MOTS-c: a peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA

MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA rather than the cell nucleus, which by itself made the 2015 discovery interesting. It is studied for metabolic balance, AMPK signaling and links to exercise and aging. Key papers: 1. Lee et al. (Cell Metab, 2015), the discovery paper, showing effects on insulin resistance and weight gain in mice through AMPK. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2015.02.009 2. Reynolds et al. (Nat Commun, 2021), on MOTS-c, exercise and physical capacity in aging mice. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33473109/ 3. Zheng et al. (Front Endocrinol, 2023), a recent review of the field. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2023.1120533 Almost everything so far is in mice or cells. For discussion: what's the strongest evidence that MOTS-c levels matter in humans? The full write-up is in Guides: MOTS-c Research.