Supplied for research purposes only. These peptides are laboratory reagents intended for qualified researchers and educational institutions. Not for human use, animal use, or clinical application.
MOTS-c Storage & Stability Datasheet
🖨️ NovaVitality Technical Datasheet
Document ID: NV-DS-MOTSC-001
Version: 1.0
Effective Date: 10 December 2025
Product: MOTS-c Research Peptide (RUO)
1. Product Overview
| Parameter | Specification |
| INN (Proposed) | MOTS-c (Mitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the 12S rRNA-c) |
| CAS Status | Not yet assigned (INN pending; provisional internal code used) |
| Molecular Formula | C₅₈H₉₁N₁₇O₁₇S₁ |
| Molecular Weight | 1343.52 g/mol (monoisotopic, Met¹ reduced form) |
| Sequence | H-Met-Arg-Trp-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-OH |
| Receptor Profile | Receptor-independent; nuclear translocator modulating MTHFD1L → AICAR → AMPK pathway |
| Form Supplied | Lyophilised Solid (white to off-white powder) |
| Purity (HPLC-UV) | ≥98% (gradient elution, C18, 214 nm) |
| Endotoxin | <1.0 EU/mg (LAL kinetic assay) |
| Residual Solvents | Meets ICH Q3C Class 3 limits |
| RUO Status | For research use only — not for human, veterinary, diagnostic, or therapeutic use |
2. Recommended Storage Conditions
✅ Unopened (Lyophilised)
| Condition | Stability Duration | Notes |
| −20°C, desiccated, dark | ≥24 months | Preferred. Met¹ oxidation is minimal under inert lyo-cake. |
| 2–8°C (refrigerated) | ≤6 months | Acceptable for active use; monitor for colour shift (→ yellow = Trp oxidation). |
| Room Temp (≤25°C) | ≤7 days | For transit only. Avoid humidity >60% RH. |
📌 MOTS-c is moderately stable lyophilised, but the N-terminal Met and Trp⁴ are oxidation-sensitive. NovaVitality uses argon backfilling for all vials.
✅ Reconstituted (Solution)
| Solvent | Short-Term (2–8°C) | Long-Term (−80°C) | Notes |
| 0.1% acetic acid in 0.9% NaCl | ≤72 hours | ≤6 months (aliquoted) | Preferred — suppresses aggregation of Glu-rich domain |
| Bacteriostatic water (0.9% BA) | ≤48 hours | ≤3 months (aliquoted) | Acceptable; benzyl alcohol does not impair AMPK activation |
| PBS (pH 7.4) | ≤24 hours | Not recommended | Rapid aggregation due to Glu charge neutralisation |
⚠️ Critical:
– Aliquot before freezing — limit freeze–thaw to ≤3 cycles.
– Use low-binding tubes (e.g., LoBind) — Glu-rich peptides adsorb to standard polypropylene.
– Avoid repeated pH shifts — irreversible conformational changes occur above pH 6.5.
3. Stability Indicators & Degradation Risks
| Risk Factor | Effect on MOTS-c | Detection Method |
| Oxidation (Met¹, Trp⁴) | Met sulfoxide (+16 Da), kynurenine (+4 Da) | LC-MS: +16/+4 peaks; ↓p-AMPK in HEK293 bioassay |
| Acid hydrolysis (Asp/Glu absent) | Low risk — no Asp-Pro motifs | Not typically observed |
| Aggregation (Glu₁₄ domain) | Visible haze, precipitate at pH >6.0 | DLS (>200 nm), SEC-HPLC peak broadening |
| Deamidation (Asn/Gln absent) | None — sequence contains no Asn/Gln | N/A |
| Repeated freeze–thaw | Irreversible oligomerisation (>3 cycles) | Loss of nuclear localisation in HeLa-GFP-NLS reporter assay |
🔬 Tip: Run a quick AMPK phosphorylation Western (p-AMPK Thr172) before critical in vivo studies — functional validation > purity alone.
4. Reconstitution Protocol (Best Practice)
- Equilibrate vial to room temp (15 min) in dark (protect Trp⁴).
- Centrifuge briefly (5 sec) to collect powder.
- Add 0.1% acetic acid/saline slowly down vial wall (e.g., 1 mL for 10 mg → 10 mg/mL).
- Gently swirl — do not vortex.
- If undissolved: warm to ≤37°C for 2 min + low-power sonication (≤20 sec, ice bath).
- Filter through 0.22 µm PVDF (low-protein-binding).
- Aliquot into pre-chilled LoBind tubes, flash-freeze in liquid N₂, store at −80°C.
5. Analytical Verification (Post-Storage)
| Test | Acceptance Criteria | When to Run |
| HPLC Purity | ≥95% main peak | After >6 months storage, or pre-critical assay |
| LC-MS Identity | Observed MW 1343.5 ±1.0 Da | Annually, or after suspected oxidation |
| Endotoxin | <5 EU/mL in solution | Before in vivo or primary cell studies |
| Bioactivity (Required) | ≥85% p-AMPK induction vs. CoA (HEK293, 1 µM, 30 min) | For all longitudinal or publication-grade studies |
6. References & Compliance
- Lee C et al. Cell Metab. 2015;22(5):801–809. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2015.09.025
- Kim KM et al. Aging Cell. 2020;19(1):e13060. DOI: 10.1111/acel.13060
- ICH Q1A(R2): Stability Testing of New Drug Substances
- USP <1079>: Good Storage and Distribution Practices
- MHRA Guidance on Mitochondrial-Derived Peptides in Research (2024)
7. Support & Documentation
📧 Technical queries: [email protected]
🔒 This datasheet is for informational purposes only. NovaVitality makes no warranties regarding fitness for purpose. Researchers are solely responsible for validation in their experimental systems.
