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CITATION ARCHIVE · MOTS-c

MOTS-c References: The Peer-Reviewed Record

Every citation used across this MOTS-c literature digest, with full author lists, journal details, DOIs, and PubMed URLs. Organized by year.

All citations are drawn from the peer-reviewed literature. DOIs and PubMed URLs are provided for independent verification. For MOTS-c research summaries see MOTS-c mechanism of action, MOTS-c dosage, and the frequently asked questions.

Full Reference List

  1. Lee C, Zeng J, Drew BG, Sallam T, Martin-Montalvo A, Wan J, Kim SJ, Mehta H, Hevener AL, de Cabo R, Cohen P. The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance. Cell Metabolism. 2015;21(3):443-454. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2015.02.009 · PMID: 25738459
  2. Reynolds JC, Lai RW, Woodhead JST, Joly JH, Mitchell CJ, Cameron-Smith D, Lu R, Cohen P, Graham NA, Benayoun BA, Merry TL, Lee C. MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis. Nature Communications. 2021;12(1):773. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20790-0 · PMID: 33473109
  3. Reynolds JC, et al. [Human exercise data reported in the same study as [2] — stationary cycling induces 11.9-fold increase in skeletal muscle MOTS-c expression.] Nature Communications. 2021;12(1):773. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20790-0 · PMID: 33473109
  4. Kim KH, Son JM, Benayoun BA, Lee C. The Mitochondrial-Encoded Peptide MOTS-c Translocates to the Nucleus to Regulate Nuclear Gene Expression in Response to Metabolic Stress. Cell Metabolism. 2018;28(3):516-524.e7. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2018.06.008 · PMID: 29983246
  5. Kim SJ, Miller B, Mehta HH, Xiao J, Wan J, Arpawong TE, Yen K, Cohen P. The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c is a regulator of plasma metabolites and enhances insulin sensitivity. Physiological Reports. 2019;7(13):e14171. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.14814/phy2.14171 · PMID: 31293078
  6. D'Souza RF, Woodhead JST, Hedges CP, et al. Increased expression of the mitochondrial derived peptide, MOTS-c, in skeletal muscle of healthy aging men is associated with myofiber composition. Aging (Albany NY). 2020;12(5):5044-5065. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.18632/aging.102944 · PMID: 32182209
  7. Du C, Zhang C, Wu W, Liang Y, Wang A, Wu S, Zhao Y, Hou L, Ning Q, Luo X. Circulating MOTS-c levels are decreased in obese male children and adolescents and associated with insulin resistance. Pediatric Diabetes. 2018;19(5):1058-1064. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1111/pedi.12685 · PMID: 29691953
  8. Luo YH, Xie L, Li JY, Xie Y, Li MQ, Zhou L. Serum MOTS-C Levels are Decreased in Obese Children and Associated with Vascular Endothelial Function. Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity. 2023;16:1125-1133. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.2147/DMSO.S403934 · PMID: 37077579
  9. Zempo H, Kim SJ, Fuku N, et al. A pro-diabetogenic mtDNA polymorphism in the mitochondrial-derived peptide, MOTS-c. Aging (Albany NY). 2021;13(2):1801-1817. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.18632/aging.202529 · PMID: 33468709
  10. Zhong P, Peng J, Hu Y, Zhang J, Shen C. Mitochondrial derived peptide MOTS-c prevents the development of heart failure under pressure overload conditions in mice. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. 2022;26(21):5672-5683. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17551 · PMID: 36156853
  11. Pham T, Taberner A, Hickey A, Han JC. Mitochondria-derived peptide MOTS-c restores mitochondrial respiration in type 2 diabetic heart. Frontiers in Physiology. 2025;16:1602271. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2025.1602271 · PMID: 40661667
  12. Kumagai H, Kim SJ, Miller B, et al. MOTS-c modulates skeletal muscle function by directly binding and activating CK2. iScience. 2024;27(11):111212. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.111212 · PMID: 39559755
  13. Elhusseiny R, Ihsan M, Bellefroid T, Farooq A, Racinais S, Deldicque L. Mitochondrial-derived peptides MOTS-c and humanin attenuate dexamethasone-induced atrophy in human skeletal muscle cells. Physiological Reports. 2026;14(4):e70791. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.14814/phy2.70791 · PMID: 41732124
  14. Gao Y, Wei X, Wei P, Lu H, Zhong L, Tan J, Liu H, Liu Z. MOTS-c Functionally Prevents Metabolic Disorders. Metabolites. 2023;13(1):125. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.3390/metabo13010125 · PMID: 36677050
  15. Jia H, Zhou LC, Chen YF, Zhang W, Qi W, Wang P, Huang X, Guo JW, Hou WF, Zhang RR, Zhou JJ, Zhang DW. Mitochondria-encoded peptide MOTS-c participates in plasma membrane repair by facilitating the translocation of TRIM72 to membrane. Theranostics. 2024;14(14):5480-5497. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.7150/thno.100321 · PMID: 39310099
  16. Domin R, Pytka M, Ruchala M. MOTS-c Serum Concentration Positively Correlates with Lower-Body Muscle Strength and Is Not Related to Maximal Oxygen Uptake — A Preliminary Study. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2023;24(19):14951. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914951 · PMID: 37834399
  17. Wan W, Zhang L, Lin Y, Rao X, Wang X, Hua F, Ying J. Mitochondria-derived peptide MOTS-c: effects and mechanisms related to stress, metabolism and aging. Journal of Translational Medicine. 2023;21(1):36. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-03885-2 · PMID: 36670507
  18. Cobb LJ, Lee C, Xiao J, Yen K, Wong RG, Nakamura HK, Mehta HH, Gao Q, Ashur C, Huffman DM, Wan J, Muzumdar R, Barzilai N, Cohen P. Naturally occurring mitochondrial-derived peptides are age-dependent regulators of apoptosis, insulin sensitivity, and inflammatory markers. Aging (Albany NY). 2016;8(4):796-809. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.18632/aging.100943 · PMID: 27070352
  19. Mohtashami Z, Singh MK, Salimiaghdam N, Ozgul M, Kenney MC. MOTS-c, the Most Recent Mitochondrial Derived Peptide in Human Aging and Age-Related Diseases. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2022;23(19):11991. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911991 · PMID: 36233287
  20. Mohtashami Z, Singh MK, Salimiaghdam N, Ozgul M, Kenney MC. [Bone metabolism data reported in the same study as [19].] International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2022;23(19):11991. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911991 · PMID: 36233287