Longevity & Cellular Renewal
GHK-Cu
Copper tripeptide-1
Copper Tripeptide-1 (Glycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysine Cu²⁺)
Research context
GHK is a tripeptide present in human plasma whose concentration declines with chronological age. Its copper complex has been characterised in collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis assays in fibroblast culture. Broader transcriptomic work has reported expression changes across large numbers of human genes in cultured cells.
Common assays: Collagen synthesis quantification · Fibroblast gene expression profiling · Metal-binding characterisation
Specification
| Designation | Copper tripeptide-1 |
|---|---|
| Full name | Copper Tripeptide-1 (Glycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysine Cu²⁺) |
| Sequence | Gly-His-Lys · Cu²⁺ |
| CAS number | 89030-95-5 |
| Molecular formula | C14H24N6O4·Cu |
| Molecular weight | 403.94 g/mol |
| Formats | 10 mL Vial · 15 mL Nasal Spray · 15 mL Oral Spray |
| Solubility | Sterile water, bacteriostatic water |
| Storage | Lyophilised: 2–8 °C, protected from light |
Published literature
Selected peer-reviewed references describing research involving this compound. Listed for reference only; inclusion is not a claim about any outcome.
- Pickart L, Margolina A.Regenerative and protective actions of the GHK-Cu peptide in the light of the new gene dataInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2018 Find on PubMed ↗
- Pickart L.The human tri-peptide GHK and tissue remodelingJournal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition · 2008 Find on PubMed ↗
Common questions
Why is GHK supplied as a copper complex?
GHK has high affinity for copper(II), and the copper-bound form is the species characterised in most of the published literature. The complex is also more stable in storage than the free peptide.
How is the copper complex confirmed?
By mass. The copper-bound complex and the free tripeptide differ in molecular weight, so LC-MS distinguishes them directly — the published lot record shows the detected mass.
Same pathway
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