Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded within mitochondrial DNA that regulates cellular metabolism and stress responses.
What is MOTS-c?
Definition: MOTS-c stands for mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA type-c.
Origin: It is produced naturally by the body from a short sequence of mitochondrial DNA, primarily in metabolically active tissues like skeletal muscle.
Signaling role: Unlike most mitochondrial products that stay inside the organelle, MOTS-c travels to the cell nucleus and systemic circulation during metabolic stress (such as exercise or fasting) to act as a regulator of energy balance.
Key Mechanisms and Effects
AMPK activation: It activates the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, which acts as the cell's master energy-sensing switch.
Metabolic flexibility: Research shows it helps improve glucose uptake and fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscle.
"Exercise mimetic": Because its levels rise during physical exertion and it triggers similar adaptive cellular responses, it is sometimes colloquially called "exercise in a vial" in early research.
MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded within mitochondrial DNA that regulates cellular metabolism and stress responses.
What is MOTS-c?
Definition: MOTS-c stands for mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA type-c.
Origin: It is produced naturally by the body from a short sequence of mitochondrial DNA, primarily in metabolically active tissues like skeletal muscle.
Signaling role: Unlike most mitochondrial products that stay inside the organelle, MOTS-c travels to the cell nucleus and systemic circulation during metabolic stress (such as exercise or fasting) to act as a regulator of energy balance.
Key Mechanisms and Effects
AMPK activation: It activates the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, which acts as the cell's master energy-sensing switch.
Metabolic flexibility: Research shows it helps improve glucose uptake and fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscle.
"Exercise mimetic": Because its levels rise during physical exertion and it triggers similar adaptive cellular responses, it is sometimes colloquially called "exercise in a vial" in early research.