Study record
The Mitochondrial-Encoded Peptide MOTS-c Translocates to the Nucleus to Regulate Nuclear Gene Expression in Response to Metabolic Stress
Kim KH, Son JM, Benayoun BA et al. · Cell Metab · 2018
CellsEndogenous MOTS-c measuredEvidence tier D
What this study reported
In cultured cells, reported that MOTS-c translocated to the nucleus after metabolic stress in an AMPK-dependent manner. In the nucleus, MOTS-c regulated a broad range of genes in response to glucose restriction, including those with antioxidant response elements, and interacted with stress-responsive transcription factors such as NFE2L2/NRF2.
Limitations
Cell-line work only; the abstract does not specify which experiments used endogenous versus exogenous MOTS-c, nor replication details.
Study record
| Study model | Cell study (in vitro) |
|---|---|
| Substance studied | Endogenous MOTS-c measuredNaturally occurring MOTS-c was measured; nothing was given. |
| Species | human |
| System studied | Cultured cell lines (HEK293, HepG2 per MeSH) under glucose restriction and metabolic stress |
| Population | Not reported |
| Design | Cell culture experiments |
| Sample size as reported | Not reported |
| Control group | Not reported |
| Route (data field only) | Not reported |
| Endpoints measured | MOTS-c nuclear translocation; nuclear gene expression; AMPK dependence; interaction with NFE2L2/NRF2 |
| Pathways measured | Nuclear translocation · AMPK signalling · NRF2 / antioxidant response |
| Research areas | Mitochondrial biology · Metabolic |
| Evidence tier | D — Cell, tissue or analytical |
| Publication types | Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Appraisal
Each dimension is recorded separately and never combined into a single score. A study can be well controlled and still tell you little about people.
- Relevance to MOTS-c
- Direct
- Model applicability
- Cellular
- Sample size
- n/a
- Controls
- Limited
- Outcome validity
- Exploratory
- Support for its own conclusion
- Moderate
Provenance
- Bibliographic fields retrieved from PubMed E-utilities efetch (title, journal, date, authors, DOI) on 2026-11-11.
- Annotated from the published abstract.
- Editorial review: approved (2026-11-11).
- Classification follows the site methodology; the record describes the study, not what MOTS-c does in people.