PeptideHormone

GHK-Cu

An endogenous copper-binding tripeptide studied mainly in skin biology.

EndogenousLimited

Identity

Class
Copper-binding tripeptide (Gly-His-Lys, with Cu²⁺)
Source
Endogenous; declines with age in plasma
Receptor
No classical receptor; acts via copper delivery and gene-expression effects

Key properties

Molecular weight
≈ 340.4 Da

Approximate values for the native hormone. Engineered analogs are often deliberately larger and far longer-acting.

Mechanism

GHK is a naturally occurring tripeptide that avidly binds copper. The GHK-Cu complex influences skin remodeling, collagen synthesis, and antioxidant gene expression, giving it a real role in dermatology — though many broader, systemic claims rest on limited human evidence.

Reference notes

  • GHK is endogenous and its plasma level declines with age.
  • It acts substantially through copper delivery and gene-expression effects, not a single receptor.
  • Topical/dermatological evidence is the strongest; broader systemic claims are not well established.

Selected literature

Curated peer-reviewed reviews, sourced from PubMed. Selected for relevance, not exhaustive — open any entry on PubMed for the full record and its primary citations.

  1. 1.Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data · International journal of molecular sciences, 2018 · PMID 29986520
  2. 2.Topically applied GHK as an anti-wrinkle peptide: Advantages, problems and prospective · BioImpacts : BI, 2025 · PMID 39963574