AHK-Cu vs GHK-Cu
AHK-Cu (Copper-binding tripeptide) and GHK-Cu (Copper-binding tripeptide) are documented as co-studied in the PeptiDex library. This page puts the two entries side by side on class, molecular weight, half-life, origin, mechanism and studied research areas — every value taken from the entry it belongs to.
Why these two are co-studied
Cross-referenced for research context — not a usage or combination recommendation.
At a glance
| Attribute | AHK-Cu | GHK-Cu |
|---|---|---|
| Compound class | Copper-binding tripeptide | Copper-binding tripeptide |
| Research category | Cosmetic & Dermal | Cosmetic & Dermal |
| Length (amino acids) | 3 amino acids | 3 amino acids |
| Molecular weight | ~354 Da | 340.4 Da |
| Half-life | Not documented | Not documented |
| Origin | AHK-Cu is a synthetic copper-binding tripeptide (alanyl-histidyl-lysine complexed with copper) used as a cosmetic ingredient. It is structurally related to GHK-Cu, differing in its first amino acid (alanine rather than glycine). | GHK is a naturally occurring tripeptide (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine) found in human plasma, with levels reported to decline with age. GHK-Cu is its complex with copper(II) ions and is widely used as a cosmetic ingredient. |
“Not documented” means the PeptiDex entry records no value for that field. Nothing on this page is estimated, and no figure is carried over from one compound to the other.
How AHK-Cu works
Like other copper tripeptides, AHK-Cu binds copper(II) and is used to deliver copper in cosmetic applications. In cosmetic and in-vitro research it has been associated with effects on hair follicle biology and vascular/dermal-related signaling, though its evidence base is smaller than that of GHK-Cu. These properties are drawn from cell and cosmetic studies.
How GHK-Cu works
GHK has a high affinity for copper(II) and is understood to act partly as a copper-delivery molecule, facilitating copper transport relevant to enzymatic and remodeling processes. In cell and skin research it has been associated with signaling that influences extracellular-matrix remodeling, collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis, and antioxidant and gene-expression effects. Much of this work is from in-vitro and skin studies.
Mechanistic descriptions reflect published research-literature understanding and are quoted from each compound's own entry. Much peptide research is preclinical (in-vitro or animal-model); mechanism in humans may differ and is not established for many compounds.
Where each one appears in the literature
The research contexts each entry documents. Listing a research area is not a claim of efficacy or a therapeutic indication, and the two lists are not scored against each other.
AHK-Cu
GHK-Cu
What sets each apart
AHK-Cu
AHK-Cu differs from GHK-Cu by a single amino acid and is more often associated with hair-related cosmetic applications, with a comparatively limited evidence base.
GHK-Cu
GHK-Cu is the most established copper tripeptide in cosmetic use, distinguished from AHK-Cu by its sequence and from repair peptides like BPC-157 by its remodeling and copper-delivery focus.
Frequently asked questions
How does AHK-Cu differ from GHK-Cu?
Both are small copper-carrying peptides, but AHK-Cu begins with alanine rather than the glycine of the naturally occurring GHK-Cu. AHK-Cu is a fully synthetic analog that has been highlighted specifically for hair-follicle activity, whereas GHK-Cu is the collagen-derived sequence more associated with skin remodeling.
What is AHK-Cu studied for?
Research and cosmetic literature describe AHK-Cu in the context of the hair-growth (anagen) phase, follicle protection, and scalp/skin quality. As with related copper peptides, it is characterized as a signaling ingredient and is not an approved drug for hair loss.
What is the molecular weight of AHK-Cu?
The base copper tripeptide is roughly 354 Da, slightly heavier than GHK-Cu (~340 Da). Some product listings cite higher formula weights that reflect liposomal or salt forms rather than the base peptide-copper complex.
How does GHK-Cu differ from AHK-Cu?
Both are small copper-binding peptides used in skin and hair cosmetic research. GHK-Cu begins with glycine (Gly-His-Lys) and is the natural collagen-derived sequence, whereas AHK-Cu is a synthetic analog beginning with alanine (Ala-His-Lys) that was designed with a focus on hair-follicle applications.
What is GHK-Cu?
GHK-Cu is a complex of the naturally occurring tripeptide GHK (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine) with a copper(II) ion. The GHK sequence is a subfragment of the alpha-2 chain of type I collagen and is present in human plasma, where its level declines with age. It is studied primarily as a copper-delivery and skin-remodeling signal peptide.
What is GHK-Cu studied for?
In research and cosmetic-formulation literature it is studied for collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis in dermal fibroblasts, wound-model remodeling, and antioxidant/gene-modulating activity. It is characterized as a signaling peptide rather than a therapeutic drug, and is not FDA-approved for treating any condition.
Answers are the ones published on each compound's own PeptiDex entry. They are educational summaries of research-literature context and are not medical advice.