MOTS-c 40mg

MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded in the mitochondrial genome, within the 12S ribosomal RNA gene. It was one of the first mitochondrial-derived peptides found to signal to the rest of the cell. Contexx Research supplies MOTS-c in Canada as a 40 mg lyophilized research peptide with a COA on the page.

MOTS-c specifications

Research overview

MOTS-c was identified in 2015 by Lee and colleagues at the University of Southern California, who searched the mitochondrial genome for short open reading frames. In cultured cells and mice, they showed that it acts on the folate–methionine cycle and AMPK signalling, with downstream effects on cellular metabolism [1].

A 2018 follow-up study in Cell Metabolism found that MOTS-c moves into the nucleus during metabolic stress and regulates nuclear gene expression together with stress-responsive transcription factors such as NRF2. This provided direct evidence of mitochondria-to-nucleus peptide signalling [2].

A 2024 study in iScience identified casein kinase 2 (CK2) as a direct binding partner of MOTS-c in skeletal-muscle models, which points to a specific molecular target [3]. In the laboratory, MOTS-c is used in mitochondrial-signalling studies, AMPK and CK2 assays, and nuclear-translocation imaging experiments.

Selected references

1. Lee C et al. Cell Metab. 2015. PubMed 25738459
2. Kim KH et al. Cell Metab. 2018. PubMed 29983246
3. Kumagai H et al. iScience. 2024. PubMed 39559755

Storage and handling

MOTS-c ships as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder. Dry material is far more stable than material in solution, so keep it in its dry, sealed state until you need it.

• Store unopened vials of MOTS-c at −20 °C, dry and protected from light. Let the vial reach room temperature before opening to limit condensation.
• Prepare stock solutions in a solvent suited to your assay, label them with concentration and date, and keep them at 2–8 °C for short-term use.
• For longer storage of solutions, divide them into single-use aliquots and freeze them; avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles.
• Handle with gloves and eye protection, following your laboratory’s standard chemical-hygiene practice.

See our guide to storing lyophilized peptides in the lab for more detail.

Quality and testing

A Certificate of Analysis for MOTS-c is available through the Check COA button on this page. Review it for the tested identity and purity of the current lot.

We don’t list purity figures in this description; the lot COA is the reference for identity and purity. Researchers should confirm identity and concentration with their own analytical methods where their protocol requires it.

Frequently asked questions

What’s included when I order MOTS-c 40 mg?

One sealed vial containing 40 mg of MOTS-c as a lyophilized powder. Reconstitution solution is sold separately.

Does MOTS-c come with a Certificate of Analysis (COA)?

Yes. The lot COA is available through the Check COA button on this page.

How fast is shipping in Canada?

Orders are processed Monday to Friday, and most orders ship within 24 hours from Mississauga, Ontario, in secure, tamper-evident packaging. Orders placed on Friday afternoon (after the 12:00 PM ET cut-off) ship on Monday, when Canada Post resumes pickup, or on the next business day if Monday is a statutory holiday. Once your order ships, delivery typically takes 1–3 business days in Ontario and Quebec and 2–6 business days in the rest of Canada, and a tracking number is emailed to you. Orders over $250 CAD shipped within Canada qualify for free standard shipping. See our Shipping Policy for details.

How should MOTS-c be stored?

Store unopened vials at −20 °C, dry and protected from light. After reconstitution, keep solutions at 2–8 °C for short-term use, or freeze single-use aliquots and avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles.

What does “research use only” mean?

“Research use only” means MOTS-c is sold only as a reference material for in-vitro laboratory and analytical research by qualified professionals. It is not for use in humans or animals, not for diagnostic use, and not a drug, natural health product, food, supplement or cosmetic.

Research use only

MOTS-c is sold by Contexx Research Inc. strictly as a reference material for in-vitro laboratory research and analytical use by qualified professionals. It is not a drug, natural health product, food, dietary supplement or cosmetic. It is not intended for use in humans or animals, for diagnostic purposes, or for ingestion or any other form of administration to a living organism. Nothing on this page describes or implies any effect in humans or animals. Purchasers are responsible for handling, storage and disposal in line with applicable laws and their institution’s policies. By ordering, you confirm that you are purchasing for legitimate laboratory research and agree to our Terms and Conditions.