H-Gly-His psi (NHCO)Lys-OH, partially modified ret... - GHK-Cu Study

Key Findings

A retro‑inverso analogue of GHK was created by swapping a -CONH- bond for -NHCO-.

The modified peptide shows roughly a ten‑fold increase in resistance to degradation in human plasma in vitro.

The side‑chain orientation is preserved, suggesting the biological activity should remain similar to native GHK.

Practical Outcomes

For DIY users, the main takeaway is that a more stable GHK formulation could be developed, potentially allowing less frequent dosing or longer shelf‑life. However, the study does not provide dosage guidance, efficacy data, or safety information for human use, so further testing is needed before practical protocols can be recommended.

Summary

Scientists made a slightly altered version of the GHK peptide that lasts about ten times longer in human blood compared to the natural peptide. The change doesn't seem to affect how the peptide works, but it makes it more stable, which could be useful for people who want to use GHK for skin, anti‑aging, or recovery purposes.

Abstract

A partially retro-inverso analogue of the natural growth factor GHK was synthesized, in which the -CONH- bond between histidine and lysine was modified as -NHCO-. This modification is not expected to perturb the spatial distribution of the side-chains, and therefore the binding processes, compared to the native peptide. In the synthesis of the analogue two possible systems for deblocking of N pi-Bom group of histidine have been applied and compared. An alternative method is also described for the incorporation of malonyllysine into the peptide chain. When evaluated with respect to resistance toward degradation by human plasma in vitro, the new peptide analogue showed approximately a ten-fold increase in stability versus the parent peptide.

Study Information

Provider

pubmed

Year

1993

DOI

10.1111/j.1399-3011.1993.tb00478.x