GHK-Cu

GHK-Cu is a copper peptide complex supplied by Apex Laboratory as a high-purity research peptide intended strictly for in-vitro laboratory research and development applications.

Compound Overview

GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide found in human plasma, saliva, and urine. The copper(II) complex modulates extracellular matrix remodeling through stimulation of collagen synthesis, glycosaminoglycan production, and growth factor signaling. Research also examines its antioxidant activity through superoxide dismutase-like effects.

GHK-Cu is the copper(II) chelate of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine (GHK), a sequence first isolated from human plasma where its concentration is reported to decline with donor age. In coordination terms, the molecule is more than a peptide that happens to carry copper: the metal is held in an approximately square-planar geometry by the imidazole nitrogen of the central histidine, the deprotonated amide nitrogen of the histidyl residue, and the N-terminal glycine amine, with the lysine side chain and an exchangeable axial position remaining available for interaction. This high-affinity, redox-buffered binding is the structural reason the complex behaves differently in research models from the metal-free peptide and from a simple copper salt: it can hold copper in a coordination state that participates in enzyme-like chemistry rather than sitting as a free, potentially pro-oxidant ion.

Within the extracellular-matrix research literature, the copper tripeptide is studied as a small-molecule modulator rather than a receptor ligand. Reported in-vitro effects cluster around fibroblast behaviour, where investigators have examined synthesis of type I and type IV collagen, glycosaminoglycans such as dermatan sulfate, and the matrix proteoglycan decorin, alongside modulation of matrix metalloproteinase activity that governs how matrix is remodelled rather than only deposited. A separate strand of work treats the complex as a superoxide-dismutase-mimetic owing to the reversible Cu(II)/Cu(I) couple at the histidine-anchored site, which provides a structural rationale for the antioxidant readouts described in published assays. Because GHK can also act in a copper-free form in some stem-cell and skin-recovery models, the literature carefully distinguishes effects attributable to the apo-peptide from those that require the intact copper complex — a distinction that matters when designing controls for a research protocol. All of the above is presented as published laboratory findings about the compound, not as guidance for any use in humans or animals.

Research Background & Published Literature

Discovered by Dr. Loren Pickart, GHK-Cu has been studied extensively in dermatological and tissue remodeling research. Published studies in Journal of Biomaterials Science and Life Sciences have documented its effects on fibroblast behavior, ECM production, and antioxidant defense pathways.

Researchers interested in the published literature surrounding this compound can explore the following peer-reviewed resources for additional context on its mechanism of action, signaling pathways, and experimental applications in controlled laboratory settings:

• Pickart et al. (2012) — GHK copper peptide biology review
• Pickart et al. (2015) — GHK-Cu tissue remodeling and gene expression

The copper tripeptide carries an unusually deep and continuous publication record for a three-residue molecule. Early biochemistry framed it as a wound- and matrix-remodelling factor, while later work used transcriptomic methods to map the breadth of pathways it touches: connective-tissue-database analyses have associated GHK exposure with shifts in large numbers of human genes, spanning genes linked to tissue repair, antioxidant defence, and DNA-repair programmes (Pickart, Vasquez-Soltero & Margolina, BioMed Research International, 2015). This gene-expression angle is one of the most cited features of the compound in modern reviews and is a useful entry point for researchers designing pathway-level in-vitro experiments rather than single-endpoint assays.

Reported experimental themes in the peer-reviewed literature include matrix metalloproteinase-2 induction in cultured fibroblasts (Siméon et al., Life Sciences, 2000), synergy with hyaluronic acid on collagen IV in fibroblast and ex-vivo skin systems (Jiang et al., Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023), copper-free GHK effects on basal stem-cell recovery in skin models (Choi et al., Journal of Peptide Science, 2012), and broader survey work positioning the peptide within tissue-remodelling and antioxidant biology (Pickart, Journal of Biomaterials Science Polymer Edition, 2008; Pickart, Vasquez-Soltero & Margolina, Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2012). Together these sources cover binding biology, gene-expression effects, and specific in-vitro endpoints, and can serve as a starting point for protocol design in controlled laboratory settings. A current overview of the corresponding PubMed records can be retrieved at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. These findings are described as research context only and do not constitute any claim of efficacy or instruction for use in humans or animals.

Technical Specifications

• Product Name: GHK-Cu
• Classification: Copper Peptide Complex
• Structural Description: Tripeptide-copper complex (Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine:copper(II))
• CAS Number: 49557-75-7
• Molecular Weight: 403.93 g/mol (peptide + copper complex)
• Purity: ≥99% (verified by HPLC and Mass Spectrometry)
• Physical Form: Lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder
• Intended Use: In-vitro research use only — not for human consumption

Storage, Handling & Stability Guidelines

Store lyophilized material at -20°C for long-term stability. After reconstitution with sterile diluent, refrigerate at 2–8°C and minimize freeze-thaw cycles by aliquoting working volumes according to your standard operating procedures.

