Growth-modulating plasma tripeptide may function by facilitating copper uptake into cells

Pickart L, Freedman JH, Loker WJ, Peisach J, Perkins CM, Stenkamp RE, Weinstein B · Nature

GHK co-isolated with roughly equimolar copper, forms Cu(II) complexes readily, and enhanced copper uptake into cultured hepatoma cells. Its histidyl-lysyl motif mirrors the copper transport site of albumin and alpha-fetoprotein — the basis for treating GHK as a copper-delivery molecule.

Population

Cultured hepatoma cells

Intervention

GHK with copper and iron added to growth medium

Comparator

Peptide alone, and structural analogues

Limitations

Hepatoma cell line; a transport mechanism, not a repair outcome.