MOTS-c Store

References

MOTS-c peptide references and citations

The peer-reviewed literature and FDA regulatory sources behind every quantitative claim on this site, with DOIs and PubMed identifiers for verification.

Back to researchCardiometabolic evidence

How these sources are used

Every quantitative claim in this digest maps to a numbered source in this list of MOTS-c references and citations. The peptide science is drawn from peer-reviewed journals indexed on PubMed; the regulatory facts on the MOTS-c legal status and 503A access page are drawn exclusively from FDA primary sources. Where the evidence is observational or single-lab, the body copy says so rather than overstating it. The same sources answer the questions in the MOTS-c FAQ.

  1. Lee C, Zeng J, Drew BG, Sallam T, Martin-Montalvo A, Wan J, Kim SJ, Mehta H, Hevener AL, de Cabo R, Cohen P. The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance. Cell Metab. 2015;21(3):443-454. ↗
  2. Reynolds JC, Lai RW, Woodhead JST, Joly JH, Mitchell CJ, Cameron-Smith D, Lu R, Cohen P, Graham NA, Benayoun BA, Merry TL, Lee C. MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis. Nat Commun. 2021;12(1):470. ↗
  3. Kim KH, Son JM, Benayoun BA, Lee C. The Mitochondrial-Encoded Peptide MOTS-c Translocates to the Nucleus to Regulate Nuclear Gene Expression in Response to Metabolic Stress. Cell Metab. 2018;28(3):516-524.e7. ↗
  4. Wan W, Zhang L, Lin Y, Rao X, Wang X, Hua F, Ying J. Mitochondria-derived peptide MOTS-c: effects and mechanisms related to stress, metabolism and aging. J Transl Med. 2023;21(1):36. ↗
  5. Du C, Zhang C, Wu W, Liang Y, Wang A, Wu S, Zhao Y, Hou L, Ning Q, Luo X. Circulating MOTS-c levels are decreased in obese male children and adolescents and associated with insulin resistance. Pediatr Diabetes. 2018;19(5):1058-1064. ↗
  6. Luo YH, Xie L, Li JY, Xie Y, Li MQ, Zhou L. Serum MOTS-C Levels are Decreased in Obese Children and Associated with Vascular Endothelial Function. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2023;16:1125-1133. ↗
  7. Lu H, Wei M, Zhai Y, Li Q, Ye Z, Wang L, Luo W, Chen J, Lu Z. MOTS-c peptide regulates adipose homeostasis to prevent ovariectomy-induced metabolic dysfunction. J Mol Med (Berl). 2019;97(4):473-485. ↗
  8. Kim SJ, Xiao J, Wan J, Cohen P, Yen K. Mitochondrially derived peptides as novel regulators of metabolism. J Physiol. 2017;595(21):6613-6621. ↗
  9. Kim SJ, Miller B, Kumagai H, Silverstein AR, Flores M, Yen K. Mitochondrial-derived peptides in aging and age-related diseases. GeroScience. 2020;43(3):1113-1121. ↗
  10. Kumagai H, Kim SJ, Miller B, et al. MOTS-c modulates skeletal muscle function by directly binding and activating CK2. iScience. 2024;27(11):111212. ↗
  11. Bolignano D, Greco M, Presta P, Duni A, et al. The Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide MOTS-c May Refine Mortality and Cardiovascular Risk Prediction in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients: A Multicenter Cohort Study. Blood Purif. 2024;53(9-10):779-789. ↗
  12. Pham T, Taberner A, Hickey A, Han JC. Mitochondria-derived peptide MOTS-c restores mitochondrial respiration in type 2 diabetic heart. Front Physiol. 2025;16:1602271. ↗
  13. Parseh S, Shakerian S, Tabandeh MR, Habibi A. An 8-week study on the effects of high and moderate-intensity interval exercises on mitochondrial MOTS-C changes and their relation to metabolic markers in male diabetic sand rats. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2024;211:111656. ↗
  14. Shen Z, Lu P, Jin W, et al. MOTS-c Promotes Glycolysis via AMPK-HIF-1alpha-PFKFB3 Pathway to Ameliorate Cardiopulmonary Bypass-induced Lung Injury. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2025;72(6):615-628. ↗
  15. Li K, Yang T, Chen F, et al. MOTS-c attenuates mitochondrial dysfunction, induces pyroptosis and cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis via an Nrf2-Dependent Mechanism. Free Radic Biol Med. 2025;238:1-14. ↗
  16. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Bulk Drug Substances Used in Compounding Under Section 503A of the FD&C Act. FDA.gov (verified 2026-05-29). Establishes the 503A/503B compounding framework, the bulk-substance eligibility rules, the public nomination process, and the role of the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee (PCAC). ↗
  17. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding That May Present Significant Safety Risks. FDA.gov (verified 2026-05-29). The published list of nominated bulk drug substances FDA identified as raising significant safety risks for 503A compounding. ↗
  18. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. July 23-24, 2026: Meeting of the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee. FDA Advisory Committee Calendar (verified 2026-05-29). Lists BPC-157, KPV, TB-500, and MOTS-c as bulk drug substances being considered for inclusion on the 503A Bulks List; a scheduled discussion, not a decision. ↗