AV-COPPER: GHK-Cu (Copper Tripeptide-1) Research Peptide

AV-COPPER contains GHK-Cu, a copper-binding tripeptide composed of the amino acids glycine, histidine and lysine. The peptide is also identified in chemical reference databases as Copper Tripeptide-1 and Pre zatide Copper.

GHK-Cu is formed when the tripeptide GHK binds copper(II). The compound has been investigated in laboratory studies involving copper coordination chemistry, molecular structure and cultured cell systems. AV-COPPER is supplied as 50 mg of lyophilized powder in a sealed research vial.

Understanding GHK and GHK-Cu

GHK is the three-amino-acid peptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine. Its sequence is represented by the one-letter amino acid codes G-H-K.

When this peptide coordinates with copper(II), it forms a copper-peptide complex commonly referred to as GHK-Cu.

These molecular values describe reference chemical species. They do not independently establish the copper coordination ratio, salt form or purity of an individual commercial research vial.

GHK Reference, PubChem CID 73587
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GHK-Cu Reference, PubChem CID 71587328

Early Research on Copper Binding

GHK is a tripeptide identified in plasma, and its copper-binding characteristics have been studied using laboratory chemical methods.

In 1981, Lau and Sarkar published research in the Biochemical Journal examining copper coordination by GHK using potentiometry and visible-absorption spectrophotometry.

Their equilibrium dialysis experiments at pH 7.5 included albumin and GHK at equal concentrations. Under those conditions, approximately 42% of the copper(II) was bound to the peptide.

This was a controlled binding measurement in a laboratory buffer system, not an observation of copper distribution in a living organism.

View Lau and Sarkar (1981), Biochemical Journal

Molecular Structure and Copper Coordination

In 2011, Hureau and colleagues investigated the molecular structure of GHK-Cu using X-ray crystallography and spectroscopic techniques.

The researchers reported different structural arrangements depending on the experimental environment: a dimeric structure in the solid state and a monomeric structure in solution.

The study also associated rapid copper exchange behavior with the formation of a 2:1 peptide-to-copper species.

View Hureau et al. (2011), Chemistry

GHK-Cu in Cell Culture Research

GHK-Cu has also been investigated in experimental cell culture systems.

In 1988, Maquart and colleagues published research in FEBS Letters examining GHK-Cu in fibroblast cultures.

The investigators reported increased collagen synthesis under their experimental conditions, without a corresponding change in the number of cultured cells.

These findings were obtained from an individual in vitro study and should not be interpreted as establishing clinical effects or outcomes in humans.

View Maquart et al. (1988), FEBS Letters

Review of GHK-Cu Research

In 2018, Pickart and Margolina published a narrative review in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences summarizing research involving GHK-Cu.

The review discussed experimental findings from cell cultures, animal investigations and gene-expression analyses, including work involving the Broad Institute’s Connectivity Map.

The publication is a narrative review rather than a systematic review. Both authors were affiliated with R&D Skin Biology, an important consideration when evaluating the scope and independence of the available literature.

View Pickart and Margolina (2018), International Journal of Molecular Sciences

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