**2. Mitochondrial-Derived Peptides (MDPs)**

Novel mitochondrial-derived peptides (MDPs), which are encoded within the mtDNA, serve as signals for organism cytoprotection and energy regulation. The MDPs encoded from the 16S rRNA region of the mtDNA include Humanin and SHLPs, which regulate cell survival and growth via distinct pathways. MOTS-c, encoded from the 12S rRNA region of the mtDNA, plays a key role in regulation of muscle and fat metabolism and prevents hepatic steatosis. Numerous MDPs are well-characterized and are in preclinical development for aging-related diseases [17–20].
