Monthly Archives: August 2026
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August 03, 2026
Mitochondria, the parts of the cell that produce energy, are one of the busiest areas of performance and longevity research. Two names now come up in almost every discussion: MOTS-c and NAD+.
Both are linked to cellular energy, metabolism and age-related decline, and they are often mentioned together. But one is a peptide made by the mitochondria and the other is a coenzyme the mitochondria depend on. This Showdown explains how they differ and why they are more complementary than competing.
All information is for educational and research purposes only.
MOTS-c — The Mitochondria's Own Messenger
What it is: MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide. Unusually, it is encoded by mitochondrial DNA, not the DNA in the cell nucleus. It was discovered in 2015 and belongs to a newly recognised class called mitochondrial-derived peptides.
How it works:
