MOTS-c Peptide

MOTS-c (mitochondrial open-reading-frame of the 12S rRNA-c) peptide is a novel mitochondria-derived peptide. It is a short peptide composed of 16 amino acids, expressed in tissues and plasma, indicating a cell-specific and hormonal role.⁽¹⁾ With the potential to work both as a cell-specific compound and as a hormone, this peptide possibly acts by stimulating the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway. Only two mitochondrial-derived peptides (MDPs) have been studied, Humanin and MOTS-c. When metabolic stress occurs in the organism, the peptide is believed to translocate to the cellular nuclei and alter the gene expression. MOTS-c peptide may also be released extracellularly and is known as “mitochondrial hormone” or simply as “mitokine.” ⁽²⁾⁽³⁾