Scientist in a lab coat examining a vial of blue copper-peptide lyophilized powder beside an HPLC instrument, illustrating GHK-Cu identity confirmation in in vitro research
Mindful Research

GHK-Cu Name Variants (GHKCu, GHK Cu, Cu-GHK, Copper Tripeptide-1): One Compound

By: Mindful Research Team3 min read

Key takeaways

  • GHKCu, GHK-Cu, GHK Cu, Cu-GHK, GHK copper and Copper Tripeptide-1 all name the same copper(II) complex of Gly-His-Lys.
  • The complex is CAS 89030-95-5, C14H23CuN6O4+, 402.92 g/mol (PubChem CID 71587328).
  • GHK alone is the free peptide: CAS 49557-75-7, 340.38 g/mol.
  • Copper peptide is a generic term and is ambiguous; confirm identity by CAS, mass, HPLC and MS.
  • For in vitro research use only.

GHKCu, GHK-Cu, GHK Cu, Cu-GHK and Copper Tripeptide-1 are different spellings and labels for one compound: the 1:1 copper(II) complex of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine (CAS 89030-95-5, C14H23CuN6O4+, 402.92 g/mol). This guide maps each variant so a spec sheet, a paper and a catalog entry can be matched to the same material; the catalog listing is GHK-Cu.

Which names refer to the same compound?

Name or spelling Refers to Note
GHK-Cu The copper complex The standard written form
GHKCu The copper complex No hyphen, same compound
GHK Cu The copper complex Space instead of hyphen
Cu-GHK, Cu(II)-GHK The copper complex Metal-first notation common in coordination chemistry
GHK copper The copper complex A PubChem synonym
Copper Tripeptide-1 The copper complex A nomenclature-style label, listed as a PubChem synonym
Prezatide copper The copper complex The PubChem title for CID 71587328
Copper peptide, Cu peptide Ambiguous Generic; also describes other copper-binding peptides such as AHK-Cu
GHK, Tripeptide-1, prezatide The free peptide, no copper CAS 49557-75-7
Bis-prezatide copper A 2:1 peptide-to-copper species CID 9831891

What are the CAS number, formula and molecular weight?

The identifiers below were checked against PubChem on 2026-10-20.

Species CAS PubChem CID Formula Average mass
GHK-Cu (1:1 complex, cation) 89030-95-5 71587328 C14H23CuN6O4+ 402.92 g/mol
GHK (free peptide) 49557-75-7 73587 C14H24N6O4 340.38 g/mol
Bis-prezatide copper (2:1) 130120-56-8 9831891 C28H46CuN12O8 742.3 g/mol

A common source of confusion is a spec sheet that pairs the copper formula with the 340 g/mol mass of the free peptide, or the free peptide's PubChem record with the complex's CAS number. If the numbers on a listing do not belong to the same row of the table above, ask which species they describe. The listed 402.92 g/mol is the complex cation; a salt form with a counter-ion has a higher formula weight, so confirm the form on the certificate. For a general walkthrough, see reading a peptide spec sheet.

How do you confirm you have the right compound, whatever it is called?

  • Mass spectrometry: the complex shows a copper isotope doublet near m/z 402.11 and 404.11; the free peptide appears at m/z 341.19 [M+H]+.
  • HPLC: retention time and a single dominant peak; the free peptide and the complex can elute differently. Method basics are in HPLC for peptides: how purity is measured.
  • Appearance and spectrum: a blue lyophilized powder and a visible-region d-d band point to copper(II) being present.
  • Copper content: an elemental measurement confirms the metal is actually there, at roughly the expected ratio.

Why does the name matter when ordering a research material?

Spelling variants all point to one material, but the bare label GHK or the generic term copper peptide does not. Identity is established by CAS number, formula, mass and analytical data rather than by the name alone. The difference between the metal-free and metal-bound forms is explained in GHK vs GHK-Cu.

Related research guides

Research-use note

All materials discussed are supplied for in vitro laboratory research use only, and are not for human or animal use.

Frequently asked questions

Are GHKCu, GHK Cu and GHK-Cu the same compound?

Yes. GHKCu, GHK Cu, GHK-Cu, Cu-GHK and Copper Tripeptide-1 are spellings and labels for one compound: the 1:1 copper(II) complex of glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine (CAS 89030-95-5, 402.92 g/mol). View GHK-Cu

What is the CAS number and molecular weight of GHK-Cu?

The copper complex is CAS 89030-95-5 (PubChem CID 71587328), formula C14H23CuN6O4+, average mass 402.92 g/mol. The free GHK peptide is CAS 49557-75-7 and 340.38 g/mol. Reading a peptide spec sheet

Does GHK mean the same thing as GHK-Cu?

No. GHK on its own is the free tripeptide without copper, while GHK-Cu is the copper(II) complex. GHK vs GHK-Cu

How can I confirm a material is GHK-Cu regardless of its name?

Match the CAS number, formula and mass, then check HPLC purity, a mass-spectrometry result showing the copper isotope doublet near m/z 402.11 and 404.11, and the blue lyophilized appearance.

Is this material for human or animal use?

No. All materials discussed are supplied for in vitro laboratory research use only.

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