MOTS-c: A promising mitochondrial-derived peptide for therapeutic exploitation
Zheng Y, Wei Z, Wang T (2023). Frontiers in Endocrinology.
Summary
A narrative review collecting what is known about MOTS-c: a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded in the mitochondrial 12S rRNA region, expressed in multiple tissues and present in plasma at levels that fall with age, which moves to the nucleus under metabolic stress and influences nuclear gene expression. The review covers reported effects on glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle and preclinical work in ageing, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and inflammation. The authors state plainly that MOTS-c has seen little use in treating disease and that no effective way of applying it in the clinic has been developed.