MOTS-c

MOTS-C is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded within mitochondrial DNA, inside a short reading frame of the gene for mitochondrial 12S rRNA. First identified in 2015, it belongs to a small family of mitochondrial-derived peptides that also includes Humanin and the SHLP1-6 peptides. It is studied in laboratory research, not sold as an approved medicine or supplement.

In cell and animal research, MOTS-C activates the AMPK energy-sensing pathway and has been observed moving into the cell nucleus under metabolic stress, where it interacts with stress-response transcription factors. These are preclinical mechanistic findings, and whether the same effects occur in humans is the subject of an ongoing trial, not an established fact.

Most reported benefits — improved insulin sensitivity, exercise performance, and metabolic flexibility — come from mouse studies. Human research is mostly observational with mixed results, plus one ongoing Phase 2a trial (NCT07505745) testing injected MOTS-C for insulin sensitivity in people with prediabetes; it has not yet reported results, so no human benefit is established either way.

No. MOTS-C has no FDA-approved drug product. Separately, FDA staff proposed in briefing materials for a July 2026 advisory committee meeting that MOTS-C not be added to the list of substances allowed in compounded drugs, citing insufficient characterization, effectiveness, and safety data. No committee vote or final decision on that proposal was found on the public record, and it should not be read as a general approval or safety ruling either way.

There is no published human side-effect profile for administered MOTS-C, because the one known interventional trial is still underway and has not reported results. FDA has stated it lacks human exposure data for MOTS-C and has flagged immunogenicity as a specific concern. The absence of reported side effects reflects a lack of data, not a confirmation of safety.

No. There is no completed, peer-reviewed, dose-ranging human study establishing a safe or effective MOTS-C dosage. The one ongoing clinical trial uses a fixed research dose within its own controlled protocol, which is not a general dosing recommendation. Because this product is Research Use Only, Certified Aminos does not provide human dosing or administration instructions for it.

Research Use Only means this product is sold exclusively for laboratory research by qualified personnel and is not intended for human or animal consumption, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment. RUO is a labeling category describing intended use — it is not a safety certification and does not mean the product has been evaluated and found safe for people.

Look for a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis naming the testing lab, method, and measured results — not just a general purity specification. No such document is currently linked from this product’s page; researchers should contact Certified Aminos directly to request current, batch-matched documentation before relying on this product for research.