MOTS-c is a potent mitochondrial-derived peptide (MDP) consisting of 16 amino acids and encoded by the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene. As a pivotal regulator of cellular metabolism, MOTS-c has gained increasing interest in scientific research for its profound role in mitochondrial signaling and stress response pathways. Recent studies have explored the functions of the MOTS-c peptide in regulating insulin sensitivity, metabolic homeostasis, and cellular adaptation under bioenergetic stress.
