MOTS-c

Published · Researched 2026-09-21

Overview

MOTS-c (Mitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the 12S rRNA type-c) is a 16-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide discovered in 2015 (Lee et al., Cell Metabolism). Encoded in the mitochondrial genome rather than the nuclear genome, it acts as a systemic signaling molecule: activating AMPK, promoting glucose uptake in skeletal muscle, modulating the folate–methionine cycle, and improving metabolic homeostasis in preclinical models (resistance to diet-induced obesity, improved insulin sensitivity). It is the metabolic counterpart to SS-31's structural mitochondrial role, and the two are frequently discussed — and stacked — together.

Social standing

  • Threads: @natashainca (Natasha Wiscombe, verified practitioner, Oct 2024): "7 years into peptides & I STILL have MOTSC on rotation for myself & clients" — listing it first among favorite mitochondria-supporting peptides. @drpaulvin (Apr 2024) named SS-31 and MOTS-c "two of the major anti-aging peptides" a prominent podcast failed to discuss. @drivenonesllc and @peptidecourses have run mitochondrial-peptide educational series including MOTS-c.
  • Forums/community: glp1forum's "MOTS-C is SPICY" thread documents the well-known injection-burn phenomenon ("this one has some bite") plus cloudy-vial quality complaints; rapamycin.news hosts long-running "Mitochondrial peptides" and MOTS-c/rapamycin-stack threads; professionalmuscle discussed MOTS-c's myostatin-lowering mouse data (40% reduction claimed, human translation UNVERIFIED).
  • Video/social: An August 2026 YouTube deep dive ("MOTS-c Deep Dive") reported biohackers pulsing 5–15 mg three times weekly, the failed Cobar CB4211 human analog trial (company bankrupt 2023), and a claimed WADA ban as of 2026; a TikTok fact-check (formblends.com) flagged "infinite gym stamina" claims as unsupported by human trials.
  • Recurring praise: the most "exercise-mimetic" peptide in the longevity conversation; genuine mitochondrial-encoded novelty; pairs conceptually with SS-31.
  • Recurring complaints/failure modes: notorious injection-site burning/stinging; cloudy or crashed vials reported; no human efficacy data; the CB4211 analog's failure tempers expectations.

Social validation

  • Tier 2 — genuine multi-platform discussion. Included on real community use and practitioner endorsement, not just vendor listings.
  • Named sources and what each proves: (1) @natashainca's practitioner rotation post proves real-world ongoing use by a professional peptide practitioner; (2) glp1forum's burn/quality thread proves unfiltered user experience including failure modes; (3) rapamycin.news and professionalmuscle threads prove longevity- and performance-community engagement; (4) the Aug 2026 YouTube deep dive proves the story (CB4211 failure, WADA status, underground protocols) is tracked by peptide media.
  • No Facebook Marketplace listings observed.

Key specs table

Spec Value
Full name Mitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the 12S rRNA type-c
Sequence (canonical) Met-Arg-Trp-Gln-Glu-Met-Gly-Tyr-Ile-Phe-Tyr-Pro-Arg-Lys-Leu-Arg (MRWQEMGYIFPRKLR)
Length 16 amino acids
Molecular weight ~2,174 Da (per SourcePeptides COA data)
Mechanism AMPK activation; mitochondrial-to-nuclear retrograde signaling
Discovery Lee et al., Cell Metabolism, 2015
Form Lyophilized powder, 10 mg vials typical
Note One vendor (Planet Peptide) lists a different sequence/MW 2867.48 — UNVERIFIED discrepancy; canonical 16-aa/2174 Da used here

Pricing

Dated street range (observed 2026-09-21): approximately $33–$60 per 10 mg vial. Anchors: UK Peptide Lab £24.99/10 mg; SourcePeptides $45 ($33.75 new-customer); PeptideX (CA) $35 on sale; Purity Peptides $59.99; Planet Peptide $55; bodyandscience.com $40/10 mg (4.87/5 from 15 reviews). Facebook Marketplace observed range: none — no listings found.

