GHK-Cu
A naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide with broad gene-regulatory effects studied in the context of tissue remodelling and cellular health.
GHK-Cu (glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine copper complex) is a tripeptide first isolated from human plasma that forms a stable complex with copper(II) ions. Its biological interest stems from a growing body of research linking it to the regulation of over 4,000 human genes, with particular enrichment in pathways associated with collagen synthesis, antioxidant defence, DNA repair, and anti-inflammatory signalling — a breadth of transcriptional influence unusual for a molecule of its small size.
In skin biology research, GHK-Cu has been studied as a modulator of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression and TGF-beta signalling, mechanisms relevant to wound healing, fibrosis resolution, and extracellular matrix homeostasis. Parallel investigations have examined its neuroprotective properties, including attenuation of oxidative-stress-induced neuronal damage and modulation of BDNF expression in cell culture and animal models.
The copper coordination chemistry of GHK-Cu enables it to function as a superoxide dismutase mimetic, contributing to its antioxidant activity profile in vitro. Researchers have leveraged this multi-functional pharmacology to study relationships between copper metabolism, redox biology, and gene regulatory networks in ageing-related cellular contexts.
For research purposes only. Not for human consumption.