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MOTS‑c

Lab and animal studies

Weight and metabolism
Written by The Peptideguiden editors. Sources checked 25 October 2026. Last updated 29 October 2026.

A runner backlit on a mountain trail
Research areaExercise and metabolism
Contents
  1. In short
  2. What is MOTS-c?
  3. What does the research say about MOTS-c?
  4. Questions and answers
  5. Norwegian vendor feedback
  6. Sources (9)

In short

  • MOTS-c is a small peptide the body makes itself. Its recipe sits in the mitochondria’s own DNA.
  • In mice, MOTS-c countered insulin resistance and weight gain, and old mice became fitter.
  • The body makes more MOTS-c during exercise. Studies in humans have started, including a phase 2 study from 2026.
  • Researchers are now looking at MOTS-c as a possible help in prediabetes.

Fact box

Type
Research compound
Research
Lab and animal studies
Sequence
Met-Arg-Trp-Gln-Glu-Met-Gly-Tyr-Ile-Phe-Tyr-Pro-Arg-Lys-Leu-Arg
Other names
mitochondrial ORF of the 12S rRNA type-c, mitochondrial peptide

What is MOTS-c?

MOTS-c is a peptide of 16 amino acids that the body makes in the mitochondria, the power plants of our cells. It works as a signal for metabolism.

Most proteins are made from recipes in the cell nucleus. MOTS-c is special because its recipe sits in the mitochondria’s own DNA. The peptide was first described in 2015, and it seems to act mainly on the muscles.[1]

MOTS-c is found naturally in the blood, and the level falls with age.[2] A study of 85 adults did not find lower levels in people with obesity than in people of normal weight.[3]

MOTS-c is still at the research stage and is not yet used as a treatment.[2]

The amino acid sequence in the fact box comes from PubChem.[4]

What does the research say about MOTS-c?

The results from mice are promising, both for metabolism and for fitness. The first studies in humans have started, and the next step is to see whether the results carry over to people.

What does the research say about MOTS-c?
UseStudiesResearch
Insulin sensitivity and weight1 study · Animal study · AnimalsLab and animal studies
Fitness and ageing1 study · Animal study · AnimalsLab and animal studies

RCT means randomised controlled trial. How to read a study

Insulin sensitivity and weight

In the mouse study that first described MOTS-c, treatment prevented the insulin resistance that came with age or a high-fat diet. It also countered weight gain in mice on a high-fat diet.[1]

Studies in humans have just begun. A version of MOTS-c has been tested in a phase 1 study with 88 participants. It is registered as completed, and we have not found published results yet.[5] A phase 2 study with 120 participants with prediabetes started in 2026.[6]

Fitness and ageing

MOTS-c improved physical performance in young, middle-aged and old mice. In humans, the body’s own production of MOTS-c rises during exercise.[7]

Questions and answers about MOTS-c

Is MOTS-c exercise in a pill?

In mice, MOTS-c improved fitness. Studies in humans have started, and they will show whether the same happens in people.

Does MOTS-c slow ageing?

Old mice became fitter with MOTS-c, and the level of MOTS-c in the blood falls with age. Ageing in humans has not been studied yet.

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Sources

  1. [1]

    Lee C, Zeng J, Drew BG, et al. The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance. Cell Metab. 2015.

    PMID 25738459DOIAnimal study

  2. [2]

    Zheng Y, Wei Z, Wang T. MOTS-c: A promising mitochondrial-derived peptide for therapeutic exploitation. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023.

    PMID 36761202DOIReview

  3. [3]

    Ozkaya DY, Haymana C, et al. MOTS-C levels in individuals with and without obesity and its association with inflammation, insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2025.

    PMID 41004666DOIObservational study · n = 85

  4. [4]

    MOTS-c (CID 146675088). PubChem, National Library of Medicine. 2026.

    PubChem, National Library of MedicineOther

  5. [5]

    A Phase 1a/1b Study of CB4211 in Healthy Non-obese Subjects and Subjects With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NCT03998514). ClinicalTrials.gov. 2018.

    ClinicalTrials.govRCT · n = 88 · Funding or ties: CohBar.

  6. [6]

    MOTS-c for Improving Insulin Sensitivity in Adults With Prediabetes and Overweight/Obesity (NCT07505745). ClinicalTrials.gov. 2026.

    ClinicalTrials.govRCT · n = 120

  7. [7]

    Reynolds JC, Lai RW, Woodhead JST, et al. MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis. Nat Commun. 2021.

    PMID 33473109DOIAnimal study · Funding or ties: CohBar.

  8. [8]

    The 2026 Prohibited List. International Standard. World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). 2026.

    World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)Official source

  9. [9]

    Seks peptider på dopinglisten av hensyn til folkehelsen. Direktoratet for medisinske produkter (DMP). 2026.

    Direktoratet for medisinske produkter (DMP)Official source

Change log

  • 2026-10-29 English version published, written from the Norwegian page. All sources are checked against PubMed, DOI or the source website.