Mots-C
Mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA-c, MT-RNR1, Mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c
Nuclear transcriptional regulation by mitochondrial-encoded MOTS-c.
Lee. Changhan C
Key Findings
- MOTS‑c is a mitochondrial‑encoded peptide that relocates to the nucleus during cellular stress.
- Once in the nucleus, MOTS‑c binds to DNA and influences the transcription of stress‑response genes.
- This bi‑genomic communication links mitochondrial health to nuclear gene regulation, suggesting a new layer of metabolic control.
Practical Outcomes
- For biohackers, the study hints that boosting MOTS‑c levels could help the body better manage stress and metabolic challenges, but the research is still at a basic science stage. No dosing guidelines or human efficacy data are provided yet, so it’s not ready for direct supplementation protocols, though it may guide future product development.
Summary
Scientists discovered that the tiny protein MOTS‑c, which is made inside mitochondria, can move into the cell nucleus when the cell is stressed and directly turn genes on or off. This shows that mitochondria can send signals to the nucleus, not just the other way around.
Abstract
Cellular stress response is coordinated through the communication between mitochondria and the nucleus. However, whereas mitochondria are regulated by nuclear-encoded proteins, the nucleus was considered ungoverned by mitochondrial-encoded factors. We recently reported that a mitochondrial-encoded peptide directly regulates the nuclear genome upon cellular stress, indicating an integrated bi-genomic cross-communication mechanism.
Study Information
pubmed
2019
2019-02-15T00:00:00.000Z
10.1080/23723556.2018.1549464
10
10