Description
CAS 1627580-64-6
MOTS-c
The notion that mitochondrial DNA primarily codes for proteins related to energy was challenged until recently when researchers found that mitochondria use tiny signaling peptides to communicate with the rest of the body. One such peptide that is directly encoded in mitochondrial DNA is called MOTS-c (mitochondrial open-reading-frame of the 12S rRNA-c). MOTS-c, which is structurally different from nuclear-encoded peptides, regulates metabolism by affecting cellular stress responses, insulin sensitivity, and glucose consumption. It links mitochondrial function to the energy balance of the entire organism by partially triggering adaptive nuclear gene expression pathways in response to metabolic stress. This finding established MOTS-c as a crucial messenger between the nucleus and mitochondria, particularly in the regulation of metabolism and aging (Lee et al., 2015; Kim et al., 2018).
References
Lee, C., et al. (2015). The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis. Cell Metabolism.
Kim, K. H., et al. (2018). MOTS-c: A novel mitochondrial-derived peptide regulating metabolism. Experimental & Molecular Medicine.
