GHK-Cu is a copper(II) complex of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine (Gly-His-Lys), referred to in the literature as copper peptide GHK-Cu. AminoOptimization Group supplies it as a lyophilised research powder in 50 mg and 100 mg presentations, tested to 99% purity by HPLC, with a Certificate of Analysis available for the lot supplied. This material is offered strictly for laboratory research use. It is not a drug, and it is not for human or veterinary use.
What is GHK-Cu?
GHK is a tripeptide first isolated from human plasma in 1973 by Loren Pickart, and it is reported in the literature to occur naturally in plasma, saliva, and urine, with measured concentrations described as declining with age. The sequence carries a high-affinity coordination site for divalent copper: the free amino terminus of glycine, the intervening backbone nitrogens, and the imidazole side chain of histidine together form a square-planar binding pocket for Cu(II) — a coordination arrangement discussed in the literature alongside, though structurally distinct from, the amino-terminal Cu(II)/Ni(II)-binding motifs described for human serum albumin.
The material supplied here is the pre-formed 1:1 copper complex, not the metal-free tripeptide. This distinction is treated as significant in published work: apo-GHK (without bound copper) and GHK-Cu are generally handled as separate reagents, since chelation is reported to alter the peptide’s redox chemistry and its interactions with copper-dependent enzyme systems studied in vitro. GHK-Cu is also a distinct molecule from lipidated or esterified GHK derivatives — such as palmitoyl tripeptide-1 — which attach a fatty-acid chain to the sequence and carry their own CAS numbers; those derivatives are not interchangeable with the copper complex described on this page.
The copper(II) centre gives GHK-Cu its characteristic blue to blue-violet colour, both as a solid and in solution — a different appearance from the white to off-white powder typical of most unmodified peptides.
Specifications
- Compound: GHK-Cu (copper(II) complex of glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine)
- CAS number: 49557-75-7
- Molecular formula: C14H24N6O4
- Molecular weight: 340.38 g/mol
- Purity: 99% HPLC
- Presentation: Lyophilised powder, sealed vial
- Available sizes: 50 mg, 100 mg
- Physical form: Blue to blue-violet powder
- Classification: Research peptide — not for human or veterinary use
Research context
Copper-peptide research is concentrated on GHK-Cu’s proposed role as a physiological copper carrier and on copper’s broader involvement in metalloenzyme chemistry. Published work examines how the complex delivers copper to enzymes such as lysyl oxidase and superoxide dismutase in cell-free and cell-culture systems, and how copper availability is reported to affect the catalytic activity these enzymes depend on.
A separate body of literature investigates GHK-Cu’s effect on gene expression in cultured fibroblast and keratinocyte model systems, using microarray and PCR-based expression profiling. These studies focus on genes associated with extracellular matrix turnover, tissue-remodelling pathways, and antioxidant enzyme regulation, and on how the copper-bound and metal-free forms of the peptide differ in the same assays.
GHK-Cu also appears in preclinical tissue-repair and angiogenesis-model literature, where isolated tissue and animal model systems are used to examine cell migration and matrix-protein synthesis. None of this literature establishes safety or efficacy for use in humans. It is provided as research context only.
Reconstitution
Lyophilised peptide requires reconstitution with a suitable sterile diluent before use in solution. Bacteriostatic water is the diluent most commonly specified for multi-use laboratory preparations; sterile water is typical for single-use work.
Direct the diluent stream against the inner wall of the vial rather than onto the powder itself, and allow the material to dissolve without agitation. Peptides are susceptible to shear stress — do not shake the vial. Swirl gently if needed; full dissolution is typically visible within a few minutes at room temperature as the solution takes on its characteristic blue colour.
Working concentration is a function of how much diluent you add to a given vial mass. Our peptide reconstitution calculator computes the resulting concentration for any combination of vial size and diluent volume.
Storage and stability
Before reconstitution: store the sealed vial in a freezer at -20 °C, protected from light. Lyophilised peptide is comparatively stable in this state. Brief excursions to ambient temperature during shipping are normal and are not expected to compromise a properly lyophilised product.
After reconstitution: refrigerate at 2–8 °C and protect from light. Reconstituted peptide in solution is materially less stable than the dry powder, and copper(II) complexes of this kind are additionally susceptible to oxidative degradation over extended storage. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles, which are a well-documented cause of aggregation and loss of measurable potency — aliquot instead if repeated sampling is required.
Inspect solutions before use. Cloudiness, visible particulate, or a solution that has lost its characteristic blue colour indicate the material should not be relied upon for quantitative work.
Certificate of Analysis
Every lot is tested by high-performance liquid chromatography, and the purity figure shown above refers to analytical results for the specific lot supplied — not to a generic specification. A Certificate of Analysis is available on request, and we will provide lot-specific documentation before purchase if your protocol requires it.
Purity by HPLC describes the proportion of the target compound relative to detectable related substances. It is a statement about the material as manufactured and tested. It is expressly not a representation that the material is suitable for any use in humans or animals.
Handling and safety
Handle in accordance with good laboratory practice. Use appropriate personal protective equipment, work in a suitable containment environment, and dispose of material and consumables according to your institution’s requirements and applicable local regulation. Anyone with access to this material should understand that it is not for human or veterinary use.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between GHK-Cu and GHK without copper?
GHK-Cu is the pre-formed 1:1 copper(II) complex of the tripeptide. GHK on its own (the apo-peptide) has no bound metal. Published work generally treats them as separate reagents, since chelation state is reported to change the peptide’s redox behaviour and its interactions with copper-dependent enzyme systems.
Is GHK-Cu approved in Canada?
No. This compound has not been evaluated or authorised by Health Canada, the FDA, or any comparable regulatory authority. It carries no DIN or NPN, its safety and efficacy for human use have not been assessed, and it is supplied for laboratory research only.
Why does GHK-Cu appear blue in solution?
The colour comes from the copper(II) centre coordinated within the complex. It is a normal, expected property of the compound rather than an indication of contamination, and it is a different physical appearance from the white to off-white powder typical of most unmodified peptides.
How much diluent should be used for reconstitution?
That depends on the working concentration your protocol requires. Use the reconstitution calculator to work out the resulting concentration for your vial size.
Do you provide a Certificate of Analysis?
Yes — lot-specific, available on request, including before purchase.
Research use only
This product is supplied solely for laboratory and scientific research. It is not a drug, food, cosmetic, or medical device, and it must not be administered to humans or animals. Nothing on this page is medical advice or a therapeutic claim. Full terms are set out in our Research Use Only Disclaimer.
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