Longevity Research | Cellular Aging Peptide Comparison
Epitalon vs MOTS-c
A research comparison of Epitalon (telomerase activator, Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) and MOTS-c (mitochondria-derived peptide, AMPK activator). Two of the most mechanistically distinct longevity research peptides — one targeting nuclear telomere biology, the other targeting mitochondrial metabolic regulation.
Epitalon and MOTS-c address longevity biology at opposite ends of the cellular hierarchy: Epitalon works at the nuclear level through telomerase activation and epigenetic modulation, while MOTS-c works at the mitochondrial level through retrograde AMPK signaling and metabolic homeostasis. They are fully non-redundant and represent the two most mechanistically distinct longevity research tools in the OligoPoly Labs catalog.
| Parameter | Epitalon | MOTS-c |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Synthetic (pineal extract analog) | Mitochondrial genome (12S rRNA) |
| Primary Target | hTERT (telomerase) | AMPK activation |
| Cellular Location | Nucleus (telomeres) | Mitochondria → nucleus |
| AA Length | 4 (tetrapeptide) | 21 |
| MW | 390 Da | 2,175 Da |
| Aging Mechanism | Telomere length maintenance | Mitochondrial metabolic homeostasis |
| Energy Metabolism | Indirect | Direct (AMPK/glucose uptake) |
| Gene Regulation | Epigenetic / hTERT | AMPK downstream targets |
| Published Research | Extensive (Khavinson) | Growing (Kim 2018 CELL) |
| Price | $49 | $69 |
| HPLC Purity | ≥99.8% | ≥99.8% |
Two Distinct Longevity Mechanisms
Epitalon and MOTS-c represent two fundamentally different biological approaches to longevity research — one rooted in nuclear telomere biology, the other in mitochondrial metabolic signaling.
Epitalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) is a synthetic tetrapeptide analog of epithalamin, an endogenous peptide from the pineal gland. It was developed and extensively studied by Vladimir Khavinson and colleagues over several decades of Soviet/Russian longevity research. Its primary studied mechanism is activation of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) — the catalytic subunit of the telomerase complex that extends telomere repeats on chromosomal ends. Telomere shortening is a well-established correlate of cellular aging and replicative senescence; compounds that maintain or extend telomere length are of significant interest in longevity biology.
MOTS-c (Mitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the 12S rRNA-c) is a 21-amino acid peptide encoded within the mitochondrial genome — specifically the 12S rRNA gene — discovered by Changhan David Lee and published in Cell (2015). MOTS-c translocates from mitochondria to the nucleus in response to metabolic stress, where it activates AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) signaling and regulates nuclear gene expression. AMPK is a master metabolic switch — its activation suppresses anabolic processes and promotes glucose uptake, fatty acid oxidation, and mitochondrial biogenesis.
Complementary targets: Epitalon addresses cellular longevity through nuclear DNA protection (telomere maintenance). MOTS-c addresses it through mitochondrial function and metabolic efficiency. These are non-competing pathways that together cover the two most-cited cellular mechanisms in aging biology research.
Research Application Guide
Choose Epitalon ($49) for: telomerase activation studies, telomere length assays (qPCR or flow FISH), replicative senescence models, epigenetic aging research (DNA methylation clock studies), pineal peptide bioregulator research, and chronic in vivo longevity models.
Choose MOTS-c ($69) for: AMPK signaling studies, mitochondrial-nuclear retrograde communication research, metabolic homeostasis assays, glucose uptake studies (2-NBDG or radio-labeled glucose), mitochondrial biogenesis (PGC-1α expression), and age-related metabolic dysfunction models.
Use both together for a comprehensive cellular aging panel that covers both the nuclear (telomere/epigenetic) and mitochondrial (energetic/metabolic) dimensions of the aging phenotype. Complement with SS-31 ($79) for inner mitochondrial membrane integrity and GHK-Cu ($49) for ECM/extracellular aging to complete a four-mechanism longevity research panel.
Research Use Only: All compounds are strictly for laboratory and in vitro research. Not for human use, veterinary use, or any diagnostic or treatment purpose. OligoPoly Labs supplies research-grade peptides exclusively to qualified researchers.
OligoPoly Labs — Houston TX · Research Use Only
Epitalon vs MOTS-c — Telomerase vs Mitochondrial Longevity Research Comparison
Epitalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly tetrapeptide, hTERT activator, $49) and MOTS-c (mitochondria-derived AMPK activator, $69) are mechanistically non-redundant longevity research peptides — targeting nuclear telomere biology and mitochondrial metabolic signaling respectively. Together they provide coverage of the two most-studied cellular mechanisms in aging biology. OligoPoly Labs supplies both at ≥99.8% HPLC purity with batch-specific COA documentation from Houston TX.
Research Use Only.
Research Compounds Referenced in This Guide
For Research Use Only · Third-Party Tested · COA Verified · Ships from Houston TX