Longevity
MOTS-c
Metabolic
16
Amino acids
Molecular weight
Peptide
Type
MOTS-c is a 16-amino acid peptide encoded by the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene, making it one of the few known mitochondria-derived peptides (MDPs). It functions as a mitochondrial stress hormone that activates AMPK and regulates energy metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and cellular stress adaptation. Researchers and longevity-focused clinicians study it for its potential to combat age-related metabolic decline, improve glucose regulation, and enhance physical capacity.
Top researched benefits
Overview of MOTS-c
MOTS-c activates the Folate-AICAR-AMPK pathway, inhibiting the folate cycle in mitochondria and causing AICAR accumulation, which stimulates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) to drive glucose uptake, fatty acid oxidation, and metabolic homeostasis. Under stress conditions, MOTS-c translocates from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, where it binds promoter regions containing antioxidant response elements (ARE) and interacts with transcription factors NRF2 and ATF1/ATF7 to regulate stress-adaptation gene expression.
metabolic
- Improves insulin sensitivity by ~30% in animal studies through AMPK activation.
- Restores metabolic function via insulin receptor sensitization.
- Promotes fatty acid oxidation despite identical caloric intake.
antiaging
- Reverses age-dependent physical decline in animal models.
- Enhances mitochondrial function via PGC-1α activation.
- 6.4% median lifespan extension observed in mice studies.
exercise performance
- 12-15% improvement in running performance from single dose in studies.
- Exercise induced 11.9-fold increase in skeletal muscle MOTS-c.
- Supports muscle recovery and adaptation to exercise.
Typical Dose
5mg per injection
Frequency
2–3 times per week
Cycle Duration
2–4 weeks on, 2–4 weeks off
Storage
Lyophilized: store below -18°C in desiccated conditions. Reconstituted: 2–8°C for 2–7 days, or below -18°C for long-term; avoid freeze-thaw cycles.
Chemical Makeup
Key benefits
Enhances insulin sensitivity and GLUT4 translocation in skeletal muscle, improving glucose uptake independent of insulin spikes
Activates AMPK-driven fatty acid beta-oxidation, supporting fat metabolism and reduction of adiposity in high-fat diet models
Activates brown adipose tissue (BAT) and promotes white fat browning, enhancing thermogenesis and cold adaptation
Improves physical performance in aged subjects — including endurance, running capacity, and motor coordination — by counteracting age-related mitochondrial decline
Community interest
This peptide is still gaining traction in the community.
Mitochondrial Peptide | Metabolic Health & Longevity
This overview is informational and based on aggregated descriptions from studies and user reports.
Was it helpful?YesNoMOTS-c Molecular Information
View the scientifc details of MOTS-c.
16
Amino Acids
MOTS-c
Met
Met
Position 1
Arg
Arg
Position 2
Trp
Trp
Position 3
Gln
Gln
Position 4
Glu
Glu
Position 5
Met
Met
Position 6
Gly
Gly
Position 7
Tyr
Tyr
Position 8
Ile
Ile
Position 9
Phe
Phe
Position 10
Tyr
Tyr
Position 11
Pro
Pro
Position 12
Arg
Arg
Position 13
Lys
Lys
Position 14
Leu
Leu
Position 15
Arg
Arg
Position 16
Molecular Weight
2174.59DaChain Length
16Amino AcidsType
PeptideMOTS-c Protocols
Subcutaneous injection is the primary and most established delivery route for MOTS-c. Injections are typically administered into the abdomen, either in the morning on an empty stomach or 30–60 minutes before exercise, to align with MOTS-c's AMPK-driven metabolic signaling window.
| Goal | Dosage | Frequency | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metabolic Enhancement / Fat Loss | 5 | 3 week range | SubQ abdomen |
| Insulin Sensitivity Improvement | 5 | 2 week range | SubQ abdomen |
| Endurance and Mitochondrial Function | 10 | 3 week range | SubQ abdomen |
| Anti-Aging / Longevity Protocol | 5 | 1 week range | SubQ abdomen |
| Pulsed Weekly Cycle (Low Frequency Maintenance) | 5 | 1 week range | SubQ abdomen |
| Muscle Preservation | 1 | 1 day range | SubQ abdomen |
Reconstitution Instructions
Materials needed:
Steps to reconstitute
- Remove the MOTS-c vial and bacteriostatic water from the refrigerator and allow both to reach room temperature.
- Wipe the rubber stopper of both the MOTS-c vial and bacteriostatic water vial with an alcohol swab and allow to air dry.
- Draw the required volume of bacteriostatic water into a 3 mL syringe (typically 2–3 mL for a 10 mg vial).
- Insert the syringe needle into the MOTS-c vial and slowly inject the bacteriostatic water along the inner side wall of the vial — never aim the stream directly onto the powder.
- Gently swirl the vial in a circular motion until the powder is fully dissolved — do not shake or vortex the vial.
- Draw the calculated dose into an insulin syringe (e.g., 25 units for a 5 mg dose from a 10 mg/2 mL reconstituted vial).
- Pinch a small fold of abdominal skin and insert the needle at a 45-degree angle subcutaneously.
- Inject slowly, withdraw the needle, and apply gentle pressure with a clean alcohol swab.
- Rotate injection sites across different abdominal quadrants with each dose to minimize tissue irritation.
- Store the reconstituted vial in the refrigerator; use within 28 days.
