The verifiable place to buy research peptides · Free shipping over $150
0

Research Reference · Skin & Collagen

GHK-Cu (Copper Peptide)

A naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide (glycine-histidine-lysine) with one of the longest research records in skin, collagen and tissue repair.

Last reviewed September 2026 8 peer-reviewed sources 3-minute read

At a glance

GHK-Cu is a tiny three-amino-acid peptide — glycine, histidine, lysine — bound to copper. It occurs naturally in human plasma and was first described in 1973. It has decades of research in collagen, skin and wound repair, and gene-expression analyses suggest it shifts the activity of thousands of genes. The evidence is mostly lab, animal and cosmetic-science work.

TypeCopper tripeptide (Gly-His-Lys + Cu)
Studied forCollagen, skin & wound repair
Evidence stageLab, animal & cosmetic studies
Human dataTopical cosmetic studies

What it’s studied for

Collagen & skin matrix

Stimulated collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures at very low concentrations. 4

Cell

Skin regeneration

Studied for keratinocyte growth and skin repair, including topical anti-wrinkle work. 2,8

Cell & cosmetic

Gene expression

Gene-data analyses suggest GHK can up- or down-regulate thousands of human genes. 1,2,3

Gene-data analysis

Tissue remodeling

Reviewed across skin, liver, stomach, intestine and bone models. 6

Animal

GHK-Cu

From $29.99 · 50 mg · 100 mg

Third-party tested · batch-matched COA · research use only

View GHK-Cu GHK-Cu COAsUsage guide

How it works

GHK was first isolated from human serum in 1973, when researchers found it prolonged the survival of liver cells in culture. 7 It binds copper tightly, and the copper complex — GHK-Cu — is the form most studied.

In fibroblast cultures GHK-Cu stimulated collagen synthesis at very low concentrations. Because the GHK sequence also appears inside type I collagen, researchers proposed that it may be released at wound sites and act there. 4

Later analyses of gene-expression data suggest GHK can shift the activity of thousands of human genes, including ones tied to tissue repair, antioxidant defence and DNA repair. 1,2,3 Reviews also cover antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. 5

Related research

GLOW (Three-Peptide Blend)GHK-Cu + BPC-157 + TB-500 KLOW (Four-Peptide Blend)GLOW + KPV BPC-157Tissue repair NAD+Longevity research

Frequently asked questions

What does GHK stand for?
Glycine-histidine-lysine — the three amino acids that make up the peptide.
Why is copper attached?
GHK binds copper(II) tightly, and the copper complex (GHK-Cu) is the form used in most research.
Is GHK-Cu the same as GHK?
No. GHK is the copper-free peptide (CAS 49557-75-7). GHK-Cu is the copper complex, also called prezatide copper (CAS 89030-95-5).
Has GHK-Cu been studied in people?
Mostly in topical cosmetic research, such as anti-wrinkle studies. It is not an approved drug.
Which blends contain GHK-Cu?
GLOW (GHK-Cu + BPC-157 + TB-500) and KLOW (GLOW plus KPV). GHK-Cu is the largest component in both.

Identifiers

Name GHK-Cu (copper tripeptide-1) · prezatide copper
Peptide Gly-His-Lys (GHK) bound to copper(II)
Sequence Gly-His-Lys
Molecular formula C14H23CuN6O4
Molecular weight 402.9 g/mol
CAS number 89030-95-5 (GHK-Cu) · 49557-75-7 (copper-free GHK)
PubChem CID 71587328 (GHK-Cu) · 73587 (GHK)
UNII · DrugBank 6BJQ43T1I9 · DB14683
Supplied as Lyophilized powder (blue, from the bound copper)

Identifiers checked against PubChem (CIDs 71587328 and 73587). PubChem lists the copper complex as a +1 cation.

Research timeline

  1. 1973GHK is isolated from human serum as a factor that prolongs liver-cell survival. 7
  2. 1988GHK-Cu is shown to stimulate collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures. 4
  3. 2008Review of GHK in tissue remodeling across organs. 6
  4. 2012Review of antioxidant and protective actions, including brain-related gene effects. 5
  5. 2014–2015Gene-data reviews: GHK influences thousands of genes; its role in skin regeneration is revisited. 3,2
  6. 2018Review links its protective actions to new gene data. 1
  7. 2025Review of topical GHK as an anti-wrinkle peptide. 8

Key studies

StudyModelWhat it found
Pickart 1973 7 Cell A tripeptide in human serum prolonged survival of normal liver cells in culture.
Maquart 1988 4 Cell Stimulated collagen synthesis in fibroblasts at nanomolar concentrations, independent of cell number.
Pickart 2015 2 Review + gene data GHK up- or down-regulates at least 4,000 human genes; roles in skin regeneration.
Mortazavi 2025 8 Review Advantages, problems and prospects of topical GHK as an anti-wrinkle peptide.

Sources

  1. Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data. Pickart L, Margolina A. Int J Mol Sci, 2018. Free full textReview
  2. GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration. Pickart L, et al. Biomed Res Int, 2015. Free full textReview
  3. GHK and DNA: resetting the human genome to health. Pickart L, et al. Biomed Res Int, 2014. Free full textReview
  4. Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+. Maquart FX, et al. FEBS Lett, 1988.
  5. The human tripeptide GHK-Cu in prevention of oxidative stress and degenerative conditions of aging: implications for cognitive health. Pickart L, et al. Oxid Med Cell Longev, 2012. Free full textReview
  6. The human tri-peptide GHK and tissue remodeling. Pickart L. J Biomater Sci Polym Ed, 2008. Review
  7. Tripeptide in human serum which prolongs survival of normal liver cells and stimulates growth in neoplastic liver. Pickart L, Thaler MM. Nat New Biol, 1973.
  8. Topically applied GHK as an anti-wrinkle peptide: Advantages, problems and prospective. Mortazavi SM, et al. Bioimpacts, 2025. Free full textReview
For Research Use Only. This page summarizes published scientific research for educational purposes. It is not medical advice and does not promote, recommend, or describe any human or animal use. Products referenced are sold strictly for laboratory research and are not for human consumption.

Last reviewed September 2026 by Midwest Compounds. Every source above was checked against its original publication.