Skin and connective tissue
AHK-Cu
Also known as Alanine-Histidine-Lysine copper, Copper tripeptide-2
A copper-binding tripeptide studied for effects on hair follicle cells and blood vessel formation.
What it is
AHK-Cu is a three-amino-acid sequence that binds copper, in the same broad family as GHK-Cu but with a different sequence and a distinct research profile. Copper-binding peptides are studied because the bound copper appears central to the activity observed, rather than the peptide acting alone.
What published research examines
- Dermal papilla cell behaviour in culture
- Angiogenic signalling and VEGF expression
- Comparison with GHK-Cu, which shares the copper-binding property
- Collagen and extracellular matrix markers
Where the research stands
The AHK-Cu literature is smaller than that for GHK-Cu, and a good deal of it comes from cosmetic-science research.