GHK-Cu

GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine complexed with copper(II)), supplied as a lyophilized powder for laboratory research use only. Every lot is independently assayed by Janoshik Analytical and the Certificate of Analysis is published before the lot is listed.

Compound overview

GHK is a tripeptide with the sequence glycine-histidine-lysine, first isolated from human plasma in the early 1970s. Its defining property is an unusually high affinity for copper(II) ions, which it binds to form the GHK-Cu complex. That copper coordination is not incidental packaging; it is central to the molecule’s behavior in research systems, and the copper-bound complex behaves differently from the free peptide.

Plasma concentrations of GHK are reported to decline with age, which is one reason the tripeptide has been studied extensively in connective tissue and cellular signaling contexts. As a copper carrier, GHK-Cu participates in redox chemistry that free GHK does not, making the complexed form the standard subject of published investigation.

Research context

GHK-Cu appears widely in the matrix biology and gene expression literature. Published work has examined its effects on collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis in fibroblast culture, metalloproteinase and antiprotease expression, and broad transcriptional profiling. Gene expression studies have reported modulation across a large number of human genes, which is why GHK-Cu is frequently used as a tool compound in transcriptomic screening rather than as a single-pathway probe.

Its copper-carrier role also makes it a subject in trace metal homeostasis research, where investigators study how peptide-bound copper differs from ionic copper in cellular uptake and handling.

This material is supplied strictly as a research chemical for qualified investigators working in a controlled laboratory setting. It is not a drug, not a cosmetic, not a dietary supplement, and is not intended for diagnostic, therapeutic, or human use of any kind.

Analytical verification

Every lot is tested by Janoshik Analytical, an independent third-party laboratory, before it is offered for sale. Testing covers identity and purity by HPLC, with mass spectrometry confirming molecular weight.

The lot number printed on your vial label matches a specific Certificate of Analysis in our COA Library. We publish the full report rather than a summary purity figure, so the chromatogram and its integration are open to your own review. If you want to know what to look for, our guide on how to actually read a Janoshik COA walks through each section.

Specifications

• Compound: GHK-Cu (copper tripeptide-1)
• Sequence: Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine, copper(II) complex
• Form: Lyophilized powder, sealed vial
• Molecular formula: C14H22N6O4Cu
• Molecular weight: approximately 401.9 g/mol
• Appearance: Blue to blue-green powder (characteristic of copper coordination)
• Purity: See the published COA for the specific lot
• Testing: HPLC and MS by Janoshik Analytical
• Available sizes: 50mg per vial

Handling and storage

GHK-Cu is light-sensitive and its copper coordination makes it more susceptible to oxidative degradation than many uncomplexed peptides. Store sealed and protected from light. Short-term storage at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius is appropriate for material in active use; long-term storage at -20 degrees Celsius or below preserves stability.

Allow sealed vials to equilibrate to room temperature before opening to limit condensation. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycling, which is the most common avoidable cause of degradation in laboratory settings. The characteristic blue coloration is a useful visual indicator: significant fading or discoloration suggests the copper complex has been compromised. Bacteriostatic water is stocked for laboratories requiring reconstitution diluent.

Related products

GHK-Cu is also a constituent of our GLOW Blend, which combines it with BPC-157 and TB-500 in a single lot. Browse the full research peptide catalog.

For laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary consumption. Not for diagnostic or therapeutic use.