Description
What Is GHK-Cu? (In Plain English)
GHK-Cu is a tiny chain of three amino acids that grips one atom of copper, a bit like a small keyring holding a single key. Copper is useful to cells but messy when it floats around loose, so this little carrier keeps it held and hands it over neatly. Researchers study GHK-Cu in cell cultures to watch what happens when copper is delivered that way.
GHK-Cu — Research Overview
GHK-Cu is the copper(II) complex of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine, first isolated from human plasma and later identified in saliva and urine. The literature associates it with copper-dependent enzyme activity, matrix remodelling through effects on collagen and metalloproteinase expression in fibroblast culture, and broad transcriptional modulation reported in gene-expression profiling studies. Its behaviour is generally attributed to copper coordination and transfer rather than to binding at a single named receptor.
Primary Research Areas
- Dermal matrix biology — investigated in fibroblast culture for collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycan synthesis markers
- Copper transport — studied as a physiological copper-binding ligand and model for metal-peptide coordination chemistry
- Wound-model research — examined in animal models of tissue repair and angiogenic marker expression
- Gene-expression profiling — referenced in the literature for broad transcriptional effects observed in microarray studies
- Antioxidant chemistry — assessed in vitro for redox behaviour of the copper-peptide complex
Specifications
- Compound: GHK-Cu, copper tripeptide-1, glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper(II)
- CAS: 89030-95-5
- Molecular formula: C14H22CuN6O4
- Molecular weight: 403.9 g/mol
- Presentation: Lyophilized powder, sealed vial
- Quantity: As listed in this listing's title and product options
- Storage: Store lyophilized vials cold and protected from light. Reconstituted material is stored refrigerated per standard laboratory practice.
Related Research Peptides
GHK-Cu is most often studied next to its close structural relative AHK-Cu 100 mg, the other well-known copper tripeptide in the literature. Laboratories running dermal-matrix or tissue-repair models also stock BPC-157, Hyaluronic Acid 5 mg, and Snap-8 | 10mg.
Why Researchers Source GHK-Cu from Dissolv Labs
Dissolv Labs is a research-supply company based in Southern California. Orders are picked, packed, and shipped domestically from our SoCal facility, so most U.S. laboratories see short transit times and no international customs delay.
Every vial ships as a complete kit. Each GHK-Cu vial is paired with its own bacteriostatic water reconstitution vial, so the material arrives ready to prepare in the lab without a separate diluent order. Compounds are supplied lyophilized in sealed, labeled vials with lot identification, and analytical documentation is available on request.
GHK-Cu — Frequently Asked Questions
What is GHK-Cu used for?
GHK-Cu is supplied strictly as a research chemical for in vitro and laboratory research applications. The literature investigates it chiefly in fibroblast and tissue-repair models, in copper-coordination chemistry, and in gene-expression profiling work. It is not for human or veterinary use.
What is the difference between GHK and GHK-Cu?
GHK is the bare tripeptide glycyl-histidyl-lysine; GHK-Cu is that same tripeptide complexed with a copper(II) ion. Much of the published activity is attributed to the complex rather than the free peptide, because the copper is central to the coordination chemistry being studied. The two are therefore not interchangeable as experimental reagents.
Why is GHK-Cu powder blue?
The blue colour comes from the coordinated copper(II) ion, not from any additive, and it is a normal visual characteristic of the complex. Shade can vary slightly between lots depending on water content and lyophilisation. Vials are kept cold and shielded from light, and reconstituted material is refrigerated per standard laboratory practice.
Where can I buy GHK-Cu research peptide?
GHK-Cu is available for sale directly from Dissolv Labs, a Southern California research-supply company shipping domestically from our SoCal facility. Every order arrives as a complete kit with a bacteriostatic water vial included, and extra BAC Water 3ml can be added. Analytical documentation is available on request.
Research Use Only
GHK-Cu is sold exclusively as a Research Use Only (RUO) chemical. It is not a drug, supplement, cosmetic, or food, and it is not intended for human or veterinary use, ingestion, injection, topical application, or any form of consumption. It is intended solely for licensed laboratory research by qualified professionals. Dissolv Labs makes no medical, therapeutic, or diagnostic claims of any kind. By purchasing, the buyer confirms they are a qualified researcher and accepts full responsibility for lawful handling, use, and disposal.
Bacteriostatic (BAC) water is included free with every order.
Specifications
- Form: Lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder, sealed vial
- Appearance: White to off-white
- Purity: ≥99%, verified by HPLC
- Identity: Confirmed by mass spectrometry
- Testing: Independent third-party laboratory, every batch
- Documentation: Batch-specific COA available on request
Exact quantity and concentration are listed in the product title and variant options above. The figures above are release specifications — the measured result for your particular lot is stated on its Certificate of Analysis.
Documentation & Testing
Every batch is tested before release. Testing covers four checks: identity by mass spectrometry, purity by HPLC against a ≥99% release threshold, content verification against the labelled mass, and batch release tied to a specific lot number.
To request the Certificate of Analysis for your vial, email us with your order number or the lot number printed on the label. We do not gate documentation behind a form or a purchase.
New to reading a COA? Our plain-English guide decodes every line, and the full process is documented on our Quality & Testing page.
Handling & Storage
Lyophilized peptides are relatively stable during transit. Arriving at room temperature is not cause for concern — the cold pack is a margin of safety rather than a pass/fail condition.
Sealed vials of lyophilized material are typically stored refrigerated or frozen and protected from light. Handling protocols for a specific compound are determined by the researcher and their institution; we supply the material and its documentation.
Shipping & Returns
Orders placed before the daily cut-off are dispatched the same business day from Southern California in insulated packaging with ice packs. Tracking is issued at dispatch.
If a shipment arrives damaged, if vial contents appear inconsistent with the specification, or if the lot number on your vial does not match the certificate we provide, contact us and we will resolve it.
Because these are temperature-sensitive laboratory materials, opened vials cannot be returned to stock.
Questions
Straight answers about documentation, shipping, and what Research Use Only means.