Mots-C
Mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA-c, MT-RNR1, Mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c
A Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide Exercises the Nuclear Option.
Mangalhara. Kailash C KC; Shadel. Gerald S GS
Key Findings
- MOTS‑c is encoded by mitochondrial DNA, not nuclear DNA.
- After being produced, MOTS‑c moves into the cell nucleus.
- In the nucleus, MOTS‑c influences gene expression, suggesting a new signaling pathway.
Practical Outcomes
- For biohackers, this study mainly expands the scientific background of MOTS‑c but does not provide dosing guidelines or direct health protocols. It hints that supplementing MOTS‑c could eventually affect metabolism or stress responses, but more applied research is needed before it can be used in real‑world regimens.
Summary
Researchers found that the tiny protein MOTS‑c, which is made inside mitochondria, can travel to the cell nucleus and change which genes are turned on or off. This shows that mitochondria can directly talk to the nucleus, not just the other way around.
Abstract
The vast majority of mitochondrial proteins are encoded by nuclear genes, giving the nucleus ultimate control of mitochondrial biogenesis, dynamics, and function. However, in this issue Kim et al. (2018) demonstrate a reversal of fortune, whereby an mtDNA-encoded peptide, MOTS-c, is targeted to the nucleus to signal changes in gene expression.
Study Information
pubmed
2018
2018-09-04T00:00:00.000Z
10.1016/j.cmet.2018.08.017
21
10