MOTS-c
A 16-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide that regulates metabolism and insulin sensitivity.
Encoded in mitochondrial DNA (12S rRNA), not nuclear genes. MOTS-c acts as a retrograde signal from mitochondria to the cell, often discussed alongside AMPK activation and “exercise mimetic” rodent studies. Trending in longevity and metabolic research; not a cosmetic INCI ingredient or an FDA-approved drug.