Study record
Mitofusion is required for MOTS-c induced GLUT4 translocation
Bhullar KS, Shang N, Kerek E et al. · Sci Rep · 2021
CellsMOTS-c administeredEvidence tier D
What this study reported
Reported that MOTS-c treatment of mammalian cells increased mitochondrial biogenesis markers TFAM, COX4 and NRF1 while flow cytometry showed a lower mitochondrial count, and increased the fusion GTPases OPA1 and MFN2. Blocking these GTPases with TNF-alpha or knocking down MFN2 abolished MOTS-c-associated GLUT4 translocation and glucose uptake.
Limitations
Entirely cell-based with no in vivo confirmation; mitochondrial counting relies on a single dye-based flow cytometry method, and TNF-alpha is a non-specific tool for inhibiting fusion.
Study record
| Study model | Cell study (in vitro) |
|---|---|
| Substance studied | MOTS-c administeredSynthetic MOTS-c was given to cells, animals or people. |
| Species | human, mouse |
| System studied | Mammalian cell lines including HEK293 and adipocytes treated with MOTS-c, with siRNA knockdown of MFN2 |
| Population | Not reported |
| Design | Cell culture experiments |
| Sample size as reported | Not reported |
| Control group | untreated cells and non-targeting siRNA controls |
| Route (data field only) | in-culture |
| Endpoints measured | TFAM, COX4 and NRF1 levels; mitochondrial count by flow cytometry; OPA1 and MFN2 levels; GLUT4 translocation; glucose uptake |
| Pathways measured | Insulin & glucose handling · SIRT1 / PGC-1α / biogenesis · Other |
| Research areas | Metabolic · Mitochondrial biology |
| Evidence tier | D — Cell, tissue or analytical |
| Publication types | Journal Article, 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
- Not reported
- Controls
- Appropriate
- Outcome validity
- Surrogate
- 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.