GHK-Cu 50mg

Product status information

Chemical reagent intended exclusively for laboratory tests (Research Use Only). It is not a medicinal product, dietary supplement or food. It is not intended for use on humans or animals. Sales only to registered research units and laboratories.

Regulatory Frame – WADA Status

GHK-Cu (copper tripeptide Gly-His-Lys·Cu) is not currently on the WADA Prohibited List as a substance mentioned by name. This does not relieve the researcher from verifying current guidelines – anti-doping lists are updated annually, and collective categories (e.g. S0 – substances not approved for use in humans) may include compounds without mentioning them by name. Registered athletes (ADAMS) must check the current list of prohibited substances before making any decision regarding use. In the Pro-Body catalog, GHK-Cu appears only as a RUO research reagent, not as an adjuvant.

GHK-Cu from the line Endogenous this copper tripeptide — a complex of a short glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine (GHK) peptide with a bound Cu²⁺ copper ion. It is the presence of copper that distinguishes this reagent from the GHK peptide itself and makes it a molecule particularly explored in the literature on remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM), wound healing and tissue regeneration.

Copper is not a random addition here – it is a central element of the molecular profile: the GHK peptide acts as a carrier that binds the copper ion with high affinity and makes it available for cellular processes. The whole story of GHK-Cu begins with an observation that has been of interest to regeneration researchers for years: why the plasma of a young organism promotes healing more strongly than the plasma of an older one.

GHK is a peptide naturally occurring in plasma, the concentration of which decreases with age — from a level of 200 ng/ml in young people to about 80 ng/ml in adulthood. This decline coincides with a decline in the ability of tissues to rebuild. The hypothesis, developed primarily by Loren Pickart, linked GHK-Cu with the entire cell reparative program – from collagen synthesis to modulation of regenerative gene expression.

GHK-Cu is studied in the literature in two complementary directions: systemically (as a compound influencing ECM remodeling and regenerative signaling) and topically (as an ingredient applied to the skin in models of healing and tissue condition) – this second trend combines GHK-Cu with a group of peptides used in peptide cosmetics Endogenous. This format is provided as 50 mg lyophilisate vial — sterile, dry peptide-copper complex for independent reconstitution in laboratory conditions, giving the researcher full freedom to select the working concentration for a specific experimental system.

Purity verified by HPLC ≥98%, identity confirmed by Q-TOF mass spectrometry, COA available for each batch (with separate determination of peptide and copper content). The 50 mg variant is larger vial compared to the available 20 mg format – intended for experimental systems requiring a larger amount of material or a series of repetitions. The smaller vial is described GHK-Cu 20mg.

GHK (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine) is tripeptide with the sequence Gly-His-Lys, originally isolated from human plasma. It belongs to a group of short signal peptides that are associated in the literature with tissue reparation processes. The sequence itself contains a histidine residue, an amino acid with a unique affinity for transition metal ions. It is histidine, together with the amino group of glycine, that creates the binding site where the peptide grabs the Cu²⁺ copper ion with great force.

The complex thus created GHK-Cu is a molecule with a different profile than the free GHK peptide. Free GHK has been described as a signaling compound, but it is the copper-bound form that is associated in the literature with the full range of reparative activity – from stimulation of matrix protein synthesis to modulation of enzymes that rebuild it.

Copper serves as a cofactor for many regenerative enzymes (including lysyl oxidase involved in collagen cross-linking), and GHK acts as its physiological carrier and delivery system. Copper peptides constitute a distinct class of molecular tools. Unlike regenerative peptides that act mainly through angiogenesis and connective tissue reconstruction (such as BPC-157 or TB-500), GHK-Cu is explored primarily as a modulator remodeling of the extracellular matrix and as a copper carrier for enzymatic processes.

In the Pro-Body catalog it is one of the research tools for skin regeneration, healing and the condition of connective tissue.

