Comparison

MOTS-c vs Snap-8

Function

While MOTS-c improves insulin sensitivity, enhances glycolysis, reduces oxidative stress, and shows protective effects in models of metabolic syndrome, aging, and ischemia-reperfusion injury8135146, Snap-8 is a cosmetic peptide studied for reducing wrinkle depth by inhibiting synaptic vesicle fusion and subsequent muscle contraction in facial expression muscles5060.

Mechanism

While MOTS-c works as a 16-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide that translocates to the nucleus under metabolic stress and regulates glucose and lipid metabolism largely via activation of AMPK and modulation of mTOR and folate-cycle–linked pathways854140146, Snap-8 is acetyl octapeptide-3 (Ac-Glu-Glu-Met-Gln-Arg-Arg-Ala-Asp-NH2), an extended analog of Argireline derived from the N-terminal region of SNAP-25 that competes with native SNAP-25 for binding to syntaxin-1, forming a non-functional SNARE complex and reducing neurotransmitter release5060.

Length and Sequence

MOTS-c is 16 amino acids long, whereas Snap-8 is shorter as it has a length of 8 amino acids. MOTS-c is made up of a sequence of Methionine, Arginine, Tryptophan, Glutamine, Glutamic acid, Methionine, Glycine, Tyrosine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Proline, Arginine, Lysine, Leucine, Arginine. Snap-8 is made up of a sequence of Glutamic acid, Glutamic acid, Methionine, Glutamine, Arginine, Arginine, Alanine, Aspartic acid.

Receptor

MOTS-c

No dedicated cell-surface receptor has been definitively identified; signaling is primarily described via intracellular AMPK and related metabolic pathways8135146

Snap-8

Targets the SNARE complex (SNAP-25–syntaxin interaction) rather than a cell-surface receptor5060

Organism or Origin

MOTS-c

Human mitochondrial peptide encoded in the 12S rRNA gene region54146

Snap-8

Fully synthetic SNAP-25–derived peptide used in topical anti-wrinkle products5060

Gene

MOTS-c

MT-RNR1

Snap-8

Not assigned in the current dataset.

Related articles

No related articles are linked to these peptides yet.

Sources

8Mitochondrial-encoded peptide MOTS-c prevents pancreatic islet ..., https://www.nature.com/articles/s12276-025-01521-1
54MOTS-c - Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOTS-c
135MOTS-c Promotes Glycolysis via AMPK-HIF-1α-PFKFB3 ... - PubMed, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40035775/
146MOTS-c: A promising mitochondrial-derived peptide for therapeutic ..., https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9905433/
50SNAP-8 (Acetyl Octapeptide-3) Peptide Overview - Kimera Chems, https://kimerachems.co/product/snap-8-acetyl-octapeptide-3/
60SNAP-8 (Acetyl Octapeptide-3): The Topical Anti-Wrinkle | FormBlends, https://formblends.com/research/specialty/snap8-anti-aging-peptide