What is MOTS-c?
MOTS-c is short for “mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA type-c.” It is a 16-amino-acid peptide whose code sits in the mitochondrial genome rather than in the DNA of the cell nucleus, which places it in a small group called mitochondrial-derived peptides. Humanin is another member of that group. MOTS-c was first described in 2015.
Its sequence is Met-Arg-Trp-Gln-Glu-Met-Gly-Tyr-Ile-Phe-Tyr-Pro-Arg-Lys-Leu-Arg (MRWQEMGYIFYPRKLR). On supplier labels you will see it written as MOTS-c, MOTS c or MOTSc; all refer to the same peptide. Check the label for the exact mg in the vial, because MOTS-c is sold in noticeably larger vials than many short peptides.
Laboratory research on MOTS-c looks at its role in cell signaling. This page makes no claims about effects in people. It does one thing: the math behind MOTS-c reconstitution with bacteriostatic water and reading the result on a U-100 syringe.
How much BAC water for a MOTS-c vial?
Research vials are most often labeled mots c 10mg, 20 mg or mots c 40mg of freeze-dried powder. The milligrams in the vial never change; the volume of BAC water you add sets the concentration. The chart shows micrograms per unit on a U-100 syringe for common water volumes.
| BAC water | 10 mg vial | 20 mg vial | 40 mg vial |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | 100 mcg/unit 10 mg/mL | 200 mcg/unit 20 mg/mL | 400 mcg/unit 40 mg/mL |
| 2 mL | 50 mcg/unit 5 mg/mL | 100 mcg/unit 10 mg/mL | 200 mcg/unit 20 mg/mL |
| 3 mL | 33.33 mcg/unit 3.333 mg/mL | 66.67 mcg/unit 6.667 mg/mL | 133.33 mcg/unit 13.333 mg/mL |
| 5 mL | 20 mcg/unit 2 mg/mL | 40 mcg/unit 4 mg/mL | 80 mcg/unit 8 mg/mL |
Each cell shows mcg per unit on a U-100 syringe (100 units = 1 mL) and the resulting concentration.
Read across a row to compare vial sizes at the same water volume, or down a column to see how more water spreads the same powder thinner. Larger vials put more micrograms into every unit at the same volume, so a 40 mg vial reads very differently from a 10 mg vial even with identical water. There is no single correct volume; a round figure that divides evenly into the vial mg simply gives cleaner numbers. For the ratio behind the chart, see the BAC water to peptide ratio guide.
Worked example: MOTS-c reconstitution in syringe units
The calculator runs three steps. Vial mg ÷ water mL gives the concentration. The amount you enter ÷ that concentration gives the volume in mL. Volume in mL × 100 gives U-100 units. For example, if the amount you already have is 500 mcg, and the vial is a mots c 10mg vial with 2 mL of water added:
The math: 10 mg ÷ 2 mL = 5 mg/mL (5,000 mcg/mL), which is 50 mcg per unit. 500 mcg ÷ 5,000 mcg/mL = 0.1 mL = 10 units on a U-100 syringe.
That amount is an arbitrary number picked because it comes out clean. It is not a suggestion. The same steps work for a 40 mg vial; only the concentration changes. If you would rather work in milligrams, remember that 1 mg = 1,000 mcg, and enter the amount in the same unit you select in the calculator. The mg to mcg conversion guide covers that step.
MOTS-c dosage calculator: what the numbers mean
Most people searching for MOTS-c dosage want to know how many units on the syringe line up with an amount. That is the question this page answers. You bring the amount; the MOTS-c dosage calculator above converts it into mL and units based on your vial size and the water you actually added. It does not set, suggest or check a dose, a schedule or a frequency, and nothing on this page should be read that way. Dosing is a matter for product labeling and a qualified professional.
Units are the same size on every U-100 syringe: 100 units = 1 mL and 1 unit = 0.01 mL. A 0.3 mL or 0.5 mL syringe simply holds fewer of them. If an entered amount would need more units than your syringe holds, the result is still correct; it just exceeds that syringe’s capacity. You can check the calculator math by hand with the same formula.
MOTS-c reconstitution notes from suppliers
MOTS-c reconstitution follows the general pattern for freeze-dried peptides, but supplier instructions differ, so the label on your vial comes first. Some suppliers specify bacteriostatic water; others list sterile water. Some product sheets note that MOTS-c dissolves readily and should be swirled gently rather than shaken, and some state a storage temperature for the dry powder and a separate one after mixing.
Because MOTS-c comes in large vials, some suppliers specify a larger water volume for the 40 mg size than for the 10 mg size. That choice changes only the concentration. Whatever volume you use, enter that exact figure in the calculator so the unit count matches what is in the vial. For general background on mixing, the peptide reconstitution guide covers the basics.
Is MOTS-c FDA-approved?
No. MOTS-c is not an FDA-approved drug, and vials sold online are labeled for research use. There is no approved product with labeled strengths or directions to compare a research vial against, so the only numbers you can rely on are the mg printed on the vial and the water volume you measured.
A correct calculation cannot confirm a vial’s identity, purity, sterility or stability. The calculator assumes the label is accurate. Treat any result as arithmetic, not as a statement that a product is safe or suitable for any use.
MOTS-c FAQ
How much BAC water do you add to a MOTS-c 10mg vial?
There is no single required volume. The chart shows how 1, 2, 3 and 5 mL change the micrograms per unit. Follow the product labeling for the diluent and volume, then enter the volume you used in the calculator.
Does this page give a MOTS-c dosage?
No. It converts an amount you already have into mL and U-100 syringe units for your vial size and water volume. It does not recommend a dose, schedule or frequency.
Can I use the calculator for a MOTS-c 40mg vial?
Yes. Select or enter 40 mg as the vial size, enter the BAC water volume you added, and the calculator works out the concentration and units the same way.
Why does a larger MOTS-c vial give more mcg per unit?
With the same water volume, more powder means a higher concentration, so each unit on the syringe holds more of the peptide. Adding more water lowers it again.
Is MOTS-c the same as humanin?
No. Both are mitochondrial-derived peptides, but they are different peptides with different sequences and are sold as separate products.