GHK-Cu

Answer first: GHK-Cu (copper tripeptide-1; CAS 49557-75-7) is the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine coordinated to copper(II), supplied by Maple Research Labs as a lyophilised research reagent in vial formats for laboratory use only. Independent HPLC-UV results for current tested lots are published as certificates of analysis — COAs are posted for current tested lots on our Certificates of Analysis page; Maple vials do not carry printed lot numbers. This material is for research use only — not for human consumption, not for diagnostic or therapeutic use.

Last reviewed: November 2026. COAs are posted for current tested lots; when a new tested lot is published, the live certificate linked from this product and the COA index is updated.

Product Specifications

Freshness / verification

Open the live COA for GHK-Cu from the product summary or the COA library. Where the testing laboratory publishes a public verify page, use the report identifier printed on that certificate to confirm purity, chromatogram, and vial photograph on the lab’s site — not a Maple-hosted claim. COAs are posted for current tested lots; vials themselves do not print lot or batch numbers.

Canadian shipping: $30 flat, $20 on orders of $250–$349.99, free at $350+ after discounts (confirm live cart rates).

GHK-Cu Research Summary

GHK was first identified in the early 1970s as a tripeptide sequence present in human plasma, originally isolated during work on factors that influence hepatocyte behaviour in culture. The sequence occurs within the alpha-2 chain of type I collagen and within the plasma protein SPARC, which is one reason it appears in the literature as a fragment released during tissue remodelling. Copper(II) binds the histidine imidazole and the terminal amine groups with high affinity, and it is the copper complex rather than the free tripeptide that has been the focus of most published research.

Reported plasma levels of GHK in humans decline with age in the published literature, and that observation is what drove the bulk of subsequent in vitro and animal investigation into the complex as a research tool for copper transport and matrix biology.

Mechanism of Action Research

The mechanism under investigation has two components. The first is copper delivery: GHK-Cu is studied as a physiological carrier that exchanges copper(II) with cellular copper-binding proteins, making bioavailable copper accessible to enzymes such as lysyl oxidase and superoxide dismutase without the free-ion toxicity associated with inorganic copper salts.

The second is transcriptional. Gene expression profiling has been used to characterise the response of cultured human cells to the complex, and published analyses report modulation of large numbers of genes associated with extracellular matrix turnover, antioxidant response and inflammatory signalling. In fibroblast culture, researchers have reported changes in collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis and in the balance of matrix metalloproteinases against their tissue inhibitors.

Rodent dermal tissue work has examined extracellular matrix composition, including the expression of glycosaminoglycans and small proteoglycans. Separate in vitro lines of investigation have looked at antioxidant and metal-chelating behaviour, and at the complex as a probe for copper homeostasis in neuronal and hepatic cell models.

Preclinical Study Summary

The published GHK-Cu literature is dominated by in vitro fibroblast and keratinocyte culture work and by rodent dermal tissue models, with a smaller body of work on gene expression profiling and on copper coordination chemistry. Reported endpoints include matrix protein synthesis, gene expression signatures, antioxidant activity in cell-free and cell-based assays, and histological observations in animal tissue models.

All findings referenced here come from animal models and in vitro systems. No human therapeutic conclusion is drawn or implied. Researchers should consult the primary literature for experimental design, controls and complete results.

References

• Pickart L, Margolina A. Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(7):1987 (PubMed)
• Siméon A, et al. Expression of glycosaminoglycans and small proteoglycans in wounds: modulation by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu(2+). (PubMed)

Handling and Storage

Store the sealed lyophilised vial at −20°C, protected from light. In solution the complex is less stable than the dry powder and is held refrigerated at 2 to 8°C for short periods only. Copper complexes are sensitive to chelating buffers, so researchers should check buffer compatibility before preparing stock solutions. Follow your facility’s laboratory protocol.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GHK-Cu?

GHK-Cu is glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine coordinated to copper(II), also catalogued as copper tripeptide-1 (CAS 49557-75-7). Maple supplies it as a lyophilised research reagent for laboratory use only.

What is the CAS number for GHK-Cu?

49557-75-7. It also appears in catalogues as copper tripeptide-1.

How is GHK-Cu purity tested at Maple?

By independent HPLC-UV analysis. The measured result for the current tested lot is published on its COA, linked from this page and indexed on the Certificates of Analysis page. COAs are posted for current tested lots; vials do not print lot numbers.

Is GHK-Cu the same as GHK?

No. GHK is the free tripeptide. GHK-Cu is that tripeptide coordinated to copper(II). Most published research concerns the copper complex, and the two are not interchangeable in an experimental design.

What is GHK-Cu studied for in research?

Published work centres on copper transport, extracellular matrix turnover in fibroblast culture, gene expression profiling, antioxidant chemistry, and tissue remodelling in rodent models. This is not a claim of human benefit.

Is GHK-Cu for human use?

No. Maple’s GHK-Cu is sold for research purposes only. Not for human consumption. Not for diagnostic or therapeutic use.

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

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