{"id":493,"date":"2026-09-06T21:46:03","date_gmt":"2026-09-06T21:46:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/premiumpeptide.shop\/research\/compounds\/ghk-cu\/"},"modified":"2026-09-06T21:59:34","modified_gmt":"2026-09-06T21:59:34","slug":"ghk-cu","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/premiumpeptide.shop\/en\/research\/compounds\/ghk-cu\/","title":{"rendered":"GHK-Cu"},"content":{"rendered":"

GHK-Cu is a copper complex of a tripeptide and differs analytically in clear ways from pure peptides. The bound metal determines colour, chromatographic behaviour and the requirements for documentation.<\/p>\n

What is GHK-Cu?<\/h2>\n

GHK is the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine with a molecular mass of approximately 340 Da. GHK-Cu designates the complex of this tripeptide with divalent copper; the molecular mass of the complex is approximately 404 Da. Coordination takes place via the imidazole group of the histidine, the N-terminus and the amide bond.<\/p>\n

The complex is characteristically blue in colour. This colour arises from d-d transitions of the copper(II) ion and is a simple but non-specific indication of the presence of complexed copper. Pure GHK without copper is colourless. Commercial material is present as a lyophilised blue powder.<\/p>\n

Research context<\/h2>\n

GHK was originally described as a copper-binding peptide from human plasma and has since been the subject of cell biology and dermatology research literature. In cosmetic formulations GHK-Cu is established as an ingredient. For laboratory contexts the relevant question is above all in what ratio peptide and copper are actually present, since both under-complexed free GHK and excess copper salt can occur.<\/p>\n

Analytical identification<\/h2>\n

For metal complexes the usual peptide analysis is not sufficient:<\/p>\n