> ## Site index > Full index of Peptides.build at https://peptides.build/llms.txt. Use it to discover every page. # What Is MOTS-c? Research, Form, Status MOTS-c explained: the peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA, what animal and human exercise-sample research describes, how it is prescribed, and its WADA status. URL: https://peptides.build/learn/what-is-mots-c/ Guide · Cognitive # What is MOTS-c? Published October 12, 2026 · Educational, not medical advice ## Short answer MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded in the mitochondrial genome, in the 12S ribosomal RNA region. It has been studied in animal models of metabolism, and one study found exercise raised endogenous MOTS-c in human muscle and plasma samples. In the US it is available only as a compounded medication prescribed by a licensed provider; compounded medications are not FDA-approved, and MOTS-c is not FDA-approved for any use. WADA prohibits it at all times. - [Where does MOTS-c come from?](#origin) - [What has MOTS-c been studied for?](#research) - [How is MOTS-c prescribed?](#prescribed) - [Is MOTS-c FDA-approved or allowed in sport?](#status) - [How are MOTS-c doses measured?](#units) - [FAQ](#faq) - [References](#references)
MOTS-c quick facts
TypeMitochondrial-derived peptide, 16 amino acids
OriginEncoded in the mitochondrial 12S rRNA region; produced synthetically for prescription
Also known asMOTS-c peptide, mitochondrial ORF of the 12S rRNA type-c
Evidence to dateAnimal models and human exercise-sample studies; no completed human efficacy trials
Form in this catalogSubcutaneous injection, supplied already reconstituted
Regulatory statusCompounded medication; not FDA-approved for any use
Anti-dopingProhibited at all times (WADA S4, metabolic modulators, AMPK activator)
Evidence snapshot**What kind of research is cited for MOTS-c?**2 cited sources: 2 animal and lab studies. Counts describe study type, not strength of result. Sources cited for MOTS-c, by study type | Study type | Sources | | --- | --- | | Human clinical trials | 0 | | Other human studies | 0 | | Animal and lab studies | 2 | | Review articles | 0 | ## Where does MOTS-c come from? MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide whose instructions sit in mitochondrial DNA rather than in the chromosomes of the cell nucleus. The gene is a short open reading frame inside the region that codes for the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA, which is where the name comes from: mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA, type c. Most peptides in this catalog are fragments or analogs of nuclear-encoded proteins; MOTS-c is the one that comes from the cell's second genome. MOTS-c was described in a 2015 Cell Metabolism paper as a mitochondrial-derived peptide, one of a small family of signaling peptides encoded by mitochondrial DNA. The prescribed form is synthetic, assembled by a compounding pharmacy rather than extracted from tissue, and that synthetic status is what puts it in the same regulatory position as every other compounded peptide. ## What has MOTS-c been studied for? MOTS-c research cited here is two papers. The 2015 Cell Metabolism study, an animal and cell study, examined the peptide's role in metabolic homeostasis in mice, including models of obesity and insulin resistance. The 2021 Nature Communications study, an animal study with human exercise samples, examined MOTS-c as an exercise-induced regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis in mice, and measured endogenous MOTS-c in human muscle and plasma samples, finding that exercise raised it. MOTS-c animal and cell work describes signaling through AMPK, an energy-sensing enzyme, which is also the basis of its anti-doping classification. What the literature does not contain is a completed human efficacy trial: the human data is samples from exercising volunteers, which shows the body makes more of its own MOTS-c with exercise, not what injecting it does to a person. Any claim about weight, blood sugar or performance in people goes beyond the published evidence. What the published research covers | Area | Type of evidence | What the studies describe | | --- | --- | --- | | Metabolism | Animal and cell study (mice), 2015 | Metabolic homeostasis; obesity and insulin resistance models | | Exercise and muscle | Animal study with human exercise samples, 2021 | Age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis in mice; exercise raised endogenous MOTS-c in human samples | | Mechanism | Animal and cell work | AMPK-related energy signaling | | Humans | No completed efficacy trials | Sample measurements only; no trial of administered MOTS-c among the studies cited here | Prescribed, pre-mixed ## Get MOTS-c prescribed, pre-mixed US-supervised · all 50 states [MOTS-c](https://peptides.build/protocols/mots-c/)Covered by the HHS policy **$158**/mo*$949 billed every 6 months* Pay over time at checkout![Klarna](/media/payments/klarna.png)![Afterpay](/media/payments/afterpay.png)![Affirm](/media/payments/affirm.png) Prescription required. Your provider decides if it is appropriate. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. ## How is MOTS-c prescribed? MOTS-c is prescribed in the US as a compounded medication: an online intake, a licensed provider's review, a prescription for one patient, and preparation by a licensed 503A pharmacy. Through Peptides.build it is a single-compound protocol, prescribed as a subcutaneous injection that ships already reconstituted with the concentration printed on the label, so no mixing is involved. It does not appear inside any stack in this catalog. MOTS-c is listed under the Cognitive goal on this site, with the Semax / Selank protocol and DSIP, because this site groups it with the parts of performance that happen away from training: energy metabolism rather than tendon repair or lean mass. The provider decides whether it fits your history, sets the protocol and follows it over time; dosing is not published here. ## Is MOTS-c FDA-approved or allowed in sport? MOTS-c is not FDA-approved for any use. The compounded form is prepared by a 503A pharmacy for a specific