GHK-Cu is a complex of the Gly-His-Lys tripeptide with the bound Cu²⁺ copper ion (written: Gly-His-Lys·Cu). The peptide core itself – glycine-histidine-lysine – consists of only three amino acid residues, and yet the molecule retains the rich biological activity profile described in the literature. What makes GHK-Cu unique is not the chain length itself, but the geometry of the copper bond: the peptide forms a stable chelate complex with the Cu²⁺ ion with an affinity similar to natural copper transport proteins in plasma.

The short core length and the presence of copper have practical consequences. The complex is a relatively small molecule, capable of interacting both with the cell surface and with elements of the extracellular matrix. The histidine residue in the middle position gives the molecule a characteristic metal coordination site, and the presence of lysine – a positive charge favoring interactions with negatively charged matrix components (glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans).

In the literature, GHK-Cu has been described in several complementary contexts: as a stimulator of the synthesis of matrix components (collagen, elastin, glycosaminoglycans), as a modulator of enzymes rebuilding this matrix (MMP metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors TIMP), as a copper carrier for antioxidant enzymes, and as a compound influencing the expression of a wide set of regenerative genes.

Chemical characteristics

In the preclinical literature, GHK-Cu is described as a compound with a multidirectional but coherent reparative profile. The literature indicates five complementary axes of molecular activity. Below, each with the name of the route and the practical ratio observed in the research models.

Remodeling of the extracellular matrix – collagen, elastin, glycosaminoglycans

This is the central axis of the GHK-Cu profile. In studies on fibroblast cultures (Maquart et al. 1988), the complex was associated with stimulation collagen synthesis and other components of the extracellular matrix – elastin, glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans. At the same time, GHK-Cu was described as a compound modulating matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMP) – an enzymatic system responsible for controlled matrix remodeling (Simeon et al. 2000).

The resultant observed in the models was not just “more collagen”, but… orderly matrix reconstruction — simultaneous support of synthesis and regulation of degradation, which in the literature was associated with the quality of regenerated tissue.

Angiogenesis and wound healing – mobilization of growth factors

The second axis explains the interest of GHK-Cu in healing models. The complex was described as a favorable compound angiogenesis — the formation of new blood vessels within the healing tissue — and the mobilization of growth factors, including VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor)-related signaling. In wound healing models, GHK-Cu was associated with better vascularization of the reparation area and more efficient wound closure. This makes it a particularly interesting tool for research on soft tissue healing, where vascularization is a condition for effective reconstruction.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects – copper carrier for SOD

The third axis concerns protecting tissue from oxidative stress and calming inflammation. The copper bound in the GHK-Cu complex is a cofactor superoxide dismutase (SOD) — one of the main antioxidant enzymes of the cell, scavenging superoxide anion radical. GHK serves as a physiological copper carrier for enzymatic processes. Regardless, the complex itself has been described as a compound that modulates the cytokine profile and scavenges free radicals (Gruchlik et al. 2014). In the models, this resulted in a reduction of oxidative stress and inflammatory signal in the area of ​​reparation.

Stimulation of hair follicles

The fourth axis concerns hair tissue. GHK-Cu has been explored in research on hair growth — it has been described as a compound affecting hair papilla cells and prolonging the growth (anagen) phase in models. Some of this data comes from melt tests with a cream-based formulation. This makes GHK-Cu an interesting molecule for research on hair follicle regeneration and scalp health, alongside mainstream skin work.

Modulation of regenerative gene expression

The fifth axle is the widest gear ratio of the previous four. In transcriptomic analyzes (data reported mainly in reviews by Pickart and Margolina), GHK-Cu was described as a compound influencing expression of a very broad set of genes — associated with tissue reparation, matrix synthesis, inflammation control and antioxidant processes. This is not a separate receptor mechanism, but a resultant observed at the genome level: the complex “shifts” the cell’s expression profile towards the regenerative program.

