GHK-Cu: A Research Overview
GHK-Cu (the copper peptide) is a long-studied compound with a large body of published research behind it. This is a factual overview for a research audience — what it is, how it's characterised, and how to confirm the material you receive matches its label. It is not medical guidance and makes no claim about any effect in humans.
What GHK-Cu is
GHK-Cu is a copper-binding tripeptide — the three-amino-acid sequence glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine (GHK) complexed with a copper(II) ion. The copper affinity is central to how it's studied; much of the research literature examines GHK and its copper complex in the context of skin remodelling, extracellular-matrix and copper-transport biology, typically in cell and tissue models.
| Class | Copper-binding tripeptide (Gly-His-Lys + Cu²⁺) |
| Approx. molecular weight | ~340 g/mol (GHK) · ~404 g/mol (copper complex) |
| Appearance | Characteristic blue colour when copper-complexed |
| Typical research format | Lyophilised powder, reconstituted for in-vitro work |
| Storage | -20°C, desiccated, protected from light |
Figures are nominal reference values — always defer to the Certificate of Analysis for the specific lot.
Why verification matters
GHK-Cu's copper content is part of what makes verification meaningful: correct identity and purity, and the right copper complexation, aren't things a buyer can confirm by eye. The distinctive blue colour tells you copper is present, not that the peptide fraction is correct or pure. What settles it is documentation:
- Identity confirmed by mass spectrometry
- Purity measured by HPLC
- Lot traceability — the CoA tied to your specific batch
How DNR handles it
Every GHK-Cu lot we supply ships with a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis you can verify on our site before you order. Purity is specified at ≥98% and confirmed on the lot's own CoA — the same standard across our whole range.
View our GHK-Cu research listing →
Related reading
- How to read a Certificate of Analysis
- What is HPLC purity testing?
- How to store lyophilised research peptides
For laboratory and research use only. Not for human consumption. Nothing on this page is medical advice or a claim of any effect in humans; it summarises publicly available research context only.
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