MOTS-c
Mitochondrial peptide | Metabolism • Physiology • Translation gap
Common names: MOTSC · mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA-c · mitochondrial-derived peptide
- Evidence searched through
- August 24, 2026
- Last reviewed
- August 24, 2026
- Current version
- 1.0
4V Take
What the research shows.
MOTS-c is tied to mitochondrial and metabolic biology, but most of the intervention evidence is still from animals. There is a big gap between finding MOTS-c naturally in humans and proving that giving MOTS-c to people improves performance, metabolism or longevity. That human treatment evidence is still very limited.
Explore the evidenceResearch Interest
Why are people interested?
Researchers are studying MOTS-c across the approved public questions in this record. Those questions are areas of research interest, not guaranteed outcomes.
Evidence Context
What have researchers looked at?
This approved record brings together the research settings represented in its selected public sources. Evidence settings answer different questions, so human, animal, laboratory, and research-review findings stay distinct.
Current research context
Research stage describes the maturity of the current topic record. Source context describes the evidence settings represented in the selected public sources below; they are not interchangeable.
- Research stage
- Preclinical for administration
- Selected source context
- Human · Animal · Mixed · Research Review
At a Glance
Research snapshot.
- 01Human Research
Observational physiology - 02Therapeutic Administration
No identified exposure data - 03Research Stage
Preclinical for administration - 04Key Distinction
Circulating ≠ administered
Research Pathway
Follow the questions.
Choose a pathway to read its approved 4V Take. Each view stays focused on one question at a time.
4V Take
MOTS-c is a mitochondria-derived peptide with metabolic and mitochondrial effects in preclinical models.
- Evidence bucket
- preclinical
- Research stage
- preclinical
- Route / format
- Not applicable
Explore the evidence
human synthesis
2026 review of approved/unapproved peptide therapies.
human direct
Endurance training and circulating MOTS-c / mitochondrial respiration.
human direct
Systemic MOTS-c levels in adults with obesity.
4V Take
Recent mouse studies support AMPK/PGC-1α-dependent improvements in skeletal-muscle mitochondrial bioenergetics after exogenous MOTS-c.
- Evidence bucket
- preclinical
- Research stage
- preclinical
- Route / format
- Not applicable
Explore the evidence
human direct
Endurance training and circulating MOTS-c / mitochondrial respiration.
animal
Gudiksen A et al. MOTS-c improves intrinsic muscle mitochondrial bioenergetic health and efficiency in a PGC-1α/AMPK-dependent manner. 2026.
human synthesis
2026 review of approved/unapproved peptide therapies.
4V Take
Human studies have reported associations between circulating MOTS-c and exercise/metabolic phenotypes.
- Evidence bucket
- human observational
- Research stage
- preclinical
- Route / format
- Not applicable
Explore the evidence
human synthesis
2026 review of approved/unapproved peptide therapies.
human direct
Endurance training and circulating MOTS-c / mitochondrial respiration.
human direct
Systemic MOTS-c levels in adults with obesity.
4V Take
In a 2026 study, one-legged exercise did not show evidence that skeletal muscle was the source of circulating MOTS-c based on arterio-venous difference.
- Evidence bucket
- human observational
- Research stage
- preclinical
- Route / format
- Not applicable
Explore the evidence
human synthesis
2026 review of approved/unapproved peptide therapies.
human direct
Endurance training and circulating MOTS-c / mitochondrial respiration.
human direct
Systemic MOTS-c levels in adults with obesity.
4V Take
FDA’s 2026 review did not identify human exposure data for MOTS-c drug products and cited substantial safety/characterization gaps.
- Evidence bucket
- mixed
- Research stage
- preclinical
- Route / format
- Not applicable
Explore the evidence
human synthesis
2026 review of approved/unapproved peptide therapies.
human direct
Endurance training and circulating MOTS-c / mitochondrial respiration.
human direct
Systemic MOTS-c levels in adults with obesity.
4V Take
The July 2026 PCAC recommendation does not establish FDA approval, human efficacy, or general safety.
- Evidence bucket
- mixed
- Research stage
- preclinical
- Route / format
- Not applicable
Explore the evidence
regulatory/contextual
FDA: Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks.
regulatory/contextual
FDA July 23–24, 2026 PCAC meeting materials.
human synthesis
2026 review of approved/unapproved peptide therapies.
Selected Sources
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Open an approved public source to inspect its study context, limitations, and original record where available.
human synthesis
2026 review of approved/unapproved peptide therapies.
2026 · PMID: 41966639 · peer reviewed
human direct
Endurance training and circulating MOTS-c / mitochondrial respiration.
2025 · PMID: 39706498 · peer reviewed
human direct
Systemic MOTS-c levels in adults with obesity.
2026 · PMID: 41551324 · peer reviewed
animal
Gudiksen A et al. MOTS-c improves intrinsic muscle mitochondrial bioenergetic health and efficiency in a PGC-1α/AMPK-dependent manner. 2026.
2026 · PMID: 41520850 · peer reviewed
regulatory/contextual
FDA: Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks.
2026 · URL: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/certain-bulk-drug-substances-use-compounding-may-present-significant-safety-risks · contextual
regulatory/contextual
FDA July 23–24, 2026 PCAC meeting materials.
2026 · URL: https://www.fda.gov/advisory-committees/advisory-committee-calendar/july-23-24-2026-meeting-pharmacy-compounding-advisory-committee-07232026 · contextual
Research Status
Living research, deliberately tracked.
- Evidence searched globally through:
- August 24, 2026
- Last reviewed
- August 24, 2026
- Version
- 1.0
What Changed
Current record.
No later approved public release is available beyond the current topic record.
Evidence Boundaries
What are researchers still working out?
Study settings, measures, and limitations matter. A mechanism does not establish an outcome, animal or laboratory findings do not establish a human benefit, and a small study does not create consensus. Open each selected source for the approved record behind its finding.
Regulatory Context
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This topic’s selected public record includes regulatory or other context sources. They can help explain the setting in which research is discussed, but regulatory status does not by itself prove or disprove scientific value. Open the original source for its exact context.
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