Mitochondrial Biology
Mitochondrial-derived peptide signalling
Mitochondrial DNA can encode short peptides that act as intracellular and systemic stress-response signals.
Biological pathway
MOTS-c influences metabolic stress responses, skeletal-muscle glucose handling and nuclear gene regulation under cellular stress.
Evidence summary
Strong laboratory and animal evidence supports a metabolic role, with limited human observational and exercise-response evidence.
Limitations
Human therapeutic administration studies remain sparse and clinical effectiveness is unproven.