GHK-Cu is a copper(II) complex of glycyl–L-histidyl–L-lysine, the tripeptide abbreviated GHK. The free peptide, a copper salt and the peptide–copper complex have different chemical descriptions, so the represented form matters when comparing formulae and certificates.
GHK and GHK-Cu names
GHK denotes Gly–His–Lys. Some older papers abbreviate the spelled-out glycyl–L-histidyl–L-lysine name as GHL; that historical abbreviation should not be read as the modern Gly–His–Leu sequence. Cu(II) records the copper oxidation state, not a fourth amino acid.Pickart and Thaler (1980) (opens in a new tab)Hureau et al. (2011) (opens in a new tab)
| Field | Reference value |
|---|---|
| Names used in these sources | GHK-Cu; Cu-GHK; copper(II)–GHK complex |
| Ligand sequence | Gly–His–Lys (GHK) |
| CAS number | 89030-95-5 (PubChem registry number for the GHK–copper complex, also listed as prezatide copper; 49557-75-7 is uncomplexed GHK). The supplied report does not print a CAS number. |
| Represented molecular formula | C14H24CuN6O4 in PubChem CID 378611 |
| Represented molecular weight | 403.92 g/mol in that same database record |
The formula and mass above belong specifically to the Cu-GHK representation in PubChem CID 378611. They are not assigned here to every copper–GHK species or to the whole supplied powder. The report describes Cu(II) complexation but does not print a complete formula or salt specification.PubChem — Cu-GHK, CID 378611 (opens in a new tab)Supplied GHK-Cu 50 mg report — lot GHK-01-5Q2 (opens in a new tab)
State and copper loading belong in the record
Hureau and colleagues report different structural organisation for Cu(II)–GHK in the solid state and in solution. A formula or structural drawing therefore needs its stated chemical form and context; it does not describe every possible solution species.Hureau et al. (2011) (opens in a new tab)
The supplied 50 mg report combines peptide LC-HRMS identity with ICP-OES copper measurements and reports a Cu:peptide molar ratio of 1.00. It separately reports chromatographic purity and measured complex content. Read those measurements together rather than treating the purity percentage as a copper assay.Supplied GHK-Cu 50 mg report — lot GHK-01-5Q2 (opens in a new tab)
Product and certificate documents
Sources and further detail
- Hureau et al. (2011) (opens in a new tab)
Existing dossier source for ligand identity, Cu(II) coordination and solid/solution distinction.
- Pickart and Thaler (1980) (opens in a new tab)
Existing GHK comparison dossier: spelled-out tripeptide identity and historical GHL abbreviation only.
- PubChem — Cu-GHK, CID 378611 (opens in a new tab)
Existing product-review source rechecked; formula and molecular weight belong to this particular database representation.
- Supplied GHK-Cu 50 mg report — lot GHK-01-5Q2 (opens in a new tab)
Supplied report: identity wording and analytical fields. Results concern the named sample and lot; this is document transcription, not independent authentication.
Identity sources and supplied documents checked for this revision on 3 October 2026. Report transcription is separate from independent authentication. This article has not undergone independent scientific peer review.