MOTS-c (mitochondrial open-reading-frame of the 12S rRNA-c) peptide is a novel mitochondria-derived peptide. It is a short peptide composed of 16 amino acids, expressed in tissues and plasma, indicating a cell-specific and hormonal role. With the potential to work both as a cell-specific compound and as a hormone, this peptide possibly acts by stimulating the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway
