The use of glycylhistidyllysine in culture systems.
Pickart. L L
Key Findings
- GHK/GHL changes the growth rate of a wide range of cultured cells.
- The peptide is most active at concentrations between 10 and 200 ng/ml.
- It likely acts as a shuttle that brings copper (and possibly other metals) to the cell surface for uptake.
Practical Outcomes
- For biohackers, the data suggest that GHK‑Cu can influence cellular metabolism at very low doses, hinting at its potential as a copper‑delivery supplement. However, the work is limited to cell cultures, so there’s no direct guidance on safe human dosing or real‑world protocols yet. Use with caution and look for human studies before adopting a regimen.
Summary
The study shows that the tiny protein fragment GHK (called GHL in the paper) can speed up or slow down the growth of many cells in a dish, works best at very low amounts (10‑200 ng per milliliter), and seems to help move copper into cells.
Abstract
Glycylhistidyllysine (GHL), a tripeptide isolated from plasma, has been shown to alter the growth rate of many cell types and organisms in culture systems. The tripeptide is optimally active at concentrations between 10 and 200 ng/ml. Some of the more interesting uses of GHL are highlighted in this paper. Present information suggests that GHL functions as a transporter of transition metals, in particular copper, to the cell surface for uptake into the cell.
Study Information
pubmed
1981
10.1007/bf02633506