• Minimize time at ambient temperature during handling to preserve compound integrity.
• Avoid moisture exposure by resealing vials promptly after each withdrawal.
• Use appropriate personal protective equipment and follow your institution’s chemical safety protocols at all times.
• Label all aliquots with the compound name, concentration, date of reconstitution, and operator initials for complete traceability.

Quality Assurance & Analytical Verification

Apex Laboratory applies a dual-verification quality protocol to every batch before it enters inventory. Each lot undergoes High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to confirm chromatographic purity and Mass Spectrometry (MS) to verify molecular identity and molecular weight. This two-step analytical process ensures that the material you receive meets our ≥99% purity standard with confirmed molecular integrity. Certificates of Analysis documenting these results are available upon request for your internal quality records.

Analytical confirmation of GHK-Cu differs from the workflow used for large incretin-class peptides precisely because the molecule is small and metal-bearing. Where a multi-kilodalton peptide is identified from an envelope of multiple charge states, the copper tripeptide is light enough to be confirmed from a singly charged ion in the low-m/z region, and its most diagnostic feature is the copper isotope signature itself: natural copper is a near-2:1 mixture of ⁶³Cu and ⁶⁵Cu, so authentic complexed material shows a characteristic two-mass spacing in the molecular-ion region that a metal-free peptide or an unbound salt does not reproduce. The chromatographic profile is correspondingly simple — a polar, fast-eluting peak (retention near the void region rather than the late, hydrophobic elution seen with lipidated peptides) consistent with a small, highly water-soluble tripeptide. Together the early HPLC retention, the expected complex mass, and the copper isotope pattern provide an orthogonal identity check matched to the chemistry of this specific compound, and the values shown on the certificate above describe the current shipping lot.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary research application of this compound?

This compound is classified as a copper peptide complex and is used in laboratory settings to study related signaling pathways and biological mechanisms in controlled in-vitro experiments.

What storage conditions are recommended?

For long-term storage, keep the lyophilized material at -20°C in a sealed container away from moisture and light. After reconstitution, refrigerate at 2–8°C and use within the recommended timeframe for your workflow.

How does GHK-Cu differ from copper-free GHK as a research reagent?

They are distinct experimental tools. GHK is the bare tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine; GHK-Cu is its copper(II) coordination complex, in which the metal is held by the histidine imidazole, a backbone amide nitrogen, and the N-terminal amine. Some reported in-vitro effects (for example certain basal stem-cell and skin-recovery readouts) have been described for the copper-free form, while redox and superoxide-dismutase-mimetic activity depends on the bound copper. Researchers comparing the two should design controls that separate apo-peptide effects from copper-dependent effects rather than assuming the two are interchangeable. This is provided as research context, not as guidance for any use in humans or animals.

What molecular features confirm the identity of the copper complex by mass spectrometry?

Because GHK-Cu is a small, metal-bearing molecule, identity is confirmed from a low-mass singly charged ion rather than the multiple charge states used for large peptides. The most diagnostic feature is copper’s natural isotope distribution: a near-2:1 ratio of 63Cu to 65Cu produces a characteristic paired-mass signature in the molecular-ion region that a metal-free peptide cannot reproduce. The certificate above lists the observed and expected complex mass for the current lot.

What extracellular-matrix endpoints appear most often in the published GHK-Cu research literature?

Frequently studied in-vitro endpoints include fibroblast collagen synthesis (types I and IV), glycosaminoglycan and decorin production, and modulation of matrix metalloproteinase activity such as MMP-2, alongside antioxidant and gene-expression readouts. These are reported strictly as published laboratory findings about the compound and are provided here as research context, not as guidance for any use in humans or animals.

Related Research Compounds

Researchers studying copper peptide complex pathways may also be interested in related compounds available from Apex Laboratory, including Snap-8 10mg, BPC-157, TB-500. Explore our complete research catalog to browse all available peptides, reagents, and laboratory supplies, or visit our About page to learn more about our quality verification process.

Shipping, Packaging & Delivery

All orders placed before 2:00 PM Eastern Standard Time ship the same business day via tracked domestic carriers. Products are packaged in insulated, temperature-appropriate containers designed to preserve compound stability during transit. Upon delivery, transfer all materials to appropriate storage conditions immediately. For time-sensitive research protocols or special delivery requirements, contact our support team in advance to coordinate optimal shipping timing for your laboratory workflow.

Research Use Disclaimer

For in-vitro research use only. Not for human consumption. All products sold by Apex Laboratory are intended exclusively for qualified researchers, accredited laboratories, and educational institutions. Purchasers assume full responsibility for ensuring safe handling, proper storage, and compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and institutional policies governing the purchase and use of chemical research reagents.

Related research guide: See the GHK-Cu research guide for mechanism, study context, and lab-handling considerations.