GHK-Cu vs AHK-Cu: Comparing Specifications for Laboratory Research

GHK-Cu and AHK-Cu have similar names, but they identify different copper-peptide materials. For a laboratory comparing the two, the starting points are chemical identity, the quantity listed for each vial, and the documentation available for the relevant batch.

This guide compares those specifications and provides a checklist for laboratory procurement. It does not rank either material by biological performance.

What is the difference between GHK-Cu and AHK-Cu?

The peptide sequences differ at the first amino acid. GHK stands for glycine–histidine–lysine (Gly-His-Lys), while AHK stands for alanine–histidine–lysine (Ala-His-Lys). The “Cu” designation identifies the copper-complex form. Both peptide sequences contain three amino acid residues, making them tripeptides. The underlying sequence identities are described in the chemistry sources linked below.

Because glycine and alanine are different residues, GHK-Cu and AHK-Cu should be recorded as distinct materials in purchasing records and sample inventories. Similar abbreviations are not a reason to substitute one for the other in a specified laboratory method.

GHK-Cu and AHK-Cu specifications at a glance

*Catalog options checked October 21, 2026. Follow each product page for current options, pricing and availability. Listed milligram quantities describe the catalog options; they are not independent analytical measurements.

Compare identity, purity and content separately

A useful specification review distinguishes three questions: What material is identified? What impurities were assessed? How much of the specified material was measured?

Analytical identity testing, chromatographic purity testing and quantitative content assignment address different questions. A reported purity percentage alone does not establish the number of milligrams in a vial. The test method and reporting basis matter when interpreting a result. McCarthy and colleagues describe these distinctions in their work on peptide reference-material characterization and content assignment.

When reviewing documentation, look for the material name, batch identifier, test methods, reported results and units. Check whether a quantity refers to the peptide, its copper complex, or another explicitly defined reporting basis. If the reporting basis is unclear, request clarification before using the number in laboratory calculations.

Browse the VialBench certificates of analysis library for available documents. Match any report to the relevant product and batch; do not assume a report for one material or lot also applies to another.

A purchasing checklist for copper-peptide research materials

• Match the identity. Confirm that the product name and documented sequence match the material specified in the laboratory method.
• Check the quantity. Review the selected vial option and distinguish the listed quantity from a batch-specific measured result.
• Review supporting records. Confirm which identity, purity and content tests are actually available. Request missing information rather than inferring results from a product photograph or name.
• Keep a traceable inventory. Record the supplier, product name, lot identifier, receipt date and associated documents.
• Check handling requirements. Follow the applicable label, safety data sheet and documented laboratory procedures for the specific material.

Review the VialBench product specifications

For laboratories comparing these two materials, start with the individual listings:

• View VB-GHK-CU specifications and available vial sizes.
• View VB-AHK-CU specifications and available vial sizes.

Select the material that matches the documented research requirement, then review the available batch information before ordering.

Research use only. VialBench materials are supplied strictly for qualified laboratory research and analytical testing. Not for human or animal use.

Sources

• Speciation and structure of copper(II) complexes with histidine-containing peptides in aqueous medium: a combined potentiometric and spectroscopic study — chemical identification and GHK sequence.
• Kecel-Gunduz and colleagues (2020): In silico analysis for characterizing the structure and binding properties of Ala-His-Lys (AHK) tripeptide — AHK sequence identification.
• McCarthy and colleagues (2023): peptide analytical characterization and content assignment — identity, purity and quantitative content assessment. This general analytical reference does not certify VialBench products.