What Is GHK-Cu? Research Guide
Definition
GHK-Cu is a copper(II) complex of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine (CAS 89030-95-5, C14H24CuN6O4, 403.9 Da). GHK was isolated from human plasma by Pickart in 1973 as the factor that made cultured aged liver tissue behave like younger tissue. The same tripeptide sequence also occurs inside collagen alpha-2(I) and SPARC, a proposed source of the free peptide.
Key Takeaways
- →GHK-Cu is a copper(II) complex of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine (CAS 89030-95-5, C14H24CuN6O4, 403.9 Da). GHK was isolated from human plasma by Pickart in 1973 as the factor that made cultured aged liver tissue behave like younger tissue.
- →Available for in-vitro research at ≥99% HPLC-verified purity from Peptide.Express.
- →Certificate of Analysis included with every order. Same-day US shipping.
GHK-Cu Specifications
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Compound | GHK-Cu |
| CAS Number | 89030-95-5 |
| Molecular Formula | C14H24CuN6O4 |
| Molecular Weight | 403.9 Da |
| Sequence / Structure | Gly-His-Lys copper(II) complex (tripeptide-copper) |
| Mechanism Class | Copper(II)-binding tripeptide complex |
| Purity | ≥99% by HPLC, batch-specific CoA included |
Registry records for GHK-Cu: PubChem
GHK-Cu Mechanism of Action
The chemistry comes before the biology here. GHK binds Cu(II) with high affinity through the histidine imidazole, the N-terminal amine and a backbone nitrogen, in a geometry that exchanges copper with albumin at physiological pH — and that exchange, rather than any receptor, is the mechanism most often proposed, treating GHK-Cu as a copper delivery and buffering species. In fibroblast culture it has been reported to alter collagen, decorin and metalloproteinase expression, and a transcriptome study by Campbell and colleagues (BMC Genomics, 2012) reported broad shifts in gene expression in COPD-derived fibroblasts exposed to GHK. No receptor for GHK has been identified. Separating the peptide contribution from the copper contribution remains the central methodological difficulty in this literature, and studies that include a copper-only control are the ones worth reading.
GHK-Cu Research Applications
Extracellular matrix remodeling assays measuring collagen and decorin synthesis in fibroblast culture, the best-populated part of the GHK record.
Copper coordination chemistry, where GHK-Cu serves as a well-behaved Cu(II) chelate and its exchange with albumin is directly measurable.
Transcriptome profiling, following the gene-expression studies that reported broad changes in fibroblast expression patterns.
Formulation and stability work, helped by the fact that the intact complex is intensely blue and can be tracked colorimetrically.
GHK-Cu Storage Requirements
Store lyophilized GHK-Cu at -20°C (-4°F) in an amber or foil-wrapped vial. Light and oxidation protection is not boilerplate for this compound: the Cu(II) centre is redox active, and free copper catalyses oxidation of whatever else shares the solution. Reconstitute with sterile or bacteriostatic water rather than phosphate or citrate buffers, which compete for the copper, then refrigerate at 2-8°C (36-46°F) and use within 30 days. Intact material gives a clear blue solution; loss of that colour indicates the complex has broken down.
GHK-Cu at Peptide.Express
All GHK-Cu sold by Peptide.Express is HPLC-verified at ≥99% purity with a Certificate of Analysis included. Same-day US shipping on orders before 2 PM EST. For in-vitro laboratory research use only.
View GHK-Cu Product DetailsFrequently Asked Questions
What is GHK-Cu?
GHK-Cu is a 1:1 complex of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine with copper(II), CAS 89030-95-5, molecular formula C14H24CuN6O4 and molecular weight 403.9 Da. The GHK peptide was isolated from human plasma by Pickart in 1973. It is studied in extracellular-matrix, copper-coordination and tissue-remodeling research.
What is the molecular weight of GHK-Cu, and why do sources disagree?
Peptide.Express states C14H24CuN6O4 and 403.9 Da, the figure its own LC-MS/MS certificates of analysis report. PubChem computes C14H22CuN6O4 and 401.9 Da for the neutral coordination structure. The two hydrogens are the difference between the rigorous chelate, where Cu(II) binding displaces two backbone N-H protons, and the simple additive sum of free tripeptide plus copper. Both describe the same substance: one is a calculation, the other a measurement.
What is the sequence of GHK-Cu?
The peptide component is Gly-His-Lys, a tripeptide, complexed with a single copper(II) ion. In cosmetic ingredient nomenclature it is listed as copper tripeptide-1. The GHK sequence also occurs inside collagen alpha-2(I) and SPARC, which is one proposed origin for free GHK circulating in plasma.
Why does GHK-Cu solution turn blue?
The blue colour is the Cu(II) d-d absorption band of the coordinated complex, and it doubles as a practical quality check: intact GHK-Cu in water gives a clear blue solution. A colourless, green or precipitated solution means the copper is no longer coordinated as expected, and that vial should not be used for quantitative work.
Is GHK-Cu FDA approved?
GHK-Cu is not an FDA-approved drug. It is used as a cosmetic ingredient under the name copper tripeptide-1, which is a different regulatory category involving no evaluation of therapeutic efficacy and no drug approval. Research-grade GHK-Cu from Peptide.Express is supplied for in-vitro laboratory research only.
Where can I buy GHK-Cu for research?
Research-grade GHK-Cu is available from Peptide.Express at ≥99% HPLC-verified purity with a Certificate of Analysis included. Visit peptide.express/catalog/peptide-ghk-cu for full specifications.
References
- Pickart L, Margolina A. "Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data." International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2018. Read the GHK-Cu regenerative gene-data review on PMC
- Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. "The Human Tripeptide GHK-Cu in Prevention of Oxidative Stress and Degenerative Conditions of Aging." Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2012. Read the GHK-Cu oxidative stress and aging review on PMC
- Review of GHK as an anti-aging peptide, covering the plasma decline observation and the tissue-remodeling gene expression data. Read the GHK anti-aging peptide review on PMC
- Maquart FX, Pickart L, Laurent M, Gillery P, Monboisse JC, Borel JP. "Stimulation of Collagen Synthesis in Fibroblast Cultures by the Tripeptide-Copper Complex Glycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysine-Cu2+." FEBS Letters. 1988. Read the Maquart 1988 GHK-Cu fibroblast collagen synthesis study
Research Areas Using GHK-Cu
Related Research Guides
How This Page Is Sourced
Molecular identity on this page — name, CAS number, molecular formula and molecular weight — is resolved from a single internal entity record and checked against primary registries (PubChem, CAS Common Chemistry) rather than retyped per page. A field with no verified value is left out instead of estimated. Literature is cited to a DOI, PMID or PMCID permalink so every reference resolves to the specific record it names.