What each MOTS-c peptide paper was about

What each research paper found or reviewed

The papers cover sugar use, running, bone, muscle, and cell repair. Each entry gives a lead writer, journal, and year. DOI is a permanent search code. A PMID opens the paper’s U.S. government page.

Paper 1 title with plain notes: The mitochondrial-derived (made in cell parts; these change food into energy) peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis (steady fuel use) and reduces obesity and insulin resistance; treatment slowed mouse weight gain and improved insulin use. Cell Metabolism. 2015;21(3):443-454. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2015.02.009. PMID: 25738459. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25738459/

Paper 2 title with plain notes: MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded (made from DNA in cell parts; these change food into energy) regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis (steady muscle health); old mice ran and moved better. Nature Communications. 2021;12(1):470. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20790-0. PMID: 33473109. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33473109/

Paper 3 title with plain notes: The Mitochondrial-Encoded (made from DNA in cell parts; these change food into energy) Peptide MOTS-c Translocates (moves) to the Nucleus (the DNA store) to Regulate Nuclear Gene Expression (change which DNA directions a cell follows) in Response to Metabolic Stress (low fuel or other strain). Cell Metabolism. 2018;28(3):516-524.e7. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2018.06.008. PMID: 29983246. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29983246/

Paper 4 title with plain notes: Mitochondria-derived (made in cell parts; these change food into energy) peptide MOTS-c: effects and mechanisms (what changed and how) related to stress, metabolism (fuel use), and aging; this review gathered lab and animal work. Journal of Translational Medicine. 2023;21(1):36. DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-03885-2. PMID: 36670507. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36670507/

Paper 5 title with plain notes: MOTS-c, the Most Recent Mitochondrial Derived (made in cell parts; these change food into energy) Peptide in Human Aging and Age-Related Diseases; the review did not test treatment. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2022;23(19):11991. DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911991. PMID: 36233287. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36233287/

Paper 6 title with plain notes: Nuclear transcriptional regulation (changes in which DNA directions a cell follows) by mitochondrial-encoded (made from DNA in cell parts; these change food into energy) MOTS-c; the paper explains changes in strained cells. Molecular and Cellular Oncology. 2019;6(2):e1549464. DOI: 10.1080/23723556.2018.1549464. PMID: 31131297. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31131297/

Paper 7 title with plain notes: Mitochondria related (made in cell parts; these change food into energy) peptide MOTS-c suppresses ovariectomy-induced (bone loss after ovaries are removed) bone loss via AMPK activation (turning on a fuel alarm); mice lost less bone. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 2016;476(4):412-419. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.05.135. PMID: 27237975. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27237975/

Paper 8 title with plain notes: Mitochondrially derived (made in cell parts; these change food into energy) peptides as novel regulators of metabolism (proteins that may help manage fuel use); this was a review. The Journal of Physiology. 2017;595(21):6613-6621. DOI: 10.1113/jp274472. PMID: 28574175. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28574175/

Paper 9 title with plain notes: MOTS-c modulates (changes) skeletal muscle function by directly binding and activating CK2 (a control protein for other proteins); muscle cells drew in more sugar and resisted wasting. iScience. 2024;27(12):111212. DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.111212. PMID: 39559755. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39559755/

Paper 10 title with plain notes: The Mitochondrial-Derived (made in cell parts; these change food into energy) Peptide MOTS-c May Refine Mortality and Cardiovascular Risk Prediction (estimate death and heart risk) in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients: A Multicenter Cohort Study (a group followed at several places); no one received MOTS-c. Blood Purification. 2024;53(11-12):874-884. DOI: 10.1159/000540303. PMID: 39111290. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39111290/

Paper 11 title with plain notes: Mitochondrial-Encoded (made from DNA in cell parts; these change food into energy) Peptide MOTS-c, Diabetes, and Aging-Related Diseases; this review gathered links but did not prove treatment works. Diabetes and Metabolism Journal. 2023;47(3):315-324. DOI: 10.4093/dmj.2022.0333. PMID: 36824008. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36824008/

Paper 12 title with plain notes: MOTS-c improves osteoporosis by promoting the synthesis of type I collagen in osteoblasts (bone-making cells) via TGF-beta/SMAD signaling pathway (a chain of cell messages); cells made more collagen. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences. 2019;23(8):3194-3201. DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_201904_17676. PMID: 31081069. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31081069/

Paper 13 title with plain notes: Mitochondrial-derived (made in cell parts; these change food into energy) peptides MOTS-c and humanin (another small body protein) attenuate (reduce) dexamethasone-induced (caused by a steroid drug) atrophy (wasting) in human muscle cells. Physiological Reports. 2026;14(2):e70791. DOI: 10.14814/phy2.70791. PMID: 41732124. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41732124/

Paper 14 title with plain notes: Mitochondria-encoded (made from DNA in cell parts; these change food into energy) peptide MOTS-c participates in plasma membrane (the cell’s outer covering) repair by facilitating the translocation (helping the movement) of TRIM72 (a repair protein) to membrane. Theranostics. 2024;14(14):5471-5490. DOI: 10.7150/thno.100321. PMID: 39267782. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39267782/

Paper 15 title with plain notes: The Effect of Chronic Endurance Exercise on Serum Levels (amounts in blood) of MOTS-c and Humanin (another small body protein) in Professional Athletes; the title does not say if levels rose or fell. Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine. 2022;23(5):181. DOI: 10.31083/j.rcm2305181. PMID: 39077591. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39077591/

What each FDA page says in plain words

These pages name raw ingredients and explain why advisers discussed MOTS-c. A planned review gives no permission.

FDA source 16: U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Page title with plain notes: Bulk Drug Substances Used in Compounding (making medicine for one person) Under Section 503A of the FD&C Act (the federal drug law for that work). FDA. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/bulk-drug-substances-used-compounding-under-section-503a-fdc-act (verified 2026-05-29).

FDA source 17: U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Page title with plain notes: Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding (pharmacy-made medicine) That May Present Significant Safety Risks; this page names raw ingredients the FDA views as too risky for normal pharmacy work. FDA. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/certain-bulk-drug-substances-use-compounding-may-present-significant-safety-risks (verified 2026-05-29).

FDA source 18: U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Page title with plain notes: July 23-24, 2026: Meeting of the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee, the group that advises the FDA on pharmacy-made drugs; this was an agenda, not a decision. FDA. https://www.fda.gov/advisory-committees/advisory-committee-calendar/july-23-24-2026-meeting-pharmacy-compounding-advisory-committee-07232026 (verified 2026-05-29). It lists BPC-157, KPV, TB-500, and MOTS-c as raw ingredients being considered for the 503A list, the one-person pharmacy list.

FDA source 19: U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Page title with plain notes: Interim Policy on Compounding (temporary rules for pharmacy-made medicine) Using Bulk Drug Substances Under Section 503A of the FD&C Act (the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic law), guidance landing page. FDA. https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/interim-policy-compounding-using-bulk-drug-substances-under-section-503a-federal-food-drug-and (verified 2026-05-29).