MOTS-c Cycle
The MOTS-c Cycle section explains how long a typical cycle lasts and what to expect during each phase. Over time, your body can become less responsive with continuous use.
Taking breaks between cycles may help maintain effectiveness and support better overall results.
- Week 1-2
- AMPK pathway activation; initial glucose tolerance improvements
- Week 2-4
- Enhanced exercise capacity; improved insulin sensitivity
- Week 4-8
- Sustained metabolic benefits; potential body composition changes
- Week 8-12
- Maximum mitochondrial function enhancement; metabolic flexibility
Dosing tools
MOTS-c Peptide Dosage Calculator
Calculate peptide doses with our visual syringe guide.
mg
Enter the total amount of peptide in the vial in milligrams (as stated on the label).
The dose you want to inject per administration, in mcg or mg.
1,000 mcg = 1 mg
1 mL
2 mL
3 mL
5 mL
Custom
Volume of bacteriostatic water you add to reconstitute the powder. Use BAC water for preservation.
Injection Results
Based on your vial and dilution inputs.
MOTS-c
SINGLE COMPOUNDVolume per injection
0.05
mL
Concentration
10.00
mg/mL
Doses per vial
20
doses
Total injections per vial
20 injections
How it works
Based on a 10 mg MOTS-c vial diluted with 1 mL of bacteriostatic water, each 500 mcg injection equals 0.05 mL.
1mL / 100 units
5 units
0.050 mL
Reference Guide
Dosing Cycle
- Peptide
- MOTS-c
- Dosing
- 5mg per injection
- Dosing Frequency
- 2–3 times per week
- Cycle Duration
- 2–4 weeks on, 2–4 weeks off
- Storage
- Lyophilized: store below -18°C in desiccated conditions. Reconstituted: 2–8°C for 2–7 days, or below -18°C for long-term; avoid freeze-thaw cycles.
Note: Triple agonist; microdose for fewer side effects
Reconstitution Tips
- Use bacteriostatic water (BAC) — contains 0.9% benzyl alcohol for preservation
- Inject water slowly — aim down the vial wall, not directly onto powder
- Never shake — gently swirl or roll the vial until dissolved
- Store properly — refrigerate at 2-8°C after reconstitution
- Use within 28 days — most reconstituted peptides remain stable for about 4 weeks
- Keep sterile — always clean vial tops with alcohol before drawing
Side effects
Contraindications
Limited long-term human safety data
Pregnancy or breastfeeding
WADA prohibited substance (banned for athletic competition)
Stop signs
Severe allergic reactions or anaphylaxis
Recurrent hypoglycemia (<50 mg/dL)
Persistent severe injection site reactions
Unexplained weight loss >10% of baseline
Bad signs
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Frequently asked questions
What is a peptide dosage calculator?
A peptide dosage calculator is a free tool that converts your vial size, bacteriostatic water volume, and target dose into an exact syringe draw volume. Instead of doing the reconstitution math by hand, you enter three inputs and instantly get the concentration of your solution and how many milliliters or syringeunits to draw. This calculator works for single peptide compounds and multi-peptide blends.
How do I calculate peptide dosage from a vial?
To calculate your peptide dose, divide the total peptide content of your vial in micrograms by the volume of bacteriostatic water you added in milliliters. This gives you your solution concentration in mcg/mL. Then divide your target dose by that concentration to get your draw volume. For example, a 5mg (5,000 mcg) vial reconstituted with 2mL of BAC water gives a concentration of 2,500 mcg/mL. A 250 mcg dose would require drawing 0.1mL. This calculator automates all of those steps instantly.
How much Bacteriostatic water should I add to a peptide vial?
Most people add 2mL to 3mL of bacteriostatic water per vial, but the right amount depends on the dose you want to draw and the syringe size you are using. Adding 1mL to a 5mg vial gives you a concentration of 5,000 mcg/mL, making each dose very small in volume. Adding 2mL gives you 2,500 mcg/mL, which is easier to measure on a standard insulin syringe. A general guideline is to choose a volume that puts your typical dose somewhere between 10 and 30 units on a U-100 syringe. Use the calculator above to test different water volumes and find what works for your dose.
How are peptides different from proteins?
Both are made of amino acids, but peptides are much smaller than proteins. Because of their tiny size, peptides can act like tiny messengers in the body, sending specific signals to your cells to tell them exactly what to do.
MOTS-cResearch References
MOTS-c is a phase 1 compound
MOTS-c
MOTS-c is a phase 1 compound
Obesity and Insulin Sensitivity Study - Lee et al.
Prevented obesity, improved insulin sensitivity by ~30% in high-fat diet mice.
n.d.
Physical Performance Across Age Groups - Reynolds et al.
Enhanced physical performance across age groups; exercise induced 11.9-fold increase in skeletal muscle MOTS-c.
n.d.
Nuclear Translocation Study - Kim et al.
Nuclear translocation within 30 minutes under metabolic stress.
n.d.
Running Performance Study - Hyatt et al.
Single dose improved running time 12%, distance 15%.
n.d.
Gestational Diabetes Study - Yin et al.
Alleviated hyperglycemia in gestational diabetes model.
n.d.
Calculate peptide dosages
Learning how to calculate a peptide dose? Use our beginner-friendly peptide dosage, blend, and accumulation calculators. Enter vial size, reconstitution volume, and target dose to get exact draw volumes instantly. No guesswork, just clear guidance that helps prevent common mistakes.
