MOTS-C Quick Reference (40 mg vial)
Research context: mechanisms, human and preclinical evidence, limitations and precautions are in How this works and References. The calculator (Spanish) converts any other volume.
MOTS-C Dosage Chart (40 mg vial)
Dosing & Reconstitution Guide
Educational guide for reconstitution and daily dosing
Standard / Gradual Approach (2 mL = ~20 mg/mL)
| Week / phase | Daily dose | Units per injection (mL) |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–2 | 200 mcg | 1 units (0.01 mL) |
| Weeks 3–4 | 400 mcg | 2 units (0.02 mL) |
| Weeks 5–6 | 600 mcg | 3 units (0.03 mL) |
| Weeks 7–8 | 800 mcg | 4 units (0.04 mL) |
| Weeks 9–10+ | 1 mg (1000 mcg) | 5 units (0.05 mL) |
Frequency: Once daily, subcutaneously, at a consistent time.
Note: For 10-unit or smaller volumes (≤0.10 mL), a 30- or 50-unit syringe reads more accurately.
Reconstitution Steps
- Draw 2 mL of bacteriostatic water with a sterile syringe.1
- Inject slowly down the vial wall; avoid shaking to prevent foaming.2
- Gently swirl or roll until fully dissolved (clear solution).3
- Label with the reconstitution date and refrigerate at 2–8 °C, protected from light; use within 4 weeks.4
The per-phase amounts are identical across the MOTS-C family. The 40 mg vial only changes the concentration, U-100 units, volume and supplies.
Important: this guide is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. For research use only. Not for human consumption.
U-100 Conversion Table (2 mL = 20 mg/mL)
| U-100 units | Volume | Contains | Yield per vial |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0.02 mL | 400 mcg | 100 injections |
| 5 | 0.05 mL | 1 mg (1000 mcg) | 40 injections |
| 10 | 0.10 mL | 2 mg (2000 mcg) | 20 injections |
| 20 | 0.20 mL | 4 mg (4000 mcg) | 10 injections |
| 30 | 0.30 mL | 6 mg (6000 mcg) | 6 injections |
| 50 | 0.50 mL | 10 mg (10000 mcg) | 4 injections |
| 100 | 1.00 mL | 20 mg (20000 mcg) | 2 injections |
This section describes which dose a study or reference source used and what it measured. It is not a recommendation or an administration schedule. A trial dose belongs to its population, duration and supervision and does not transfer to anyone outside that context.
Supplies Needed
Straightforward 12- and 24-week planning for a 40 mg vial at 20 mg/mL.
MOTS-C vials (40 mg each)
- Standard / Gradual Approach, 12 weeks: Minimum 2 vials (56 mg required).
- Standard / Gradual Approach, 24 weeks: Minimum 4 vials (140 mg required).
U-100 syringes (1 mL)
- Standard / Gradual Approach, 12 weeks: 84 new syringes for 84 injections.
- Standard / Gradual Approach, 24 weeks: 168 new syringes for 168 injections.
Bacteriostatic water
- Standard / Gradual Approach, 12 weeks: 4 mL total (2 mL per vial) → 2 × 3 mL vials.
- Standard / Gradual Approach, 24 weeks: 8 mL total (2 mL per vial) → 3 × 3 mL vials.
Alcohol swabs
- Standard / Gradual Approach, 12 weeks: 168 minimum; one box of 100 does not cover the calculation.
- Standard / Gradual Approach, 24 weeks: 336 minimum; one box of 100 does not cover the calculation.
Sharps container: one appropriately sized. Stability planning: totals are minimum arithmetic quantities; follow the product documentation for sterility, storage, handling loss and discard timing.
MOTS-C 40mgView in store
Bacteriostatic water 3 mLView in storeStore links may earn a commission. A supplier page is not scientific evidence or proof of suitability for human use.
MOTS-C Vial and Research Context
- Reconstitute: add 2 mL of bacteriostatic water to produce 20 mg/mL.
- Frequency in the source: once daily, subcutaneously.
- Described range: schedules run from 200 mcg to 1 mg (1000 mcg) per injection.
- Easy measuring: 1 U-100 unit = 0.01 mL = 200 mcg.
- Vial size: the 40 mg label is total nominal content, not a per-injection amount.
- Vial coverage: at 200 mcg per injection one vial supplies 200 injections; at 1 mg (1000 mcg) it supplies 40. These are mass calculations, not storage periods.
Protocol Overview
Quick reference for the schedules shared by the cited literature.
- Frequency: once daily.
- Concentration: 40 mg in 2 mL = 20 mg/mL.
- Unit conversion: 1 U-100 unit = 200 mcg.
Dosing Schedule
The tables keep each approach separate.
