These observations are research findings only and do not constitute therapeutic claims.

How is MOTS-c different from other peptides?

Most research peptides are encoded by the nuclear genome. MOTS-c is unusual in that it is encoded within mitochondrial DNA itself, in a small open reading frame inside the 12S rRNA gene. This makes MOTS-c part of a small but growing class of mitochondrial-derived peptides (MDPs), which also includes humanin and the SHLP family. The mitochondrial origin is what makes MOTS-c a distinctive research tool for studying mitochondrial-nuclear cross-talk.

How is MOTS-c supplied?

Optic Labs supplies MOTS-c as a lyophilised powder in glass research vials at 10mg and 40mg fill sizes. Each vial is sealed with a tamper-evident closure. Certificates of analysis showing HPLC purity testing are available on request.

How much bacteriostatic water do I mix with a 10mg or 40mg MOTS-c vial?

For a 10mg vial, 2ml of bacteriostatic water yields a 5mg/ml working stock; 1ml yields a 10mg/ml stock. For a 40mg vial, 4ml yields a 10mg/ml stock and 2ml yields a 20mg/ml stock. Choose a volume based on the concentrations required by the research protocol. For a worked example with unit conversions, see our reconstitution calculator guide.

How should reconstituted MOTS-c be stored?

Reconstituted MOTS-c should be stored at 2–8°C, protected from light, and used within approximately 30 days. For longer-term storage, aliquoting and freezing at −20°C or below is preferred to limit freeze-thaw degradation. Full handling protocols are covered in our peptide storage research guide.

Where does Optic Labs ship to?

Optic Labs ships Australia-wide from Sydney, NSW. Standard dispatch is next business day on orders received before the daily cut-off. International shipping is not currently offered.

Legal disclaimer

All products on this site are supplied for laboratory research, development or analytical use only. They are not for human consumption, clinical use, or any diagnostic, cosmetic or veterinary application. These products and statements have not been evaluated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) or the APVMA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Optic Labs is not a compounding pharmacy or manufacturing facility as defined under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989, and is not a registered provider of scheduled medicines or therapeutic goods.