MECHANISM OF ACTION
GHK-Cu is a tiny three-amino-acid peptide (a tripeptide) that your body makes naturally, and it carries a copper ion along with it. Think of it as a repair signal. Young people have plenty of it; levels drop significantly with age. It tells the skin to produce more collagen (the protein that keeps skin firm), elastin (which keeps skin springy), and other structural proteins. It also switches on antioxidant enzymes that mop up damaging molecules in cells. The really striking finding: researchers mapped it against the human genome and found it interacts with over 4,000 genes, most of them involved in repair, regeneration, and anti-ageing pathways. It's used both in skincare products and in injectable research formats.
RESEARCH APPLICATIONS
- Collagen and elastin synthesis research
- Genomic expression profiling
- Copper-transport peptide chemistry
- Dermal and follicle research models
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
Broad gene-expression signature
2018Bioinformatic analysis reports interaction with several thousand genes, including DNA-repair and mitochondrial pathways - the basis for most research interest. Research observations only.
Ref: Pickart & Margolina, Sci World J
RESEARCH PROTOCOL NOTES
Chemical Identity
Sequence
Gly-His-Lys · Cu²⁺
Storage & Stability
Lyophilised: 2–8°C for years. In solution: maintain pH 6.0–6.5 to prevent copper dissociation. Reconstituted: 2–8°C, 30 days. Blue/teal colour is normal - confirms intact Cu²⁺ complex.
Regulatory Status
Unscheduled in South Africa. Supplied for laboratory and research use only. Not a registered medicine, not evaluated by SAHPRA, not for human consumption. Topical cosmetic-grade material is regulated separately. Not WADA prohibited.
Important - read before proceeding
This page is a summary of published scientific literature about a molecule. It is provided for research and educational purposes only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, a recommendation, a prescription, or a claim that this compound treats, cures, prevents or improves any condition in humans. Research findings described here are observations reported by third-party researchers about the molecule - they are not statements about the product supplied by Bio Intelligence, and they should not be read as an expected outcome.
Compounds supplied are not registered medicines, have not been evaluated by SAHPRA, and are not for human consumption. No dosing, route of administration or usage guidance is provided by Bio Intelligence. If you have a health concern, speak to a registered healthcare practitioner.