MOTS-c
MOTS-c is a 16-residue peptide encoded within mitochondrial 12S rRNA. Mouse studies found changes after MOTS-c was given. Human studies in the source set checked the body's own MOTS-c instead. No paper that gave MOTS-c to people was found in 251 of 252 screened PubMed records. One no-abstract paper is still unclear. A phase 2 trial plans to give MOTS-c to 120 people, but it is still seeking volunteers and has no results (NCT07505745; checked 25 Aug 2026).
Which identity and sequence belong to MOTS-c?
GSRS names the substance MITOCHONDRIA-DERIVED PEPTIDE MOTS-C (GSRS; checked 25 Aug 2026). Its sequence is MRWQEMGYIFYPRKLR. The chain has 16 residues. The UNII is A5CV6JFB78. The CAS number is 1627580-64-6.
The first paper reports a short open reading frame within mitochondrial 12S rRNA (PMID 25738459; read 25 Aug 2026). It names the peptide mitochondrial open-reading-frame of the 12S rRNA-c.
What did the first study find in mice?
The 2015 paper tested MOTS-c in cells and mice (PMCID PMC4350682; read 25 Aug 2026). Its high-fat-diet test used male mice. Figure 6 labels N = 10 for the eight-week body-weight test.
The paper reports that MOTS-c stopped high-fat-diet weight gain in that model. Calorie intake was the same across the groups. It also reports lower high-fat-diet hyperinsulinaemia and less liver fat. These are mouse findings, not human treatment results.
NIH grants and centres, the Glenn Foundation, the Ellison Medical Foundation, SC-CTSI, and school or family awards paid for the work. Pinchas Cohen said he held CohBar stock and was a paid adviser. Changhan Lee said he was a paid adviser to CohBar. The paper did not report a human safety trial or a table of unwanted events in people.
What did the later physical-performance study find?
A 2021 paper gave MOTS-c to young, middle-aged, and old mice (PMCID PMC7817689; read 25 Aug 2026). In the old-mouse run test, the control group had 19 mice. The MOTS-c group had 18.
| Old-mouse result | MOTS-c compared with control | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Running time | 2.00-fold | PMC7817689 · read 25 Aug 2026 |
| Running distance | 2.16-fold | PMC7817689 · read 25 Aug 2026 |
| Test for time and distance | P = 0.000002 | PMC7817689 · read 25 Aug 2026 |
| Reached the final speed | 17% vs 0% | PMC7817689 · read 25 Aug 2026 |
The same paper found no change in learning or memory in its maze test. It did not give a human safety table or list of unwanted events.
NIA, AFAR, the Ellison Medical Foundation, school awards, and other foundations paid for the work. Pinchas Cohen and Changhan Lee said they were CohBar advisers and shareholders.
What was measured in people?
The exercise paper enrolled 10 healthy young men for a cycle test (PMC7817689; read 25 Aug 2026). The team checked the body's own MOTS-c. It did not give the peptide.
| Human exercise level | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| MOTS-c in muscle after exercise | 11.9-fold | PMC7817689 · P = 0.0098 |
| MOTS-c in blood during exercise | 1.6-fold | PMC7817689 · P = 0.0011 |
| MOTS-c in blood after exercise | 1.5-fold | PMC7817689 · P = 0.0021 |
Blood levels went back to baseline after four hours of rest. This was a human exercise test, not a MOTS-c treatment test.
Another study checked blood MOTS-c in 70 people with obstructive sleep apnoea and 20 controls (PMID 33394327; read 25 Aug 2026). Levels were lower in the sleep-apnoea group (P < 0.000). Blood MOTS-c fell as sleep-apnoea severity rose. The paper found links with apnoea index and body mass index. It did not give MOTS-c to anyone.
The PubMed record for PMID 33394327 has no Agency or conflict text. That does not mean the study had no funder or conflict. No public full text was in the source set.
What did the human genetics study find?
A 2021 paper studied the mitochondrial m.1382A>C variant in three human groups with 27,527 people (PMCID PMC7880332; read 25 Aug 2026). The variant changes residue 14 from lysine to glutamine. Men with the C allele had more type 2 diabetes. The link was not found in women.
The paper also tested the two peptide forms in mice. Wild-type MOTS-c cut weight and improved glucose tolerance. The K14Q form did not. MOTS-c was given to mice, not people.
The PubMed record lists NIA, NIDDK, NCI, and NIGMS support. Pinchas Cohen said he advised CohBar and held its stock.
Is there a human trial that gives MOTS-c?
ClinicalTrials.gov lists NCT07505745 as a phase 2 trial of MOTS-c and placebo (NCT07505745; checked 25 Aug 2026). The planned enrolment is 120 adults with prediabetes and overweight or obesity. Hudson Biotech is the sponsor.
The trial status is RECRUITING. No result section is present. It shows that giving MOTS-c to people is planned and registered. It supports no effect or safety claim.
The PubMed screen covered 252 records. No result paper that gave MOTS-c to people was found in 251 records after abstract and method review. PMID 34525370 has no abstract in the source record and is still unclear. This is the exact limit of the literature gap.
What status is established?
The live entry keeps evidence tier C (checked 25 Aug 2026). Data from mice given MOTS-c exist. Human levels were also checked, but those were not treatment trials. The trial that still seeks volunteers has no results.
An exact EudraCT search returned no MOTS-c trial row on 25 Aug 2026. That is an absence from one named search. It does not settle current EU sale status. The EU field remains unclear.
No dated vendor listing was established. The first_observed field remains empty.
What does this register entry cover?
This entry covers identity, mouse tests, the body's own human levels, genetics, a trial that seeks volunteers, funding, and status. It does not show what is in a given vial.