GHK-Cu: structure, history and published research
GHK-Cu is the copper(II) complex of glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine, a tripeptide with a strong affinity for copper ions. It is one of the most frequently cited peptides in cell-culture and wound-model research. This guide summarizes its chemistry and the published literature for laboratory readers.
Discovery
In 1973, Loren Pickart and Michael Thaler reported a factor in human plasma that changed the behavior of cultured liver cells (Nature, 1973). In 1977, Schlesinger, Pickart and Thaler identified it as the tripeptide Gly-His-Lys. Later work showed that GHK binds copper(II), and the copper complex became the main form studied.
Chemistry
- Sequence: Gly-His-Lys (GHK)
- GHK: C14H24N6O4, 340.4 g/mol, CAS 49557-75-7
- GHK-Cu: C14H22CuN6O4, about 401.9 g/mol, CAS 89030-95-5
- Appearance: blue to violet powder, from the bound copper(II)
Copper binds through the glycine amino group, the deprotonated glycine–histidine amide nitrogen and the histidine imidazole nitrogen. The structure of the Cu(II)–GHK complex has been described by X-ray crystallography and in solution (Hureau et al., 2011).
Main lines of research
- Extracellular matrix in vitro. Studies in cultured fibroblasts examined collagen synthesis (Maquart et al., FEBS Letters, 1988), glycosaminoglycan synthesis (Wegrowski et al., 1992) and decorin and metalloproteinase expression (Siméon et al., 2000).
- Animal wound models. Rabbit dermal wound studies (Cangul et al., 2006; Gul et al., 2008) and a rat ischemic-flap model (Canapp et al., Veterinary Surgery, 2003) are among the most cited in vivo papers.
- Gene expression. Reviews by Pickart and Margolina (2018) summarize data on GHK and gene-expression profiles in cell and tissue models.
What to check on a GHK-Cu certificate of analysis
For a copper complex, two results matter most. The HPLC chromatogram gives the purity of the peptide. The mass spectrometry panel should show a mass consistent with GHK or its copper complex, depending on the method. Our guides on HPLC purity and mass spectrometry explain both panels.
Related compounds
AHK-Cu replaces the N-terminal glycine with alanine. See AHK-Cu vs GHK-Cu for a side-by-side comparison.
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- How to read a certificate of analysis (COA)
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View GHK-Cu and its per-lot certificate of analysis
For laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. This guide summarizes published scientific literature for context. It is not medical advice and does not describe any product as suitable for human use.