What MOTS-c is

MOTS-c belongs to the mitochondrial-longevity family — compounds that target either NAD⁺ metabolism, mitochondrial-derived peptide (MDP) signaling, or inner-mitochondrial-membrane function directly. The class shares a common rationale: cellular aging biology is inseparable from mitochondrial function, and interventions that restore mitochondrial output have downstream effects across nearly every age-associated pathway.

MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide encoded within the 12S rRNA region of mitochondrial DNA — an unusual "peptide from the mitochondrial genome" identified by Dr. Pinchas Cohen and colleagues. It acts as a systemic metabolic regulator, activating AMPK and improving insulin sensitivity in preclinical models.

Mechanism of action

• NAD⁺ — direct substrate for sirtuins (SIRT1-7), PARPs, and CD38. Increasing cellular NAD⁺ pools boosts sirtuin-mediated deacetylation of longevity-relevant transcription factors and enhances DNA-damage repair capacity.
• MOTS-c — activates AMPK, upregulates GLUT4 translocation, improves insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, and increases oxidative phosphorylation efficiency in preclinical muscle and adipose models.
• SS-31 — cardiolipin binding preserves ETC complex I/III/IV supercomplex assembly and reduces electron leakage that produces mitochondrial ROS.
• Epithalon — proposed telomerase-activator; published Russian data report Peptide-induced increase in telomere length in senescent cell culture.

Published research findings

• NAD⁺ has a large clinical literature spanning metabolic disease, neurodegeneration, and post-COVID fatigue (Rejuvenate trial, Metrodora, etc.).
• MOTS-c has published preclinical data showing prevention of diet-induced obesity, improved insulin sensitivity, and enhanced exercise capacity (Reynolds et al., Nature Communications).
• SS-31 has been in multiple Phase 2/3 human trials for primary mitochondrial myopathy (Bendavia program, later reformulated as elamipretide).
• Epithalon has 30+ years of published Russian gerontology data (Prof. Anisimov group).

Routes reported in research

• Subcutaneous injection for MOTS-c, SS-31, and Epithalon.
• Intravenous or subcutaneous for NAD⁺; nasal-spray formulations exist in research use.

Dosing ranges reported in the literature

• NAD⁺: subcutaneous 100–500 mg per session, 3–5 sessions per week; IV protocols 250–1000 mg per session.
• MOTS-c: 5–10 mg subcutaneous, 2–3 times per week in reported research protocols.
• SS-31: 20–40 mg subcutaneous daily in the Bendavia clinical program.
• Epithalon: 5–10 mg subcutaneous daily, typically for 10–20 day cycles.

Stacking discussed in the literature

• NAD⁺ + MOTS-c — the canonical mitochondrial-support pairing.
• SS-31 + NAD⁺ + Urolithin A — a broader mitochondrial-quality protocol.
• Epithalon + GHK-Cu — combined longevity-signaling stack.

Standard laboratory handling

Every research vial from PX1 is a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder sealed under vacuum in a Type-I borosilicate vial with a butyl-rubber stopper and aluminum crimp seal. Correct handling preserves potency and prevents peptide-bond hydrolysis that degrades the active molecule.

• Storage before reconstitution: 2–8 °C refrigerator is ideal; freezer (−20 °C) for storage beyond six months. Short excursions to room temperature during shipping do not compromise integrity — the compound is stable in its solid state.
• Reconstitution solvent: bacteriostatic water for injection (0.9% benzyl alcohol) is standard for research protocols that require multiple sampling events from the same vial. Sterile water is acceptable for single-use protocols.
• Reconstitution technique: inject the diluent slowly against the vial wall — never directly onto the lyophilized cake. Swirl gently; do not shake. Shaking introduces air, denatures peptide secondary structure, and can create insoluble aggregates.
• Post-reconstitution storage: 2–8 °C refrigerated, typically stable 21–30 days depending on the peptide. Freezing a reconstituted solution repeatedly is not recommended — freeze/thaw cycles are the single biggest driver of loss-of-potency in the research literature.
• Concentration math: volume of diluent (mL) = peptide mass (mg) ÷ desired concentration (mg/mL). Example: 10 mg vial + 2 mL bacteriostatic water = 5 mg/mL.

Purity, identity and COA verification

The single most important due-diligence step when sourcing MOTS-c for research is reviewing the lot-specific Certificate of Analysis (COA). A credible COA contains:

1. HPLC purity value with chromatogram — target ≥ 98% for injectable-grade research peptides; ≥ 99% for the newest generation of GLP/incretin compounds. A single well-defined main peak with baseline separation from impurities is what you are looking for.
2. Identity confirmation by mass spectrometry — LC-MS or MALDI-TOF confirming the observed molecular weight matches the theoretical mass to within instrument tolerance.
3. Endotoxin (LAL / kinetic-chromogenic) result — expressed in EU/mg; USP guidance for parenteral products is well below 5 EU/kg body-weight equivalent, and reputable suppliers report < 10 EU/mg on the COA.
4. Sterility result — USP <71> membrane filtration or direct inoculation, both bacterial and fungal.
5. Karl Fischer moisture — target < 5% residual water for a properly lyophilized cake.
6. Residual-solvent screen — DMF, TFA, DCM, acetonitrile below ICH Q3C thresholds.

PX1 publishes lot-specific COAs at /purity-reports. If you have received a shipment and want to verify the exact lot documentation for MOTS-c, cross-reference the lot number on the vial label to the COA PDF.

Why researchers choose PX1 for MOTS-c

• 100% U.S. synthesis, lyophilization, and fill/finish. No repackaged imports. Every step from raw amino acid to sealed vial happens under one U.S. GMP-compliant roof.
• Third-party ISO-17025 testing on every lot. Purity, identity, endotoxin, sterility, moisture, and residual-solvent testing performed by an independent analytical laboratory whose data appears on the shipped COA.
• Chain-of-custody documentation from raw material through final QC — the same documentation package a clinical CDMO would provide.
• Same-day shipping on in-stock catalog items ordered before 3 p.m. ET, with insulated packaging and cold-pack where appropriate.

Common researcher questions

Q: How do I know the vial contents match the label? Compare the lot number on the vial to the lot number on the COA. The COA lists HPLC purity, identity by mass-spec, and endotoxin. If any of the three is missing or the lot doesn't match, don't proceed.

Q: Can I use bacteriostatic water past its printed expiration? Bacteriostatic water carries a manufacturer-assigned expiration for the sealed vial. Once punctured, USP guidance limits multi-dose vials to 28 days at 2–8 °C. Beyond 28 days, discard.

Q: Is refrigeration required during shipping? For most lyophilized peptides, no — the solid form is stable at ambient temperature for weeks. Some compounds (IGF-1 LR3, certain GH-releasing peptides) benefit from cold-chain shipping. PX1 uses insulated packaging for temperature-sensitive lines.

Q: What if the reconstituted solution is cloudy? Cloudiness indicates aggregation or precipitation and the solution should not be used. Common causes: over-vigorous shaking, incompatible diluent, or a vial that has passed its stability window.

Research use disclaimer

MOTS-c is supplied to licensed research professionals for in vitro and in vivo laboratory research only. Products are not intended for human consumption, veterinary use, diagnostic use, therapeutic use, or as a food additive or cosmetic. Nothing on this page constitutes medical advice. Consult the primary literature — clinical-trial registrations, peer-reviewed publications — before designing any protocol. Compounds discussed here are investigational; several have not received FDA approval for any indication.

Additional PX1 references

• Complete research library
• Lot-specific purity reports
• Product catalog
• Manufacturing & QC standards