<!– GHK-Cu 50mg Refill | AbsoluteBioLab Node: C19 | Status: Update | Priority: P1
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Changes vs live page:
– H2 heading: removed "Wound Healing, Collagen Synthesis" therapeutic framing
– "wound healing capacity and tissue repair" reframed as research observation
– "4,000 human genes" claim: added explicit source (Pickart 2012 Affymetrix) and experimental context
– "GMP-aligned conditions" unverified manufacturing claim removed
– "Typical Result" column removed (≥99.5% and
Research Use Only — Not for Human or Veterinary Use
GHK-Cu is supplied exclusively for in vitro laboratory and pre-clinical research. Not for human or veterinary use. No formulation, application, or usage guidance is provided. Purchase confirms the buyer is a qualified researcher.
GHK-Cu 50mg Refill — Copper(II) Tripeptide Complex for Fibroblast, Extracellular Matrix, and Gene Expression Research
GHK-Cu 50mg Refill is a research-grade lyophilised preparation of GHK-Cu (Copper(II) glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine), a naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide complex first isolated from human plasma albumin by Loren Pickart in 1973. GHK (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine) is a tripeptide with the sequence Gly-His-Lys that forms a stable complex with copper(II) ions through coordination bonds involving the imidazole nitrogen of histidine and the terminal amino groups of glycine and lysine. GHK-Cu is present endogenously in human plasma, saliva, and urine, and its plasma concentration has been reported to decline with age — from approximately 200 ng/mL in young adults to approximately 80 ng/mL in older individuals — a pattern that has been studied in the context of age-related changes in fibroblast activity and extracellular matrix remodelling. Each vial supplied by AbsoluteBioLab contains lyophilised GHK-Cu, verified by RP-HPLC to a minimum purity of ≥99.0%, with molecular identity confirmed by ESI-MS.
GHK-Cu has been studied as a multifunctional biological modulator across multiple in vitro and pre-clinical models, with published research covering fibroblast biology, extracellular matrix remodelling, copper-dependent enzyme activation, anti-inflammatory signalling, antioxidant pathway modulation, and gene expression regulation. The compound’s ability to chelate copper(II) ions and deliver them to copper-dependent enzymes — including lysyl oxidase (essential for collagen and elastin crosslinking), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and cytochrome c oxidase — is thought to underlie many of its reported biological effects in experimental systems.
Compound Identity Matrix
| Attribute | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Common Name | GHK-Cu; Copper(II) GHK; Copper Tripeptide-1 | Naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide complex |
| Sequence | Gly-His-Lys · Cu(II) | Cu(II) coordination via His imidazole and terminal amines |
| CAS Number | 89030-95-5 | GHK-Cu copper complex; CAS 49557-75-7 is the free tripeptide GHK (distinct compound) |
| Molecular Formula | C14H23CuN6O4⁺ | Copper complex cation (PubChem CID 73981) |
| Molecular Weight | 403.91 Da | Copper complex (monoisotopic) |
| Physical Form | Blue-green lyophilised powder | Colour associated with Cu(II) coordination; not a substitute for analytical identity confirmation |
| Purity (RP-HPLC) | ≥99.0% | C18 column, UV 220 nm |
| Identity Confirmation | ESI-MS | ±0.1 Da of theoretical MW |
Analytical Specification & Release Testing
Every batch of GHK-Cu supplied by AbsoluteBioLab is subjected to a comprehensive analytical release protocol before dispatch. Purity is determined by RP-HPLC (C18 column, UV 220 nm) confirming ≥99.0% purity with a maximum single impurity of ≤0.5%. Molecular identity is confirmed by ESI-MS with the observed [M+H]⁺ ion matched against the theoretical mass of GHK-Cu (MW 403.91 Da) to within ±0.1 Da. Copper content is confirmed by ICP-MS to verify stoichiometric Cu(II) complexation. Endotoxin content is confirmed at <1.0 EU/mg by LAL kinetic turbidimetric assay. A batch-specific Certificate of Analysis documenting all release results is available via the CoA Portal.
| Test Parameter | Method | Release Specification |
|---|---|---|
| Purity (RP-HPLC) | C18 column, UV 220 nm | ≥99.0%; max single impurity ≤0.5% |
| Identity (ESI-MS) | Electrospray ionisation MS | ±0.1 Da of theoretical MW 403.91 Da |
| Copper Content (ICP-MS) | Inductively coupled plasma MS | Stoichiometric Cu(II) complexation confirmed |
| Endotoxin (LAL) | Kinetic turbidimetric LAL | <1.0 EU/mg (non-sterile research material) |
| Appearance | Visual inspection | Blue-green lyophilised powder |
Note: An endotoxin specification does not confer sterility. GHK-Cu 50mg is a non-sterile research reagent. Researchers requiring sterile conditions should apply appropriate filtration in accordance with their institutional SOPs. Batch-specific analytical results are available on the CoA; the specifications above are release criteria, not typical results.
Mechanism of Action — Copper Delivery, Matrix Remodelling, and Gene Expression Research
GHK-Cu has been studied through multiple mechanisms in experimental systems, mediated by both the intact copper-peptide complex and the individual components (GHK tripeptide and copper(II) ion). The copper(II) component has been investigated as a delivery vehicle to copper-dependent metalloenzymes including lysyl oxidase (LOX), which catalyses the oxidative deamination of lysine and hydroxylysine residues in collagen and elastin to form the crosslinks essential for extracellular matrix (ECM) integrity. In fibroblast culture models, GHK-Cu has been reported to stimulate collagen synthesis and modulate MMP/TIMP balance, effects attributed in part to copper delivery to LOX and related enzymes.
