MOTS-C

What it is:

MOTS-c (Mitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the Twelve S rRNA-c) is a naturally occurring mitochondrial-derived peptide consisting of 16 amino acids encoded within the 12S ribosomal RNA gene of the mitochondrial genome. It represents a relatively recently characterized class of mitochondrial-derived peptides (MDPs) that function as retrograde signaling molecules communicating between mitochondria and the nucleus. Its discovery added a new dimension to mitochondrial biology research by demonstrating that the mitochondrial genome encodes bioactive signaling peptides beyond its traditionally recognized role in oxidative phosphorylation and energy metabolism. It is used as a research tool in mitochondrial biology, metabolic signaling research, and cellular stress response studies.