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Mitochondrial compounds & coenzymes · 16 amino acids · CAS 1627580-64-6

MOTS-c

A 16-residue peptide encoded within the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA gene and described in 2015, supplied as a lyophilised research powder in 10 and 40 mg vials with an independent HPLC and LC-MS certificate for every batch.

Vial size
£23.00BK-MOTS-10 · In stock, dispatched today before 3pm

For in-vitro research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. 18+.

Certificate of analysisLot PEPTIDETAI2026118
MOTS-c 10 mg
Purity, RP-HPLC, 220 nm
99.51 %
Net peptide content
11.2 mg
Tested
19 Feb 2026
Laboratory
Janoshik
Signed report (PDF)Batch page

About MOTS-c

Written for laboratory researchers from the published literature. Not medical advice; nothing on this page describes use in humans or animals.

What MOTS-c is

MOTS-c, the mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S ribosomal RNA type-c, is a 16-residue peptide with the sequence Met-Arg-Trp-Gln-Glu-Met-Gly-Tyr-Ile-Phe-Tyr-Pro-Arg-Lys-Leu-Arg. It was described in 2015 by Changhan Lee, Pinchas Cohen and colleagues at the University of Southern California, who identified a short open reading frame within the gene for the mitochondrial 12S rRNA and showed that it is translated into a peptide detectable in cells and in plasma. It belongs to a small group of mitochondrial-derived peptides, the best known of the others being humanin, that are encoded by the mitochondrial genome rather than the nucleus.

The sequence is distinctive in its mixture of hydrophobic aromatic residues and basic residues, with three arginines and a lysine against a tryptophan, a phenylalanine and two tyrosines, and it contains two methionines. The molecular weight is approximately 2,175 g/mol and the CAS number is 1627580-64-6. MOTS-c belongs to the mitochondrial and coenzymes class.

The published literature on the compound, with references, is collected in the monograph.

What you receive

Each vial contains MOTS-c as a white to off-white lyophilised powder, sealed with a flip-off cap over a crimped stopper, in the net quantity stated on the label: 10 or 40 mg. There is no carrier, mannitol or other excipient unless the batch certificate says otherwise. The batch number is printed on the label and matches the certificate in our register.

Reading the certificate for a MOTS-c batch

Purity by reversed-phase HPLC is reported as the area of the main peak against all peaks and should be above 98% for a 16-residue peptide of this composition. Identity by LC-MS is reported as the deconvoluted mass against the expected mass of about 2,175 Da, with the raw spectrum showing the doubly charged ion near 1,088 and the triply charged ion near 726. Net content gives the milligrams of peptide actually present, as distinct from the nominal fill.

The impurities specific to this sequence are the methionine sulfoxides. With two methionines, single oxidation adds 16 Da and double oxidation adds 32 Da, and each gives an earlier-eluting peak on HPLC. A good batch shows these at a fraction of a percent. Tryptophan oxidation and single-residue deletions are the other peaks to expect. Our guide to reading a certificate of analysis walks through annotated examples, and HPLC and LC-MS explained covers the methods.

Storage and handling

Sealed vials should be kept refrigerated at 2 to 8 °C and protected from light; −20 °C is preferable beyond a few months, and the two methionines make cold storage more important than for an unoxidisable peptide. The tryptophan and tyrosines are light-sensitive, so solutions belong in amber or foil-wrapped tubes. Allow the vial to reach room temperature before opening to avoid condensation, and reseal promptly. For reconstitution, dissolve first in a small volume of 0.6% acetic acid or another dilute acid, then dilute into the working buffer; adding water directly can leave the peptide as a suspension. Solutions should be aliquoted and frozen, as the storage and stability guide explains.

Specification

Reference values pending verification against the batch certificate.

CAS number
1627580-64-6
Molecular formula
C101H152N28O22S2
Molecular weight
2174.6 g/mol
Sequence
MRWQEMGYIFYPRKLR
Appearance
White to off-white lyophilised powder
Purity
≥99% by RP-HPLC, per batch certificate
Net content
10 mg, 40 mg
Storage, sealed
2–8 °C short term; −20 °C or below long term; protect from light; avoid freeze–thaw cycles
Storage, reconstituted
2–8 °C; use within the period stated in the compound monograph
Research use
In-vitro laboratory research only

Questions about MOTS-c

How does MOTS-c differ from SS-31?

Both are studied in mitochondrial biology but they are unrelated molecules. MOTS-c is a natural 16-residue peptide encoded in the mitochondrial genome and studied as a signalling molecule that moves between mitochondria, cytoplasm and nucleus. SS-31 is a synthetic four-residue peptide containing non-natural amino acids, designed to bind cardiolipin in the inner mitochondrial membrane. They answer different experimental questions and are usually ordered together for that reason.

What does the certificate for a MOTS-c batch show?

It reports purity by reversed-phase HPLC as area-percent of the main peak, identity by LC-MS against an expected mass of about 2,175 Da, and the net content per vial. The spectrum shows doubly and triply charged ions, which the laboratory deconvolutes to a single mass. Because the sequence contains two methionines, the absence of a peak 16 or 32 Da heavier is the specific thing to check. The signed PDF is linked from the batch page.

Why is MOTS-c offered in 10 and 40 mg vials?

The in-vitro literature on MOTS-c uses it in cultured cells at concentrations from nanomolar to low micromolar, for which 10 mg is more than enough for a single study. The 40 mg size exists because laboratories running larger screens or repeated experiments asked for a lower per-milligram price, and because the hydrophobic sequence is easier to handle as one concentrated stock than as four separate reconstitutions.

Why does MOTS-c dissolve poorly in water?

The sequence contains tryptophan, phenylalanine, two tyrosines, isoleucine and leucine, which together make it one of the more hydrophobic peptides in the catalogue. In plain water it can form a cloudy suspension rather than a clear solution. The published methods and our own experience favour dissolving it first in a small volume of dilute acetic acid, which protonates the basic residues and brings it into solution, before diluting into buffer or medium.

What is in the vial?

MOTS-c as a white to off-white lyophilised powder, sealed under nitrogen, in the net quantity stated on the label. No carrier, no excipient unless the certificate says otherwise.

Which batch will I receive?

The batch shown in the certificate panel for the size you choose. Its number is printed on the vial and on your dispatch note, and its full report is on the batch page.

How is purity measured?

By reversed-phase HPLC at an independent laboratory, reported as the area of the main peak against all peaks. Identity is confirmed by LC-MS against the expected mass.

How should the sealed vial be stored?

2–8 °C short term; −20 °C or below long term; protect from light; avoid freeze–thaw cycles

When is my order dispatched?

Same day for orders placed before 3pm, Monday to Saturday, by Royal Mail Tracked 24. Delivery is free.

Who may buy?

Researchers and institutions aged 18 or over, for in-vitro laboratory use under our terms. Nothing we sell is for human or veterinary use.

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