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Cofactors · MITOCHONDRIAL-DERIVED PEPTIDE
MOTS-c 40 mg
Lyophilized vial · 16 AA
Per vial
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SingleShips within 48 hours from San Antonio
UPS Ground · tracked + insured · released after independent lab testing
- Purity Guarantee. If a batch fails our ≥99% HPLC standard, full refund + replacement.
- Batch certificate in the COA library, anytime, free
- Same reorder price — forever, no upcharge
$137.99
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MOTS-c in brief
MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA, studied in cell and mouse models of metabolic regulation. MOTS-c is not approved by the FDA for any use. An FDA advisory committee recommended it for the 503A compounding list in July 2026, but no FDA rule has followed. Supplied for research use only.
— About this compound
MOTS-c.
Class · Mitochondrial-derived peptide (16 amino acids encoded by mtDNA 12S rRNA)
Origin. Identified and characterized by the Pinchas Cohen laboratory at USC. First described in detail by Lee et al. in Cell Metabolism in 2015 as the founding member of a new class of mitochondrially-encoded signaling peptides.
MOTS-c (Mitochondrial Open Reading frame of the Twelve S rRNA type-c) is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded within the mitochondrial DNA 12S rRNA region. It was the first mitochondrial-derived peptide identified with metabolic-regulator activity.
Unlike the larger family of nuclear-encoded signaling peptides, MOTS-c reflects intercommunication between the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes — a concept termed retrograde signaling. The peptide has become a focal point in mitochondrial-derived-peptide research.
— Common research applications
- Mitochondrial signaling research
- AMPK pathway investigation
- Mitochondrial-derived peptide biology
- Exercise physiology models
- Glucose homeostasis studies
— Mechanism
How it's been studied.
Translocates from the mitochondria to the nucleus under metabolic stress (glucose restriction, exercise). In the nucleus it regulates transcription of stress-responsive genes. Also activates AMPK signaling and modulates the folate-methionine cycle in cultured cells.
Mechanism descriptions reflect findings reported in the preclinical and basic-research literature. They are not clinical conclusions and not statements of therapeutic effect.
— The Chemistry
The numbers, plainly.
CAS
—
Molecular weight
2173.5 Da
Formula
—
Sequence
—
Format
Lyophilized powder
Vial dose
40 mg
Purity (HPLC)
≥99%
Amino acids
16
Half-life
Not well-characterized in the public literature.
Solubility
Water-soluble. Physicochemical context only. Merit Sciences publishes no reconstitution or preparation procedures.
View the July 2026 batch certificate for MOTS-c 40 mg → or browse every certificate.
— Lab analysis
Proof of identity.
Independent HPLC-UV/MS verification on every batch. The chromatogram shown is the actual analysis for the batch currently shipping — ≥99%, released after an independent assay.
Need the COA for a specific batch? Email support@meritsciences.com with your order number.
HPLC chromatogram · lot TBD · ≥99%
— Why Merit
The supplier difference.
How Merit compares to the two alternatives most research buyers consider for MOTS-c.
Comparison reflects published facility status and standard industry practice. Compounding pharmacy availability of research peptides varies by jurisdiction.
— How it's made
From compound to your shelf.
Every Merit batch follows the same documented path. Five steps, every one verifiable.
- 01
Sourcing
Compound starts as a research-grade API.
Active pharmaceutical ingredient sourced from FDA-registered manufacturers. Identity confirmed against reference standard before any compounding begins.
- API from FDA-registered manufacturers
- Identity verified against reference standard
- Chain of custody documented
- 02
Compounding
Sterile-filled in a US cleanroom.
Lyophilized in a cleanroom at our US facility. The powder format gives ≥24 months sealed stability — no cold-chain shipping required.
- Licensed US facility
- Batch-documented manufacturing process
- Lyophilized powder for transit stability
- 03
Verification
Every batch HPLC-tested.
Reverse-phase HPLC-UV (UV/MS for higher-MW peptides) confirms identity and purity for every batch before it leaves the lab. The chromatogram is archived.
- Reverse-phase HPLC, per-batch
- ≥99% purity floor — every batch
- Chromatogram archived for every batch
- 04
Release
The batch is released against an independent assay.
No batch ships until an independent laboratory has returned its identity and purity results and the certificate is published in the COA library.
