▶ MOTS-C · SUBTOPIC · DOSING LITERATURE
MOTS-c Dosing Literature
For Laboratory Research Use Only. The content below describes dose ranges as reported in peer-reviewed publications. This page does not recommend any dose for human use. No clinical claim is made. Always consult the original source publication.
SCOPE OF THIS PAGE
This page documents the published-literature dose ranges that appear in trials and animal studies of MOTS-c. Every dose mention is bound to a citation (author, year, PMID where available). The PEPPUDEX wiki phrases these as descriptive observations of the research record, not as instructions to the reader.
ROUTES OF ADMINISTRATION IN PUBLISHED RESEARCH
The published research record for MOTS-c reports the following route(s) of administration: Subcutaneous (research), Intraperitoneal (animal studies). Route selection in a study reflects pharmacokinetic considerations specific to that protocol and is not a recommendation for any human use of MOTS-c.
PHARMACOKINETIC HALF-LIFE
Published pharmacokinetic data report a half-life for MOTS-c of approximately ~30 min plasma (rodent), longer tissue residence. Half-life is the kinetic parameter that frames the dosing rhythm chosen in trial design. It is a measurement, not a recommendation.
CITED DOSE RANGES IN THE LITERATURE
The peer-reviewed sources below report dose ranges, frequencies, and durations used in studies of MOTS-c. Refer to the original publication for full protocol detail.
- Lee C, Zeng J, Drew BG, et al. (2015) reports the MOTS-c protocol used in The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance, published in Cell Metab. PMID 25738459. See the source for the protocol-level dose range, frequency, and duration. link
- Reynolds JC, Lai RW, Woodhead JST, et al. (2021) reports the MOTS-c protocol used in MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis, published in Nat Commun. PMID 33473109. See the source for the protocol-level dose range, frequency, and duration. link
- Kim KH, Son JM, Benayoun BA, Lee C (2018) reports the MOTS-c protocol used in The Mitochondrial-Encoded Peptide MOTS-c Translocates to the Nucleus to Regulate Nuclear Gene Expression, published in Cell Metab. PMID 29983246. See the source for the protocol-level dose range, frequency, and duration. link
DOSING Q+A FROM LITERATURE
The questions below summarise dosing-relevant entries from the literature record. Each answer is descriptive of published material and is not a recommendation.
▶ What does MOTS-c do for exercise?
MOTS-c is called an exercise-mimetic peptide because exercise is one of the natural triggers for its release from mitochondria. In aged mice, exogenous MOTS-c administration improves treadmill performance and grip strength (Reynolds et al. 2021, PMID 33473109).
▶ MOTS-c vs metformin · which activates AMPK better?
Both activate AMPK, by different upstream mechanisms. Metformin inhibits complex I of the electron-transport chain, raising AMP and triggering AMPK via LKB1. MOTS-c inhibits the folate cycle and de novo purine biosynthesis. No head-to-head clinical comparison exists.
▶ How long do MOTS-c cycles last in animal studies?
Animal protocols vary from acute single-dose experiments to 4–10 week chronic administration. Community-reported research protocols cite 4–8 week cycles, though these are not clinical recommendations.
STORAGE OF THE REFERENCE COMPOUND
Lyophilized · 4 °C 24 months, −20 °C indefinite
Reconstituted · 2–8 °C, 28 days
Storage conditions describe the stability of the research-grade reference material, not a dosing protocol.
RECONSTITUTION MATH (CALCULATOR)
The PEPPUDEX reconstitution calculator at /calculator returns volume-per-dose math given vial mg, BAC mL, and a target dose in mcg. The calculator performs arithmetic only. It does not recommend a dose. Any number entered by a researcher must come from their own protocol design or the cited literature.
REGULATORY CONTEXT
FDA · Not FDA-approved for any human use. Research-use only.
WADA · Not currently listed on the WADA Prohibited List (2026).
RELATED PAGES
▶ LAST UPDATED · 2026-05-19