MOTS-c in the US: The Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide

MOTS-c is a 16-residue peptide, sequence MRWQEMGYIFYPRKLR, translated from a short open reading frame within the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene. Lee et al. (2015) identified it and reported that it regulates the folate-methionine cycle and de-novo purine biosynthesis, with downstream AMPK activation.[1]

The mechanistic claim is that it acts as a mitochondrial-to-nuclear signaling molecule, translocating to the nucleus under metabolic stress and influencing nuclear gene expression. That framing, mitochondria signaling to the nucleus rather than only the reverse, is what made the compound scientifically interesting.

Research Material

Sixteen residues near 2175 Da, including two methionines and a tryptophan. The methionine content is worth noting for handling: methionine oxidizes, and oxidized MOTS-c is a distinct species with a mass 16 Da higher per oxidized residue. That is visible on a mass-spectrometry report and invisible on a casual reading of a purity percentage, which is one more reason identity confirmation belongs on the certificate.

Amino Acid Sequence

Chemical Structure

A decade of work, concentrated in metabolic and exercise physiology:

• ·Discovery and metabolic phenotype. Lee et al., Cell Metabolism 2015: MOTS-c regulates the folate-methionine cycle and purine biosynthesis, activates AMPK, and in mouse models reduced diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance.[1]
• ·Exercise induction. Reynolds et al., Nature Communications 2021: MOTS-c is exercise-induced in skeletal muscle and plasma, and in aged mice influenced physical capacity and muscle homeostasis.[2]
• ·Class context. Merry et al. (2020) review mitochondrial-derived peptides in energy metabolism, placing MOTS-c alongside humanin and the SHLPs.[3] Woodhead et al. (2021) review the exercise literature specifically.[4]

There are no completed randomized human efficacy trials of MOTS-c. The literature is cell culture, animal models, and human observational work on endogenous circulating levels, which is a different thing from administering the peptide. There is no established human dose, no human safety record, and no approved indication anywhere.

Observational associations between endogenous MOTS-c levels and metabolic or fitness measures are frequently presented as if they were administration results. They are not, and the distinction matters more here than for most compounds, because the endogenous-level literature is the larger of the two.

On 23 and 24 July 2026 the FDA's Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee reviewed MOTS-c for inclusion on the Section 503A Bulk Drug Substances List, alongside BPC-157, KPV, TB-500, MOTS-c, Epitalon and Semax. FDA staff had recommended against inclusion for every substance under review, citing insufficient characterization, little or no human effectiveness evidence, and inadequate human safety data. The committee voted in favor anyway. The vote was 7 in favor, 5 against, 2 abstentions.

What the vote does not do:

• ·It is non-binding. The committee advises, it does not decide. No final FDA determination has been issued and none of the six peptides appears in 21 CFR 216.23.
• ·It requires a further step. Addition to the 503A Bulks List requires formal action by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, which had not occurred as of publication.
• ·It does not make the compound an FDA-approved drug, and it establishes nothing about efficacy.
• ·It does not legitimize research-chemical retail. A compounding-list decision concerns licensed pharmacists preparing patient-specific prescriptions under Section 503A, which is a different channel entirely from research material sold in vials.

Identity by mass spectrometry against the expected mass near 2175 Da, HPLC purity, and measured content against the labeled amount. For this sequence, pay attention to whether the identity report shows a clean single species: oxidized methionine variants appear as satellite masses, and a report that shows them at high abundance is telling you about the material's handling history.

Every Eppix MOTS-c lot is tested by Janoshik Analytical, published before sale and verifiable on the laboratory's own database. Multiple strengths are stocked; the buttons under the certificate switch between them.

Published Certificate

Select strength

10mg20mg40mg45mg

Batch

MOTS-CA-26A-02

Purity (HPLC)

98.683%

Measured content

11.20 mglabeled 10 mg

Laboratory

Janoshik

Verify on the lab’s own databaseAll published certificates

Domestic fulfillment is by FedEx, typically one to three business days across the United States, free over $200 USD, with card and PayPal checkout and mix-and-match pricing at 5 and 10 vials.

The other peptides in the July 2026 advisory vote are covered at buy BPC-157 in the US, buy TB-500 in the US and buy KPV in the US.

Available at Eppix Labs

MOTS-c

10mg · 20mg · 40mg · 45mg

Every batch tested by an independent laboratory, with the certificate published before sale.

From $39.99 USDIn stock