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Copper tripeptide-1 (GHK-Cu). High-purity lyophilized reference standard for in vitro laboratory research and analytical characterization.
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Price
$36.86
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Quantity
In Stock · 46 Units Available
- Free FedEx 2-Day shipping over $200. Dispatched the same day when ordered before 4 p.m. PT Monday–Friday, or 11 a.m. PT Saturday. Los Angeles and the surrounding area usually arrive the next business day. Shipping details
- Third-party HPLC tested. Every lot ships with a batch-linked certificate of analysis naming the laboratory, the method and the measured result. Browse certificates
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Certificate of Analysis & Specifications
HPLC Purity
98.94% HPLC
Area Normalization
Assay Content
100mg
Quantitative Target
Testing Lab
—
Lot Number
KRSGHKCU-100-260814-01
Tested Aug 21, 2026
Storage
36°F to 46°F
Retest Date
Aug 21, 2028
Released COA Library
Published Certificates of Analysis for GHK-Cu. All released analytical records are preserved here. Pending and in-testing lots are reachable only through the QR printed on the vial.
100mg1 released lot
- View COA
Lot KRSGHKCU-100-260814-01
Tested Aug 21, 2026 · HPLC 98.94%
Customer reviews
Based on 4 reviews
Quality Benchmarks
“Ordered on a recommendation from a colleague and it largely lived up to it. Clear product pages and careful packaging — dispatch ran a day past the lead time shown at checkout, and a follow-up email took a couple of days to come back. The COA links to the exact lot I received.”
Research Data
Chemical & Structural Identifiers
![2D chemical structure of Copper(2+) (2S)-6-amino-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2-aminoacetyl)amino]-3-(1H-imidazol-5-yl)propanoyl]amino]hexanoate](/structures/ghk-cu.svg)
- Chemical Name (IUPAC)
- Copper(2+) (2S)-6-amino-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2-aminoacetyl)amino]-3-(1H-imidazol-5-yl)propanoyl]amino]hexanoate
- CAS Registry Number
- 49557-75-7 (Copper Complex); 89030-95-5 (GHK-Cu Acetate)
- PubChem CID
- 73587
- Molecular Formula
- C14H22CuN6O4 (free chelate core) / C14H24Cl2CuN6O4 (dihydrochloride adduct)
- Molecular Weight
- 401.10 Da (401.91 g/mol average)
- Sequence
- H-Gly-His-Lys-OH·Cu2+ (Single-letter: GHK-Cu)
- SMILES
- C1=C(NC=N1)C[C@@H](C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCCN)C(=O)O)NC(=O)CN.[Cu+2]
- InChIKey
- XAXPVIITBZZZKO-YAMOOIKTSA-N
- Salt / Counter-Ion
- Supplied as a stable lyophilized acetate (CH3COO-) or chloride (Cl-) salt complex.
- Synonyms
- GHK-Cu, Copper Tripeptide-1, Gly-His-Lys Copper Complex, [N-(N-glycyl-L-histidyl)-L-lysinato(2-)]copper
Analytical & COA Specifications
- Analytical Purity (RP-HPLC)
- ≥ 99.0% by area normalization under UV detection at λ = 214 nm and 254 nm.
- Identity Confirmation (RP-HPLC RT + UV vs. reference)
- Main peak retention time and UV spectrum conform to the reference standard.
- Physical Characterization
- Distinctive, fine, royal blue to bluish-purple lyophilized powder/cake (imparted by the coordination geometry of the cupric ion).
Handling & Stability
Storage. Store dry solid desiccated at -20°C to -80°C, protected from atmospheric moisture and direct light.
Solubility. Readily soluble in sterile laboratory-grade deionized water (≥ 30 mg/mL) and sterile Phosphate-Buffered Saline (PBS, pH 7.4, ≥ 20 mg/mL) for in vitro assay application.
- Chelation Integrity & Buffer Selection: Maintain assay solutions at neutral to slightly alkaline pH (pH 6.5--7.5); *do not* introduce strong chelating agents (e.g., EDTA, EGTA) or high concentrations of reducing agents (e.g., DTT, ascorbic acid) into stock buffers, as they competitively strip or reduce the coordinated Cu2+ ion. Aliquot into single-use fractions to eliminate freeze-thaw degradation cycles.
Mechanism & Literature
Biochemical Origin & Coordination Architecture: Naturally occurring high-affinity copper-binding tripeptide originally isolated from human plasma albumin fractions. The linear Gly-His-Lys sequence coordinates divalent copper (Cu2+) via four donor atoms—the amino-terminal nitrogen of glycine, the deprotonated amide nitrogen of histidine, the imidazole nitrogen of histidine, and a carboxylate oxygen—forming an exceptionally stable square-planar coordination complex (log K = 16.44).
Cellular Pathways Investigated: Evaluated across in vitro cell models (including dermal fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and endothelial cultures) to monitor gene transcription shifts, induction of extracellular matrix biosynthesis (pro-collagen type I, collagen type III, and elastin), balanced regulation of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-2) versus Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinases (TIMP-1), expression of basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF), and upregulation of antioxidant enzymes including Superoxide Dismutase 1 (SOD-1).
References (3)
- Pickart, L., et al. (1973). Growth-modulating tripeptide from normal human serum. Nature New Biology, 243(124), 85–87.
- Wegrowski, Y., et al. (1992). The tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ stimulates matrix macromolecule synthesis in vitro. Life Sciences, 51(13), 1049–1056.
- Pickart, L., et al. (2018). GHK peptide as a natural modulator of multiple cellular pathways in gene expression profiling. Biomolecules, 8(4), 166.
Technical Laboratory FAQs
How does the GHK tripeptide coordinate copper(II) ions in aqueous solutions?
The GHK backbone acts as a tridentate/tetradentate ligand that coordinates Cu2+ through its N-terminal amino group, the imidazole nitrogen of histidine, and deprotonated amide nitrogens, establishing a stable square-planar complex.
Why must EDTA and other chelators be omitted from GHK-Cu in vitro assays?
EDTA possesses a higher binding affinity for divalent copper than the GHK tripeptide backbone, causing spontaneous transchelation, stripping Cu2+ from the peptide, and abolishing the intended organometallic complex architecture in cell culture assays.
What solvent conditions are recommended for preparing in vitro GHK-Cu stock solutions?
Sterile deionized water or sterile PBS (pH 7.4) provides rapid dissolution at concentrations ≥ 20 mg/mL, generating a characteristic clear blue solution suitable for biological and analytical assay calibration.
For Research Use Only. Not for human or animal administration. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Sold for laboratory research purposes only.