MOTS-C (Mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA-c) is a peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA. It improves glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle, which implies a number of benefits for those with diabetes, obesity, or who are over 30 years old. It is upregulated in response to exercise, and is considered an exercise mimetic.
An exercise mimetic is a drug or compound that mimics the beneficial physiological effects of physical exercise on the body, essentially providing some of the health benefits of working out without the need for actual physical activity. It aims to activate similar cellular pathways triggered by obesity, diabetes, or muscle-wasting by simulating exercise-induced adaptations in the body. This provides a viable alternative to physical exercise in populations who are unable to exercise due to any number of limitations. Also, naturally occurring levels of MOTS-C diminish substantially throughout the aging process.
Dysregulated MOTS-C levels have been associated with defective insulin secretion, insulin resistance, or both. This results in dysregulated mitochondrial activities such as mitochondrial fission and fusion, mitochondrial oxidative stress, and decreased NAD+ levels in the system. MOTS-C interacts with and regulates many nuclear genome-encoded proteins responsible for regulating metabolic adaptability and age-related diseases.
