Longevity
MOTS-c
Metabolic
16
Amino acids
Molecular weight
Peptide
Type
MOTS-c is a mitochondrial-derived peptide that operates as a mitohormone through the Folate-AICAR-AMPK pathway. Under metabolic stress, it translocates to the nucleus to bind stress-response transcription factors (NRF2, ATF1/ATF7), regulating genes involved in metabolism and cellular adaptation.
Top researched benefits
Overview of MOTS-c
Inhibits the folate cycle leading to AMPK activation. Under metabolic stress, translocates to nucleus to bind stress-response transcription factors, regulating genes involved in metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and cellular adaptation.
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
Start 5mg daily, increase to 10-15mg based on goals
Frequency
Daily for metabolic support, or 3x weekly for anti-aging
Cycle Duration
4-12 weeks depending on goals
Storage
Refrigerate reconstituted solution at 2-8°C, use within 14 days
Chemical Makeup
Key benefits
Enhanced insulin sensitivity (~30% improvement)
Improved glucose metabolism and tolerance
AMPK pathway activation
Mitochondrial function optimization
Exercise performance enhancement (12-15% improvement)
Potential lifespan extension (6.4% median increase in mice)
Community interest
This peptide is still gaining traction in the community.
Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide | Metabolic Regulator
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
2174.6DaChain Length
16Amino AcidsType
PeptideMOTS-c Protocols
Subcutaneous injection is the primary route. Optimal administration is morning before exercise. AMPK activation occurs within 30 minutes.
| Goal | Dosage | Frequency | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metabolic health | 5 | 1 week range | SubQ |
| Anti-aging protocol | 15 | 3 week range | SubQ |
| Exercise performance | 10 | — | SubQ |
| Conservative start | 5 | 1 week range | SubQ |
Reconstitution Instructions
Materials needed:
Steps to reconstitute
- Allow vial to reach room temperature (15-20 minutes)
- Calculate required bacteriostatic water volume
- Draw BAC water into insulin syringe
- Inject slowly down vial side (not directly onto powder)
- Gently swirl until dissolved (never shake vigorously)
- Store at 2-8°C; use within 14 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
- Start 5mg daily, increase to 10-15mg based on goals
- Dosing Frequency
- Daily for metabolic support, or 3x weekly for anti-aging
- Cycle Duration
- 4-12 weeks depending on goals
- Storage
- Refrigerate reconstituted solution at 2-8°C, use within 14 days
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 well studied compound
MOTS-c
MOTS-c is a well studied 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.