patient, and compounded medications are not FDA-approved. MOTS-c is prohibited in sport at all times. The World Anti-Doping Agency lists it under S4, metabolic modulators, as an AMPK activator, and that applies both in and out of competition. Of the peptides in this site's Cognitive goal it is the only one named on the list, so drug-tested athletes should treat it as off-limits and confirm with their governing body. ## How are MOTS-c doses measured? MOTS-c prescriptions are written in milligrams, not micrograms, which sets it apart from most peptides in this catalog and means the volume drawn is larger for a given label strength. The pharmacy label states the concentration in mg/mL, and the beyond-use date on the same label caps how many doses a vial really holds. The free MOTS-c calculator on this site converts a prescribed dose in milligrams and a label strength into units on a U-100 insulin syringe; it performs arithmetic only and does not recommend a dose. Prescription, not research grade ## Prescribed MOTS-c vs research peptides: what is different? Prescribed MOTS-c is not a research chemical. It is a prescription medication: a licensed US provider reviews your intake first, and a licensed 503A pharmacy compounds it for you by name. Vials sold online as “research use only” skip both steps. What you pay for here is that review, a pharmacy you can name, and a label that says what is in the vial. A research seller’s certificate of analysis is a document the seller controls: it chooses the lab and the sample, and a PDF can be reused, edited or re-dated. No regulator checks it. Prescribed MOTS-c compared with research-use-only peptides | Point | Prescribed through Peptides.build | Research use only | | --- | --- | --- | | Access | Online intake reviewed by a licensed US provider; prescribed only when appropriate. | No prescription and no clinical review of whether it suits you. | | How it's labeled | A prescription medication compounded for you by name. | Commonly sold labeled “research use only, not for human consumption.” | | Who prepares it | A licensed 503A US compounding pharmacy under state and federal oversight. | Unregulated suppliers, often with no verifiable chain of custody. | | Testing | Third-party tested. | Certificates of analysis are self-reported when provided at all. | | Purity and identity | Prepared to a prescription for a specific patient. | Purity, strength, and even identity are unverified by any independent party. | This compares two care models, not two products. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved, and we do not claim otherwise. What a prescription adds is a licensed provider deciding whether a protocol is appropriate for you and a licensed pharmacy preparing it. [Read the full guide to research vs prescription peptides](https://peptides.build/learn/research-peptides-vs-prescription-peptides/). Common questions ## MOTS-c FAQ ### Is MOTS-c a hormone? No. MOTS-c is a short peptide encoded by mitochondrial DNA and described in the literature as a signaling peptide. It is not a steroid, not growth hormone and not a growth-hormone secretagogue. ### Does exercise produce MOTS-c? A 2021 study measured endogenous MOTS-c in human muscle and plasma samples and found that exercise raised it. That tells you the body makes the peptide in response to exercise; it does not tell you what an injected dose does. ### Is MOTS-c banned in sport? Yes. WADA lists MOTS-c under S4, metabolic modulators, as an AMPK activator, prohibited at all times. Drug-tested athletes should not use it without confirming with their governing body. ### Is MOTS-c FDA-approved? No. MOTS-c is not FDA-approved for any use. In the US it is available only as a compounded medication prescribed by a licensed provider and prepared by a licensed 503A pharmacy; compounded medications are not FDA-approved. ### Why is MOTS-c listed under Cognitive rather than Performance? This site groups MOTS-c with the protocols that address performance away from training: energy metabolism alongside attention and sleep. The grouping is a catalog decision, not a claim about mental effects; the research is on metabolism and muscle in animals. ### Is MOTS-c dosed in milligrams or micrograms? In milligrams. MOTS-c prescriptions are written in mg, so the calculator on this site works in mg-scale draws. The amount is set by the prescriber and is not published here. Prescribed, not mixed at home ## MOTS-c through Peptides.build A licensed US provider reviews a short online intake and decides whether a protocol is appropriate. A US 503A pharmacy prepares it already reconstituted, labels the concentration and ships it cold-chain. Dosing is set by the provider and is not published on this site. - [MOTS-c protocol: pricing, who it is for, FAQ](https://peptides.build/protocols/mots-c/) - [All cognitive protocols compared](https://peptides.build/protocols/cognitive/) - [MOTS-c Calculator: units, reconstitution and dosing chart](https://peptides.build/tools/mots-c-calculator/) - [What is DSIP?](https://peptides.build/learn/what-is-dsip/) - [What is tesamorelin?](https://peptides.build/learn/what-is-tesamorelin/) - [What is Epitalon?](https://peptides.build/learn/what-is-epitalon/) Sources ## References 1. The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance. *Cell Metabolism*, 2015. [doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2015.02.009](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2015.02.009)Study type: Animal and cell study 2. MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis. *Nature Communications*, 2021. [doi:10.1038/s41467-020-20790-0](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20790-0)Study type: Animal study with human exercise samples Citations are listed with their study type so the evidence can be weighed. Review articles summarize other studies; animal and in vitro findings do not describe outcomes in people. This article is educational and is not medical advice. MOTS-c is not FDA-approved for any use, and compounded medications are not FDA-approved. No results are implied or guaranteed. Talk to a licensed provider about your own history before starting any protocol.