AOD-9604 vs MOTS-c
AOD-9604 (Modified GH-fragment peptide) and MOTS-c (Mitochondrial-derived peptide) are documented as co-studied in the PeptiDex library. This page puts the two entries side by side on class, molecular weight, half-life, origin, mechanism and studied research areas — every value taken from the entry it belongs to.
Why these two are co-studied
Cross-referenced for research context — not a usage or combination recommendation.
At a glance
| Attribute | AOD-9604 | MOTS-c |
|---|---|---|
| Compound class | Modified GH-fragment peptide | Mitochondrial-derived peptide |
| Research category | Metabolic & Mitochondrial | Metabolic & Mitochondrial |
| Length (amino acids) | 16 amino acids | 16 amino acids |
| Molecular weight | ~1815 g/mol | ~2174 g/mol |
| Half-life | ~20-40 minutes (reported) | Not documented |
| Origin | AOD-9604 is a synthetic, stabilized analog of the C-terminal lipolytic region (residues 176-191) of human growth hormone, developed in the 1990s at Monash University. It adds an N-terminal tyrosine to the native fragment and retains the intramolecular disulfide bridge between the two cysteine residues. | MOTS-c (Mitochondrial ORF of the 12S rRNA type-c) is a 16-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide encoded within the MT-RNR1 (12S rRNA) region of mitochondrial DNA. It was described in 2015 and is one of a small family of mitochondrial-derived peptides. |
“Not documented” means the PeptiDex entry records no value for that field. Nothing on this page is estimated, and no figure is carried over from one compound to the other.
How AOD-9604 works
AOD-9604 corresponds to the C-terminal fragment of GH that carries the hormone's lipolytic (fat-metabolizing) activity while lacking the regions responsible for GH's growth-promoting and insulin-antagonizing effects. In preclinical models it has been reported to stimulate lipolysis and inhibit lipogenesis. It does not act as a full growth hormone and reportedly does not raise IGF-1 or affect blood glucose in the manner of intact GH.
How MOTS-c works
MOTS-c is reported to regulate metabolic homeostasis, in part via activation of the AMPK pathway and modulation of the folate-methionine cycle and de novo purine biosynthesis. It has been described to translocate to the nucleus under metabolic stress and influence stress-response gene expression. Preclinical work links it to improved insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake in skeletal muscle; it is also described as exercise-responsive.
Mechanistic descriptions reflect published research-literature understanding and are quoted from each compound's own entry. Much peptide research is preclinical (in-vitro or animal-model); mechanism in humans may differ and is not established for many compounds.
Where each one appears in the literature
The research contexts each entry documents. Listing a research area is not a claim of efficacy or a therapeutic indication, and the two lists are not scored against each other.
AOD-9604
MOTS-c
What sets each apart
AOD-9604
Unlike full-length GH or GH secretagogues, AOD-9604 targets only the lipolytic C-terminal region; unlike the raw HGH Fragment 176-191, it carries an extra N-terminal tyrosine intended to improve stability.
MOTS-c
Unlike the GH-derived fragments here, MOTS-c is endogenously encoded in the mitochondrial genome and acts as a broad metabolic regulator rather than a targeted lipolytic fragment.
Frequently asked questions
What is AOD-9604 and what class of compound is it?
AOD-9604 is a synthetic 16-amino-acid peptide corresponding to the C-terminal region (residues 176-191) of human growth hormone, modified with an added N-terminal tyrosine and a disulfide bridge between its two cysteine residues. It is studied as a lipolytic (fat-metabolism) peptide that appears to isolate the fat-mobilizing activity of GH. It is a research peptide, not an approved therapeutic in most jurisdictions.
How does AOD-9604 differ from unmodified HGH Fragment 176-191?
AOD-9604 is a stabilized analog of HGH Fragment 176-191: it adds a tyrosine residue at the N-terminus of the native fragment. This modification was engineered in preclinical work to improve metabolic stability and lipolytic activity relative to the raw fragment. Both are studied for fat metabolism, but AOD-9604 is the more characterized, stabilized version.
Does AOD-9604 raise IGF-1 or affect blood glucose in research models?
In preclinical models, AOD-9604 was reported to stimulate lipolysis and inhibit lipogenesis without the growth-promoting or diabetogenic effects associated with full-length growth hormone. Studies indicate it does not meaningfully elevate IGF-1 or disturb glucose handling in the models examined. These findings are from research settings and are not clinical guarantees.
What is MOTS-c and where does it come from?
MOTS-c (Mitochondrial Open-reading-frame of the Twelve-S rRNA type-c) is a 16-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide (MDP) encoded within the 12S rRNA region of mitochondrial DNA, rather than by the nuclear genome. First described in 2015, it is studied as a regulator of metabolic homeostasis. Its sequence and MDP origin make it structurally distinct from most catalog peptides.
What is MOTS-c studied for?
MOTS-c is studied in models of metabolic homeostasis, insulin sensitivity, exercise capacity, and aging. Research reported that MOTS-c levels rise with exercise and that exogenous MOTS-c improved glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and running endurance in aged mice. It is thought to act partly via AMPK-linked metabolic signaling.
How is MOTS-c thought to work mechanistically?
MOTS-c is reported to translocate to the nucleus under metabolic stress and influence adaptive gene-expression programs, and it engages the AMPK pathway and folate/one-carbon metabolism to promote glucose uptake and fatty-acid oxidation. This positions it as a signaling peptide linking mitochondrial state to whole-body metabolism in preclinical models.
Answers are the ones published on each compound's own PeptiDex entry. They are educational summaries of research-literature context and are not medical advice.