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Atlas Research Compounds

Metabolic signaling

MOTS-C

A mitochondrial-derived peptide studied in metabolic signaling.

Evidence
Preclinical
Literature
Emerging preclinical literature
Family
Mitochondrial-derived peptide

Overview

MOTS-C is part of an emerging class of mitochondrial-derived peptides. Research focuses on cellular stress responses, metabolic regulation, and inter-organelle communication, with much of the causal evidence still preclinical.

Evidence maturity

Evidence score2/5

Early human evidence

The score summarizes evidence maturity, not safety, effectiveness, or suitability for any use.

Mechanism summary

Investigated as a mitochondrial-derived signaling peptide in cellular stress and metabolic regulation.

Research category
Metabolic Research
Editorial status
Published

Evidence synthesis

Structured evidence summary

Human studies
1
Animal studies
0
In vitro records
0
Review records
9
Abstract extracted
0
Metadata verified
10

Evidence strength

Limited translational

Confidence

Low confidence

Major findings

  • The verified set maps MOTS-C to mitochondrial-derived peptide research involving metabolic homeostasis, nuclear signaling, aging, skeletal muscle, pulmonary fibrosis, and disease-model publications.
  • MOTS-C anchors the mitochondrial-health hub as a mitochondrial-derived signaling peptide, distinct from NAD+ biochemistry and SS-31 targeting.

Major limitations

  • Most MOTS-C records are review, animal, or mechanistic records rather than mature human outcome studies.
  • Phase 3 additions remain metadata verified until article-level extraction is completed.

Counts are generated from verified PubMed records. Findings above are evidence-map observations, not clinical recommendations or inferred study outcomes. See the scoring methodology.

Scoring methodology

Evidence strength, quality, and confidence

Evidence strength

Compound-level strength is based on the verified study mix: human records, animal records, review or synthesis records, and extraction depth. It describes evidence maturity only.

Study quality

Study-level quality is not assessed for metadata-only records. Abstract-extracted records are rated from study design and extraction depth, not from unreviewed full-text claims.

Confidence

Confidence is capped when records remain metadata verified. Atlas does not raise confidence by counting citations without extracting endpoints, comparators, duration, and limitations.

Workflow states are `METADATA_VERIFIED`, `ABSTRACT_EXTRACTED`, `FULLTEXT_REVIEWED`, and `EDITORIAL_APPROVED`. Because full-text review is not available in this phase, no study is promoted to full-text or editorial-approved status.

Research timeline

Evidence stages describe maturity, not a chronological promise of development.

  1. Identity and target

    Documented

    The compound identity or proposed target is described in research literature.

  2. Preclinical research

    Documented

    Laboratory or animal research forms part of the evidence base.

  3. Human research

    Emerging

    Some human research exists, but scope or maturity remains limited.

  4. Independent synthesis

    Limited

    Independent replication and synthesis remain important evidence gaps.

Open research questions

  1. 01How is endogenous production regulated across tissues?
  2. 02Which effects are direct versus adaptive stress responses?
  3. 03What measurements reliably distinguish peptide action?

Literature starting points

These links support further review; inclusion is not an endorsement of every indexed conclusion.

  1. 01

    MOTS-c literature index

    PubMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine · Database

    Open source
  2. 02

    Atlas internal research database

    Internal Research Database · 2026 · Database

    Open source

Phase 2 study database

10 verified publications

Search all studies →
2024Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide MOTS-c Suppresses Ovarian Cancer Progression by Attenuating USP7-Mediated LARS1 Deubiquitination.Grade D2024MOTS-c modulates skeletal muscle function by directly binding and activating CK2.Grade D2023MOTS-c: A promising mitochondrial-derived peptide for therapeutic exploitation.Grade D2023MOTS-c Functionally Prevents Metabolic Disorders.Grade D2023MOTS-C: A potential anti-pulmonary fibrosis factor derived from mitochondria.Grade B

Deep research cluster

Explore MOTS-C by evidence question

MechanismMechanistic pathways reported in verified publications, separated from clinical inference.Human studiesVerified human publications, study designs, findings, and explicit limitations.Animal studiesPreclinical animal models and the boundaries on translating their results.Safety evidenceWhat the verified publication set can and cannot establish about safety.Research historyA publication timeline built only from verified study records.ComparisonsContextual links to related compounds and existing structured comparisons.

Related comparisons

MOTS-C vs. SS-31MOTS-C vs. NAD+GHK-Cu vs. MOTS-CMOTS-C vs. GHK-CuMOTS-C vs. TirzepatideMOTS-C vs. Retatrutide

Continue the research map

Related content

CompoundSS-31CompoundNAD+CompoundGHK-CuVerified studyMitochondrial-Derived Peptide MOTS-c Suppresses Ovarian Cancer Progression by Attenuating USP7-Mediated LARS1 Deubiquitination.Verified studyMOTS-c modulates skeletal muscle function by directly binding and activating CK2.Verified studyMOTS-c: A promising mitochondrial-derived peptide for therapeutic exploitation.ComparisonMOTS-C vs. SS-31ComparisonMOTS-C vs. NAD+ComparisonGHK-Cu vs. MOTS-CComparisonMOTS-C vs. GHK-CuComparisonMOTS-C vs. TirzepatideComparisonMOTS-C vs. RetatrutideTopic hubLongevityTopic hubMetabolismTopic hubMitochondrial HealthTopic hubHealthy AgingTopic hubPeptide Research