MOTS-c stands for Mitochondrial ORF of the Twelve-S rRNA type-c. The name is a literal description of where its coding sequence sits — an open reading frame (ORF) hidden inside the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA gene.

Unlike the coded compounds elsewhere in this log, MOTS-c is a real research name that decodes directly to its genomic origin.

MOTS-c is a small mitochondrial-derived peptide (MDP) of 16 amino acids. It is notable because it is encoded not in the cell nucleus but within mitochondrial DNA.

Its small size and mitochondrial genomic origin place it in a distinct family from the nuclear-encoded and engineered peptides catalogued elsewhere in this log.

MOTS-c was identified by researchers studying hidden coding sequences in the mitochondrial genome — work associated with the laboratory of Pinchas Cohen and colleagues (including Changhan Lee) at the University of Southern California, reported around 2015.

The finding was part of a broader recognition that the small mitochondrial genome encodes short bioactive peptides beyond its well-known respiratory-chain proteins.

MOTS-c was not designed — it is a naturally occurring peptide. The research interest is in what it may signal: mitochondrial-derived peptides are studied as messengers that let mitochondria communicate with the rest of the cell about metabolic and stress states.

Investigators have examined MOTS-c in the context of pathways such as AMPK-related metabolic signaling. This log notes that as an area of study, not as an established function or benefit.

For research use, MOTS-c is produced by solid-phase peptide synthesis: the 16-residue chain is assembled on a resin, then cleaved, purified by HPLC, and confirmed by mass spectrometry.

Its short linear structure makes it a straightforward synthetic target, so laboratory material does not require recombinant expression.

What has been studied for MOTS-c is its role as a mitochondrial-derived signaling peptide and its association with metabolic pathways in cell and animal models — described here as mechanism, not outcome.

This is research-use-only content. It makes no health or benefit claims and provides no dosing, timing, or protocol. Much of the evidence base is preclinical; findings in models are not proof of human effects. For specifics, consult a physician and the primary literature.