MOTS-C

MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide that is encoded in mitochondrial DNA. It belongs to a group known as mitochondrial-derived peptides and is studied in research on metabolic regulation and mitochondrial signalling. Trinity Research supplies it as a lyophilised research material. This page is a reference monograph for qualified researchers. It covers identity, structure, regulatory context, analytical notes and the documentation supplied with each lot. It makes no claims about effects, safety or use.

1. Identity and identifiers

Identifiers and weights are shown for orientation. The values that apply to your material are those on the Certificate of Analysis for your lot.

2. Regulatory context

 MOTS-c has not been approved as a medicine for any use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or by any other major regulator. Material supplied by Trinity Research is a laboratory research material. It has not been evaluated by the FDA, is not a drug, and is not for human or veterinary use.

Nothing on this page should be read as encouraging the human use of any research material. Anyone with a medical question should speak to a licensed healthcare professional, and to their prescriber if they have been prescribed a medicine.

3. Origin and structure

MOTS-c is encoded by a short open reading frame within the mitochondrial gene for 12S ribosomal RNA. That places it in the mitochondrial genome rather than the nuclear one, and it is one of a small number of peptides described in the scientific literature as mitochondrial-derived. It was first described in 2015. The material supplied for research is made by chemical synthesis and is not extracted from biological sources.

The 16-residue sequence is made entirely of standard L-amino acids. It is rich in basic residues (three arginines and a lysine), which gives the peptide an overall positive charge. It also contains two methionines and several aromatic residues (tryptophan, phenylalanine and two tyrosines). Each of these features has a practical consequence for analysis, described in Section 5.

For a comparison with another mitochondria-focused research peptide of very different design, see MOTS-c vs SS-31.

4. Systems described in the literature

The table lists where the published literature places the molecule and the areas in which it has been studied. It is a classification, not a statement about activity, and it does not describe any biological or clinical outcome. Readers interested in the underlying biology should consult the primary literature directly.

5. Analytical notes

• Identity by mass spectrometry. Because of its many basic residues, a peptide like this picks up several charges easily in electrospray mass spectrometry. It typically appears as a series of peaks at different charge states, for example a doubly charged ion near m/z 1088 and a triply charged ion near m/z 726, all pointing to the same neutral mass of about 2,174. The report should give the theoretical and the observed mass.
• Methionine oxidation. Methionine oxidises readily, and each oxidised methionine adds about 16 mass units. A small peak at +16 or +32 relative to the main mass is a common minor finding for methionine-containing peptides, and a reason for reading the mass spectrum and not only the headline mass.
• Purity by HPLC. The peptide contains aromatic residues, so it can be detected at about 280 nm as well as at the usual 214 to 220 nm. Check the method (column, gradient, detection wavelength) and look at the chromatogram itself, not only the purity figure.
• Related substances. Synthetic peptides of this length usually contain related substances at low levels, such as truncated or modified forms. Small levels are normal.
• Only what is listed was tested. Do not assume other tests were run.

See our guides on how HPLC and mass spectrometry verify peptides and how to read a Certificate of Analysis.

6. Documentation with each lot

Each order ships with the lot-specific Certificate of Analysis for the material you receive. Check that the lot number on the report matches the one on your vial (see lot numbers and traceability) and that the report shows the methods behind each result. For notes on sealed material, see handling and storing lyophilised research material. Current document availability is listed in our Quality & COAs library.

7. What this page does not cover

This page does not describe effects, outcomes, safety or tolerability, and gives no information on doses, preparation or administration. Trinity Research does not provide dosing, reconstitution, administration, clinical, medical, veterinary or treatment guidance of any kind. Values are given for identification and reference and may be updated as the literature and regulatory position change.