From Blood Plasma to the Lab

GHK-Cu was first isolated from human plasma albumin by Loren Pickart in 1973. The tripeptide-copper complex made of glycine, histidine, and lysine is therefore one of the longest-studied peptides in existence.

The Mechanism Behind Collagen Synthesis

The copper component of the complex serves as a cofactor for lysyl oxidase, an enzyme responsible for cross-linking collagen and elastin – a key step in the structural integrity of connective tissue.

Gene expression analyses also associate GHK-Cu with modulation of thousands of genes toward repair-related patterns, which may explain its broad spectrum of effects in preclinical research.

Widespread Topically, Regulated When Injectable

In topical form, the compound is widely available and unregulated as “Copper Tripeptide-1” in countless cosmetic products. The injectable form, by contrast, was classified by the FDA as a Category 2 bulk substance in 2023.

Sources

  • Pickart L, Margolina A. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(7):1987. PMID 29986520
  • Maquart FX, et al. J Clin Invest. 1993;92(5):2368–2376. PMID 8227353
  • Badenhorst T, et al. J Aging Sci. 2016;4(1):166.

References without a PMID can be located via the respective publisher.