This axis explains why the effects of GHK-Cu have been described in the literature as multidirectional rather than reducible to a single point of attachment. Reference data mainly comes from work on matrix synthesis (Maquart et al. 1988), metalloproteinase modulation and healing (Simeon et al. 2000), cytokine profiling (Gruchlik et al. 2014), and transcriptomic and reparative reviews (Pickart and Margolina 2018).

IMPORTANT DISTINCTION

There are several sources of confusion surrounding GHK-Cu that are worth separating before designing an experiment. The party’s identity is always confirmed peptide sequence and copper content in mass spectrometry and elemental analysis recorded in COA — not the trade name itself.

GHK-Cu (complex with copper, active) vs. GHK peptide alone (without copper). The most common misunderstanding. The GHK peptide itself (CAS 49557-75-7) is a free Gly-His-Lys tripeptide without bound copper – a signaling compound, but without the metal ion, which in the literature is responsible for most of the reparative and antioxidant activity. Form GHK-Cu (CAS 89030-95-5) is a chelate complex of a peptide with a Cu²⁺ ion – it is the actual subject of research on ECM remodeling, healing and copper-bearing capacity for SOD. The COA of a batch of GHK-Cu should confirm both the peptide identity and copper content.

GHK-Cu 50 mg (larger vial) vs 20 mg. Both formats are the same Gly-His-Lys·Cu complex with identical quality specifications – the only difference is the amount of material in the vial. The 50 mg variant works well in systems requiring a larger volume of working solution or a series of repetitions; the smaller vial is described in the variant GHK-Cu lower dose. The choice of format is a decision about the scale of the experiment, not about the properties of the molecule.

Systemic use (reconstitution) vs. topical use (formulation with a cream base). GHK-Cu is studied in the literature in both ways. The form of a lyophilized vial for reconstitution is used in systems in which the researcher selects the working concentration of the aqueous solution. Research on skin and hair was often conducted with a topical formulation – a complex embedded in a cream base applied to the tissue. These are two different exposure systems with different delivery kinetics; the base for the melt formulation is provided separately peptide cream.

GHK-Cu (regeneration/ECM) vs Matrixyl / palmitoyl-GHK (matrikine derivative). Matrixyl (palmitoyl-pentapeptide) and palmitoylated derivatives of GHK are matrikinas — peptides with a lipid chain attached to a sequence, designed for better penetration in cosmetic formulations. GHK-Cu is a native peptide-copper complex, in which copper is responsible for a significant part of the profile. There is some overlap in the mechanisms (matrix synthesis), but the molecules are distinct; describes matrixyl matrixins Matrixyl 3000.

GHK-Cu as an RUO reagent is used in several research directions focused on matrix remodeling, healing and tissue regeneration. The 50 mg form of a lyophilized vial is particularly useful when the researcher needs a larger amount of material and full freedom in selecting the working concentration for a specific experimental system.

Extracellular matrix remodeling and collagen synthesis. Cultures of dermal fibroblasts, connective tissue models, analyzes of the synthesis of collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycans. Endpoints: procollagen level, activity of MMP metalloproteinases and TIMP inhibitors, profile of matrix components. This is historically the most heavily explored area of ​​research on GHK-Cu – Maquart et al. (1988) and Simeon et al. (2000) described the complex in this context.

Wound healing and angiogenesis. Models of wound healing in rodents, endothelial cell cultures, analysis of vascularization of the repair area. Endpoints: wound closure rate, vessel density, VEGF signaling, granulation tissue quality. GHK-Cu functions as a reference compound in work on soft tissue repair.

Skin condition and hair growth (topical tests). Topical models with cream-based formulation, hair papilla cell cultures, hair follicle growth phase analyses. Endpoints: hair density, anagen length, skin condition parameters, expression of regenerative markers. This is an area dominated by the topographic route of exposure.