- Standard / Gradual Approach: 200 mcg, 400 mcg, 600 mcg, 800 mcg, 1 mg (1000 mcg), in phases (once daily).
- Measurement: use the units and mL shown beside each amount.
- Consistency: vial size does not change the schedule.
Storage Instructions
- Lyophilized (unopened): −20 °C for long-term storage; 2–8 °C if used within weeks. Protected from light.
- Reconstituted: 2–8 °C, do not freeze. Use within the documented period (typically up to 4 weeks with bacteriostatic water).
- Handling: do not shake; avoid temperature cycling; label with date and concentration.
- Discard: cloudy solutions, particulates or expired preparations are discarded.
More detail in the storage guide (Spanish).
Important Notes
- Research only: the referenced compounds are sold for laboratory research. Nothing here is medical advice or an administration schedule.
- Above 100 units: a 1 mL U-100 syringe cannot hold them; split across syringes or reconstitute with less volume.
- Accuracy: concentration depends on the actual volume added; measure the diluent with a syringe, not by eye.
- Verification: confirm vial contents against the batch certificate of analysis before calculating.
How This Works
MOTS-C exerts its effects through multiple metabolic signaling pathways:
AMPK Activation:
The peptide directly activates AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase), the cell's master energy sensor. AMPK activation triggers cascades that favor fatty acid oxidation, improve insulin-independent glucose uptake, and increase mitochondrial biogenesis.
Folate pathway regulation:
Modulates folate metabolism and the methionine cycle, impacting DNA methylation and epigenetic regulation associated with cellular aging.
Nuclear translocation under stress:
Under metabolic stress conditions (fasting, exercise, caloric restriction), MOTS-C translocates from the mitochondria to the nucleus, where it modulates the expression of adaptive genes as an integrated stress response.
Improvement of mitochondrial function:
Increases electron transport chain activity, improves coupling between oxidative phosphorylation and ATP production, and reduces mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.
Research Applications
Active research lines with MOTS-C documented in the scientific literature:
- Resistencia a la insulina: studies in murine models describe a 30 to 50% improvement in insulin sensitivity with chronic treatment
- Obesidad inducida por dieta: protection against weight gain in high-fat diet models
- Capacidad aeróbica y ejercicio: increased muscle oxidative capacity in preclinical models, a phenomenon described as “exercise in an injection” in the literature
- Envejecimiento metabólico: endogenous levels decline with age, which correlates with metabolic decline in the studies
- Fatty liver disease Reduced hepatic lipid content in NAFLD models
- Cardioprotección: effects on myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion in models
- Neuroprotection investigaciones preliminares sobre Parkinson y enfermedad de Alzheimer
Precautions Described in the Literature
MOTS-C is an endogenous peptide, and the preclinical literature and first published trials describe a notably clean tolerability profile. In the experimental context, the literature mainly documents:
- Reacciones locales leves y transitorias descritas en los estudios
- Cefalea ocasional reportada en fases tempranas
- Mild hypoglycaemia described in models with advanced insulin resistance
Given its mechanism of improving insulin sensitivity, the literature notes potential interactions with antidiabetic agents (sulfonylureas, insulin, metformin) as a variable to control for in experimental design. Always handle under appropriate laboratory practice.
Injection Technique in Research
- Route in the studies: subcutaneous, in abdominal or thigh adipose tissue, rotating the site.
- Syringe: 1 mL U-100 (100 units); read in units, not mL.
- Asepsis: alcohol swab on the stopper and the site; a new syringe per injection.
- Drawing: purge air, draw the units from the chart and verify before withdrawing the needle from the vial.
Full guide: U-100 syringes and reading units (Spanish).
Research Note
All content on this page is technical and educational. It describes how a vial is reconstituted, how a syringe is read and which amounts the cited sources describe. It does not replace the supervision of a qualified researcher or the judgment of a health professional, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
References
- Lee C, Zeng J, Drew BG, et al. The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance. Cell Metab. 2015;21(3):443-454.
- Reynolds JC, Lai RW, Woodhead JST, et al. MOTS-c is an exercise-induced mitochondrial-encoded regulator of age-dependent physical decline and muscle homeostasis. Nat Commun. 2021;12:470.
- Kim KH, Son JM, Benayoun BA, Lee C. The mitochondrial-encoded peptide MOTS-c translocates to the nucleus to regulate nuclear gene expression. Cell Metab. 2018;28(3):516-524.
- Yang Y, Gao H, Zhou H, et al. The role of mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c in metabolic homeostasis. Pharmacol Res. 2019;143:166-171.
- Merry TL, Chan A, Woodhead JST, et al. Mitochondrial-derived peptides in energy metabolism. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2020;319(4):E659-E666.