- Independent laboratory on every batch
- Certificate published before sale
- Every certificate is in the public COA library
- 05
Dispatch
Ships from San Antonio in 48 hours.
Sealed vials with a QR code on the label that opens the COA library. Order before 2pm CT Monday–Thursday for same-day dispatch. UPS Ground, tracked + insured.
- 48hr dispatch from San Antonio, TX
- QR code on every vial label
- UPS Ground, tracked + insured
Every step above can be verified for any specific batch by emailing support@meritsciences.com with your order number.
— Research references
The published record.
Peer-reviewed work cited in the public scientific literature. Links resolve to PubMed or the publisher of record.
- 01
The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance
Lee C, Zeng J, Drew BG, et al. · Cell Metabolism · 2015
- 02
MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis
Reynolds JC, Lai RW, Woodhead JSS, et al. · Nature Communications · 2021
- 03
The Mitochondrial-Encoded Peptide MOTS-c Translocates to the Nucleus to Regulate Nuclear Gene Expression in Response to Metabolic Stress
Kim KH, Son JM, Benayoun BA, Lee C · Cell Metabolism · 2018
Inclusion of a reference does not constitute a clinical claim or recommendation.
— Pairs Well With
Researchers stack this with.
The Cellular Stack
Mitochondrial · coenzyme · signaling
NAD+, MOTS-c, and GHK-Cu: three molecules in the cellular-pathway literature, in one shipment.
$308.97 · save 12%
— Go deeper
Mechanism, published research and peer-reviewed references for MOTS-c, with no product attached.
Research review on The Assay, Merit’s editorial publication: MOTS-c vs NAD+: What the Published Research Compares
— Common Questions
Got questions.
Is MOTS-c FDA-approved?+
MOTS-c is not approved by the FDA for any use. An FDA advisory committee recommended it for the 503A compounding list in July 2026, but no FDA rule has followed. Supplied for research use only. MOTS-c is named on the WADA 2026 Prohibited List under S4 as a metabolic modulator (AMPK activator) and is prohibited at all times.
How is each batch of MOTS-c tested?+
Every batch is tested by an independent laboratory for identity and HPLC purity before it is listed. Merit identifies batches by date: the current certificate for MOTS-c 40 mg is the July 2026 batch, 99.27% purity by HPLC, published at meritsciences.com/coa/COA-2026-KFKYK8. The QR code on each vial opens the same page. Open the July 2026 batch certificate →
What does the published research on MOTS-c show?+
Lee and colleagues (Cell Metabolism 2015) reported that MOTS-c treatment prevented diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance in mice. Reynolds (Nature Communications 2021) reported that exercise induces it and that treatment improved physical performance in aged mice. The MOTS-c monograph at meritsciences.com/library/mots-c lists the references, and The Assay, Merit's editorial publication, reviews the evidence at theassay.co/articles/mots-c-vs-nad. Read the MOTS-c monograph →
What is MOTS-c?+
MOTS-c (Mitochondrial Open Reading frame of the Twelve S rRNA type-c) is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded within the mitochondrial DNA 12S rRNA region. It was the first mitochondrial-derived peptide identified with metabolic-regulator activity.
How does MOTS-c work?+
Translocates from the mitochondria to the nucleus under metabolic stress (glucose restriction, exercise). In the nucleus it regulates transcription of stress-responsive genes. Also activates AMPK signaling and modulates the folate-methionine cycle in cultured cells.
What class of compound is MOTS-c?+
MOTS-c is classified as mitochondrial-derived peptide (16 amino acids encoded by mtDNA 12S rRNA).
What is the reported half-life of MOTS-c?+
Not well-characterized in the public literature.
Why does Merit ship lyophilized?+
Lyophilized (freeze-dried) material is stable in sealed storage: ≥24 months at -20°C. Peptides held in solution degrade far faster, so every compound ships as a dry powder in a sealed vial.
What does "independently assayed" actually mean?+
Every batch is tested by a laboratory independent of the facility that made it, and the certificate is published before the batch is listed. You read the same identity and purity figures we do, which is what separates Merit from a reseller catalog.
How fast does it ship?+
48 hours from order to dispatch, Monday through Thursday. UPS Ground, tracked + insured. From San Antonio, TX, most US addresses receive within 3-5 business days.
— Talk to a Pharmacologist
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