GHK-CU

GHK-Cu

GHK-Cu is the copper(II) complex of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine. GHK was first isolated from human plasma in 1973 as a factor that affected the survival and growth of liver cells in culture, and was later shown to bind copper with high affinity. It is one of the best-characterized copper peptides in biochemistry and remains a reference compound in matrix and wound-model research.

Product Specifications

• Product: GHK-Cu
• Amount: See available options above
• Form: Lyophilized powder
• Purity: Third-party tested by an ISO 17025 U.S. laboratory. See the batch Certificate of Analysis (COA) on this page.
• Storage: Keep sealed and refrigerated at 2–8°C (36–46°F), protected from light.
• Ships from: United States, 2-day UPS

Chemical Profile

• Compound class: Copper tripeptide complex
• Sequence: Gly-His-Lys, as the copper(II) complex
• Molecular formula: C₁₄H₂₃CuN₆O₄
• Molecular weight: 402.92 g/mol
• CAS number: 89030-95-5

What researchers study

Research on GHK-Cu spans coordination chemistry, cell biology and animal models:

• Copper binding: Cu(II) is held by the histidine imidazole nitrogen, the N-terminal amino group of glycine and a deprotonated backbone amide. The complex is used to study copper transport into cells and copper-dependent enzymes.
• Extracellular matrix: fibroblast cultures in which GHK-Cu stimulated collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis, and studies of matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression, which point to a role in both building and remodeling matrix.
• Gene expression: analyses of public gene-expression datasets reporting that GHK changes the activity of large groups of genes involved in tissue repair, antioxidant defense and inflammation.
• Inflammation models: recent rodent work, including an experimental colitis model, examining oxidative-stress and inflammatory signaling.

Most of these findings come from cell culture and animal models. They do not establish effects in humans.

Regulatory status

GHK-Cu is not approved by the FDA as a drug. It is used as an ingredient in topical cosmetic products, but the lyophilized material sold here is a research reagent, not a cosmetic, and is not for human use.

Quality & Documentation

Every batch of GHK-Cu is made in small runs for Rogue Compounds and tested by an independent U.S. laboratory for identity (mass spectrometry) and purity (HPLC). Each vial is labeled with its batch number and a QR code that opens the testing lab’s own report for that batch. The same batch Certificate of Analysis is posted on this page and in our COA Library, so you can check one against the other.

Research overview

For a longer look at GHK-Cu, covering where it came from, what cell and animal studies have measured, and what the evidence does not show, read our GHK-Cu research overview. It is written as background reading, and every study it cites is linked to PubMed.

Selected literature

• Pickart L, Thaler MM. Tripeptide in human serum which prolongs survival of normal liver cells and stimulates growth in neoplastic liver. Nat New Biol. 1973;243(124):85-87. PMID 4349963
• Maquart FX, et al. Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+. FEBS Lett. 1988;238(2):343-346. PMID 3169264
• Siméon A, et al. The tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ stimulates matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression by fibroblast cultures. Life Sci. 2000;67(18):2257-2265. PMID 11045606
• Pickart L, Margolina A. Regenerative and protective actions of the GHK-Cu peptide in the light of the new gene data. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(7):1987. PMID 29986520
• Mao S, et al. Exploring the beneficial effects of GHK-Cu on an experimental model of colitis and the underlying mechanisms. Front Pharmacol. 2025;16:1551843. PMID 40672369

Research Use Only

This product is sold strictly as a research chemical for in-vitro laboratory and analytical use by qualified professionals. It is not a drug, dietary supplement, food, or cosmetic, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Not for human or veterinary use. Rogue Compounds does not provide dosing, preparation, or usage instructions. The literature on this page is listed for scientific background only and does not describe this product or any use of it.