The GHK tripeptide component has been shown in cell-based studies to activate multiple signalling pathways relevant to tissue biology research, including the PI3K/Akt pathway, TGF-β1 expression, and the Nrf2/ARE antioxidant response pathway — leading to reported upregulation of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. GHK has also been reported to modulate MMP and TIMP expression, regulating the balance between ECM degradation and synthesis in in vitro models.
Gene expression studies using Affymetrix microarray analysis have reported that GHK-Cu modulates the expression of a large number of human genes at concentrations of 1–10 nM in cell culture systems.[1] These studies identified effects on pathways involved in tissue remodelling, inflammatory signalling, and cellular differentiation. The experimental context of these findings — in vitro gene expression profiling — should be considered when interpreting their relevance to other research systems.
Research Applications
GHK-Cu has been investigated across several areas of cell biology and pre-clinical research. In fibroblast and extracellular matrix research, GHK-Cu has been used in fibroblast and keratinocyte cell culture models to investigate its effects on collagen synthesis, cell migration, and ECM remodelling. Standard assays in this context include collagen quantification by Sircol assay, cell migration by scratch wound assay, and gene expression analysis by qRT-PCR or RNA-seq. Animal models of wound healing (excisional wound models, diabetic wound models) have been used to characterise its effects on wound closure rate, collagen deposition, and angiogenesis in pre-clinical settings.
In antioxidant and anti-inflammatory research, GHK-Cu has been investigated for its effects on oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokine production, and Nrf2 pathway activation in cell culture models. The compound’s reported capacity to activate the Nrf2/ARE pathway and modulate antioxidant enzyme expression makes it a research tool for studying cellular responses to oxidative stress in experimental systems.
Gene expression and transcriptomics research represents a significant application area for GHK-Cu, given the scope of its reported effects on human gene expression profiles in microarray studies. Researchers have used GHK-Cu in transcriptomic studies to characterise molecular signatures associated with tissue remodelling and homeostasis in cell culture models.
Storage and Transport Conditions
| Condition | Specification | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Long-term storage (lyophilised) | −20°C, desiccated | Store in original sealed vial until use; low humidity environment recommended |
| Short-term storage (lyophilised) | 2–8°C | Acceptable for up to 4 weeks; desiccated |
| Transit | Ambient; cold-chain packaging included | Lyophilised form is stable during standard UK domestic shipping |
Note: Reconstituted solution storage, solvent selection, working concentration, and pH guidance are not provided, consistent with AbsoluteBioLab’s Research Use Only supply policy. Researchers should refer to their institutional SOPs and the published literature for handling reconstituted copper peptide solutions.
Analytical Note — AbsoluteBioLab Quality Team
GHK-Cu presents a distinctive analytical signature: the Cu²⁺ isotope pattern in ESI-MS (⁶³Cu/⁶⁵Cu ratio ≈ 2.24) provides a reliable identity check that distinguishes the intact copper complex from the free tripeptide GHK or partially dechelated material. Our QC team verifies this isotope pattern on every batch before release. Batches where the copper isotope pattern is absent or atypical are rejected regardless of HPLC purity result, as a high HPLC purity score alone cannot confirm that the copper chelate is intact. Batch-specific analytical data is available via the CoA Portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the molecular weight of GHK-Cu?
The molecular weight of GHK-Cu (Copper(II) glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine) is 403.91 Da. The molecular formula is C14H23CuN6O4⁺ and the CAS number is 89030-95-5. Note that CAS 49557-75-7 refers to the free tripeptide GHK (without copper), which is a structurally distinct compound.
Why does GHK-Cu appear blue-green?
GHK-Cu commonly presents as a blue-green material consistent with copper(II) complexation. Copper(II) complexes absorb light in the red-orange region of the visible spectrum (~600–700 nm) and therefore appear blue-green. Appearance may be recorded during receiving inspection, but product identity should be established from the applicable analytical documentation — specifically the ESI-MS result on the batch-specific CoA — rather than colour alone.
What is the difference between the 50mg and 100mg formats?
The GHK-Cu 50mg and GHK-Cu 100mg formats contain the same active compound at the same purity specification. The 50mg format is suitable for smaller-scale or pilot studies; the 100mg format is designed for research programmes requiring larger quantities. Both formats are supplied with batch-specific CoA documentation. The 50mg format is supplied as a refill vial compatible with the AbsoluteBioLab Peptide Pen system.
Is a Certificate of Analysis available?
Yes. Batch-specific CoA documents — including annotated HPLC chromatograms, ESI-MS data, and ICP-MS copper content data — are available through the AbsoluteBioLab CoA Portal and are included with each order.
References
- Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2018;19(7):1987. PMC6073405
- Maquart FX, Pickart L, Laurent M, Gillery P, Monboisse JC, Borel JP. Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+. FEBS Letters. 1988;238(2):343–346. PMID 8387173
- Pickart L, Margolina A. GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration. BioMed Research International. 2015;2015:648108. PMC4508379
Regulatory and Compliance Status
GHK-Cu 50mg Refill is supplied strictly for in vitro laboratory and research use only. This product is not a medicinal product, is not approved for human or veterinary use, and has not been evaluated by the MHRA or any other regulatory authority for safety, efficacy, or quality as a therapeutic agent. It must not be administered to humans or animals. For the full supply boundary, refer to the RUO Compliance Policy.
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