Most of the peptides in this series are large, engineered molecules. GHK-Cu is the opposite. It is one of the smallest peptides you will come across, just three amino acids bound to a copper ion, and it occurs naturally in the body. That combination of a short sequence and a bound metal is what makes it interesting to study.
What is GHK-Cu?
GHK-Cu is a copper complex of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine, which is where the letters G, H, and K come from. The "Cu" is the chemical symbol for copper. Its CAS number is 89030-95-5 and its molecular formula is C14H24CuN6O4. The peptide portion binds a copper ion with high affinity, and much of the research interest comes from that metal-binding behavior rather than the peptide alone. For context on how a short peptide differs from a full protein, see amino acids, peptides, and proteins.
Where does it come from?
Unlike synthetic agonists, GHK is a sequence that appears naturally in human plasma and other tissues, and levels of it change with age in some studies. The research-grade material is produced synthetically and complexed with copper so that the exact ratio and purity are controlled. This is a case where the natural origin is part of the story, but the vial you receive is a defined, tested compound.
How is GHK-Cu studied?
Published laboratory work on GHK-Cu tends to cluster around a few themes:
- Copper transport: how the peptide binds and moves copper, a trace element involved in many enzymes.
- Tissue and skin biology: models looking at collagen and connective tissue signaling.
- Gene expression: research on how the compound relates to patterns of cellular activity in culture.
These are laboratory findings, not conclusions about people or animals. GHK-Cu is supplied strictly as a research compound.
Handling and verification
Because GHK-Cu carries a copper ion, its identity and purity are worth confirming rather than assuming from the label. It is checked by HPLC and mass spectrometry, ships lyophilized, and comes with its certificate of analysis. Any Codex Research vial can be confirmed by its batch number.
Research use only
All products sold by Codex Research, including GHK-Cu, are strictly for laboratory research and development. They are not for human or animal consumption and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
The compound at Codex Research
GHK-Cu, 100 mg per vial — batch-verified, with its certificate of analysis.
Frequently asked questions
What does GHK-Cu stand for?
GHK are the single-letter codes for the three amino acids in the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine, and Cu is the chemical symbol for copper. GHK-Cu is the copper complex of that tripeptide, used strictly for laboratory research.
Is GHK-Cu natural or synthetic?
The GHK sequence occurs naturally in the body, but the research-grade material is made synthetically and complexed with copper so the ratio and purity are controlled and verifiable.
Why is the copper important?
GHK binds a copper ion with high affinity, and a lot of the research interest centers on that metal-binding behavior, including how the peptide interacts with copper transport in model systems.