What's included / what's needed

Included: lyophilized vial only. Needed: bacteriostatic water, insulin syringes, refrigeration after reconstitution. Community-noted: dilute generously — concentrated shots are reported to burn ("spicy"); cloudy vials reported by users should not be used (anecdotal quality signal, not lab guidance).

Support reality

Grey-market vendors (SourcePeptides, Purity Peptides, bodyandscience) offer standard e-commerce support with published COAs; quality complaints (cloudy vials, burn intensity) surface in forums rather than being resolved by vendors. No medical or manufacturer support.

Regulatory & safety status

Research chemical. Not FDA-approved and not EMA-approved for any indication. No completed human efficacy trials of MOTS-c itself; the related CB4211 analog trial failed and its sponsor went bankrupt in 2023 (per the Aug 2026 deep dive — reported, not independently verified). An August 2026 peptide-media video claims WADA banned it as a performance enhancer in 2026 — treat as reported/UNVERIFIED pending a primary WADA source. Known tolerability signal: injection-site pain/burning.

Community verdict

MOTS-c is the people's mitochondrial peptide: genuinely used, genuinely discussed, with a real mechanism and real preclinical data — but zero human efficacy proof and a reputation for painful injections. The honest community position: the most interesting metabolic peptide in the grey market, still an experiment, not a therapy.

Images

2 real images on file (img/mots-c-{hero,detail}.jpg). Hero verified 2026-09-21: genuine vendor vial photograph labeled "MOTS-C 10MG — For Research Purposes Only" (Purity Peptides). Detail view from vendor gallery; not individually re-verified. Missing views: profile, rear, top, in-use, scale, box — no genuine traceable photos found; not substituted.

Not medical advice. This is a research summary only; MOTS-c is an unapproved research chemical.

MOTS-c — detail view
detail view Original vendor page URL not recorded in research dossier
MOTS-c — hero view
hero view Original vendor page URL not recorded in research dossier

Named sources

  • @natashainca's practitioner rotation post — proves real-world ongoing use by a professional peptide practitioner
  • glp1forum's burn/quality thread — proves unfiltered user experience including failure modes
  • rapamycin.news and professionalmuscle threads — proves longevity- and performance-community engagement
  • the Aug 2026 YouTube deep dive — proves the story (CB4211 failure, WADA status, underground protocols) is tracked by peptide media. (Aug 2026)
  • @drpaulvin — @drpaulvin (Apr 2024) named SS-31 and MOTS-c "two of the major anti-aging peptides" a prominent podcast failed to discuss. (Apr 2024)
  • @drivenonesllc — @drivenonesllc and @peptidecourses have run mitochondrial-peptide educational series including MOTS-c.
  • @peptidecourses — @drivenonesllc and @peptidecourses have run mitochondrial-peptide educational series including MOTS-c.
  • Threads — @natashainca (Natasha Wiscombe, verified practitioner, Oct 2024): "7 years into peptides & I STILL have MOTSC on rotation for myself & clients" — listing it first among favorite mitochondria-supporting peptides. @drpaulvin (Apr 2024) named SS-31 and MOTS-c… (Oct 2024)
  • Forums/community — glp1forum's "MOTS-C is SPICY" thread documents the well-known injection-burn phenomenon ("this one has some bite") plus cloudy-vial quality complaints; rapamycin.news hosts long-running "Mitochondrial peptides" and MOTS-c/rapamycin-stack threads;…
  • Video/social — An August 2026 YouTube deep dive ("MOTS-c Deep Dive") reported biohackers pulsing 5–15 mg three times weekly, the failed Cobar CB4211 human analog trial (company bankrupt 2023), and a claimed WADA ban as of 2026; a TikTok fact-check (formblends.com) flagged… (August 2026)
  • SourcePeptides — | Molecular weight | ~2,174 Da (per SourcePeptides COA data) |

Source URLs were not recorded for these references.