What is GHK and Copper Peptide?

Background

Signal peptides stimulate matrix protein production in general and collagen synthesis in specific. They

may be accomplished by stimulation and growth of different skin cells like human skin fibroblasts. Signal

peptides can also increase elastin, proteoglycan, glycosaminoglycans, and fibronectin proliferation. By

increasing matrix cell activities and consequently collagen production, the skin looks firmer and younger.

Carrier peptides belong to a general category that acts as a facilitator of an important substance

transportation, but their major application is to deliver important trace elements (like copper and

manganese) necessary for wound healing and enzymatic processes.

The tripeptide-1 (glycyl-L-histadyl-L-lysine or GHK) is primarily known as carrier peptides. It mainly helps

to stabilize and deliver copper. It is also a signal peptide that promotes extra-large collagen aggregates

degradation in scars; regular collagen synthesis in normal skin; elastin, proteoglycans, and

glycosaminoglycans production; growth rate and migration of different cell types; and antiinflammatory

and antioxidant responses.

CAT# CPC1612 CPC1613 CPC1658

Product Name GHK Copper Peptide(GHK-Cu) Copper Peptide

CAS No. 49557-75-7 89030-95-5 N/A

Sequence H-Gly-His-Lys-OH Gly-His-Lys•Cu•xHOAc 2(Gly-His-Lys).C

M.W/Mr. 340.38 403.94 744.32

Molecular Formula C14H24N6O4 C14H22CuN6O4 C28H46CuN12O

Introduction

GHK is a tripeptide with the amino acid sequence glycyl-histidyl-lysine. It naturally occurs in human

plasma, saliva, and urine. In plasma the level of GHK is about 200 ng/mL (10-7 M) at age 20, but declines

to 80 ng/mL by age 60. This decline in the GHK-level coincides with the noticeable decrease in
regenerative capacity of an organism. The human peptide GHK-Cu (copper peptide) was isolated in 1973

by Pickart as an activity in human albumin that caused old human liver tissue to synthesize proteins like

younger tissue. Subsequent studies established this activity as a tripeptide with an amino acid sequence

glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine with a strong affinity for copper that readily formed the complex GHK-Cu. The

GHK copper complex (or GHK-Cu) has been proven to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory,

regenerative, and wound healing actions. Recent studies demonstrated that the GHK tripeptide up- and

downregulates a large number of human genes, which may contribute to the pleiotropic health

promoting effects of its copper complex.

Subsequent studies directed by Borel and Maquart et al. demonstrated that GHK-Cu at a very low,

nontoxic concentration (1–10 nanomolar) stimulated both synthesis and breakdown of collagen and

glycosaminoglycans. GHK modulated an activity of both metalloproteinases and their inhibitors (TIMP-1

and TIMP-2), acting as a main regulator of wound healing and skin remodeling processes. GHK-Cu

stimulated collagen, dermatan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and a small proteoglycan, decorin. In 2001

McCormack et al. established that GHK-Cu restored replicative vitality to fibroblasts from patients after

anticancer radiation therapy that damages cellular DNA. GHK was also found to attract immune and

endothelial cells to the site of an injury.

Function

Wound healing activity of GHK-Cu was confirmed in animal experiments. GHK-Cu accelerated wound

healing and increased blood vessel formation and the level of antioxidant enzymes in rabbits. This

molecule also induced systemic wound healing in rats, mice, and pigs. It improved the healing of

diabetic and ischemic wounds in rats, decreasing the level of TNF-alpha and stimulating collagen

synthesis. It also facilitated healing of pad wounds in dogs. Such well-documented skin regeneration

activity prompted widespread use of GHK in antiaging cosmetic products.

Related readings:

Cosmetic peptides

Anti-aging peptide

Anti-pigment peptide

References:

Gorouhi, Farzam, and Howard I. Maibach. "Topical peptides and proteins for aging skin." Textbook of

Aging Skin. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2010. 1089-1117.

Pickart, Loren, Jessica Michelle Vasquez-Soltero, and Anna Margolina. "GHK peptide as a natural

modulator of multiple cellular pathways in skin regeneration." BioMed research international 2015

(2015).
Pickart, Loren, Jessica Michelle Vasquez-Soltero, and Anna Margolina. "The human tripeptide GHK-Cu in

prevention of oxidative stress and degenerative conditions of aging: implications for cognitive

health." Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity 2012 (2012).