Transcriptomic analyzes of the regenerative profile. Gene expression studies (microarrays, RNA-seq) on the effect of GHK-Cu on the transcriptional profile of the cell – in combination with the tissue reparation program, inflammation control and antioxidant processes. GHK-Cu as a model compound in work on signal peptides modulating gene expression. They are needed for reconstitution bacteriostatic water 10ml and sterile laboratory accessories. For topical tests, a separate exposure route is provided by a cream-based formulation.

GHK-Cu is a copper tripeptide – a complex of the short plasma peptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine (GHK) with the bound copper ion Cu²⁺ (Gly-His-Lys·Cu; CAS 89030-95-5 for the complex, 49557-75-7 for the free peptide; core mass ~340.4 g/mol – values to be confirmed in COA). It is supplied in the form of a 50 mg lyophilized vial for self-reconstitution in laboratory conditions.

Five axes of molecular activity of the complex have been described in the preclinical literature: remodeling of the extracellular matrix (synthesis of collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycans with MMP/TIMP modulation), angiogenesis and wound healing (mobilization of growth factors, VEGF), antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects (copper carrier for SOD, modulation of cytokines), stimulation of hair follicles and modulation of regenerative gene expression in transcriptomic analyses.

What makes GHK-Cu a unique molecule is the role of copper: the GHK peptide serves as its physiological carrier, and only the complex with the Cu²⁺ ion is associated in the literature with the full range of reparative activity – unlike the free GHK peptide without copper. GHK-Cu is tested in two ways: systemically (reconstitution) and topically (formulation with a cream base, especially when working on skin and hair).

The regulatory profile remains clear: GHK-Cu is not registered as a medicine (no EMA/FDA/EFSA authorization), although it is listed as a notified cosmetic ingredient in a separate framework. In the Pro-Body catalog, the 50 mg variant is available only as a Research Use Only reagent – with HPLC purity ≥98%, MS Q-TOF confirmation, separate determination of copper and COA content for each batch.

In research on peptides modulating the skin matrix, GHK-Cu is sometimes combined with other peptides used topically in skin care. Research on reducing the visibility of wrinkles includes, among others: Snap-8 (an octapeptide modulating facial tension), and in work on the aging of connective tissue, GHK-Cu is sometimes combined with a telomeric peptide in a ready-made duo Epithalon + GHK-Cu.

The role and mechanism of peptides in care preparations is discussed in more detail in the article about what they are peptides in cosmetics, and the combination of the three most frequently studied ingredients is described in the review GHK-Cu, Snap-8 and Matrixyl. All of these materials are related to the cosmetic framework (fusible application) and are separate from this RUO reagent.

1. Pickart L, Margolina A (2018). Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data. PubMed
2. Maquart FX, Pickart L, Laurent M, Gillery P, Monboisse JC, Borel JP (1988). Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+. PubMed
3. Siméon A, Emonard H, Hornebeck W, Maquart FX (2000). The tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ stimulates matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression by fibroblast cultures. PubMed
4. Gruchlik A, Jurzak M, Chodurek E, Dzierżewicz Z (2014). Effect of GLY-HIS-LYS and its copper complex on TGF-β secretion in normal human dermal fibroblasts. PubMed
5. Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A (2015). GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration. PubMed

Chemical reagent Research Use Only. GHK-Cu 50 mg (copper tripeptide Gly-His-Lys·Cu, lyophilized vial, Endogenic line) in the Pro-Body catalog is not a medicinal product, dietary supplement or food. It is not intended for administration to humans or animals outside a controlled experimental environment; The form of the lyophilized vial does not suggest preparation for administration to humans.

GHK-Cu it is not registered as a medicine in the EU or USA (not authorized by EMA, FDA, EFSA) i is not currently on the WADA Prohibited List by name — this status may change when the lists are updated annually. Registered Athletes (ADAMS) must check the current list before making any decision. The information in the description is educational and scientific in nature and refers to results reported in preclinical literature – it does not constitute medical advice or administration instructions.