# AHK-Cu (Copper Tripeptide-3)

> Copper(II) complex of Ala-His-Lys, researched in hair-follicle models

All products are sold strictly for laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use.

- Web page: https://peptidemedixeu.com/en/products/ahk-cu/
- Brand: Peptide Medix EU
- Category: [Hair Research Peptides](https://peptidemedixeu.com/en/collections/hair-peptides/)
- Purity: ≥99% by HPLC; lot-matched COA available
- CAS number: 1245800-58-7
- from €55 (EUR)

## Sizes and prices (EUR)

| Size | Price | SKU |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 50 mg | €55 | AHK-CU-50-MG |
| 100 mg | €85 | AHK-CU-100-MG |

_Catalog prices at build time; the web page and checkout are authoritative._

## Specifications

- **CAS number:** 1245800-58-7
- **Molecular formula:** C15H26N6O4·Cu (copper(II) complex)
- **Molecular weight:** ≈417.96 g/mol as the copper complex; 354.41 g/mol for the free tripeptide
- **Amino acid sequence:** Ala-His-Lys (AHK), complexed with copper(II)
- **Peptide class:** Copper-binding matrix tripeptide
- **Form:** Lyophilized blue powder, sealed glass vial with crimped stopper
- **Purity:** ≥99% by HPLC; lot-matched COA available
- **Available sizes:** 50 mg, 100 mg
- **Solubility:** Water and bacteriostatic water; avoid strongly acidic media that dissociate the copper complex
- **Storage (lyophilized):** −20 °C, sealed and protected from light and moisture
- **Storage (reconstituted):** 2–8 °C, protected from light, used within the study window
- **INCI name:** Copper tripeptide-3
- **Appearance in solution:** Blue to blue-violet, colour intensity tracking copper coordination
- **Research areas:** Hair follicle biology, dermal papilla cell cultures, angiogenic signalling, topical formulation science

## Description

AHK-Cu is alanyl-histidyl-lysine bound to copper(II), known under cosmetic INCI naming as copper tripeptide-3. It is a close relative of GHK-Cu within the small group of copper-chelating matrix peptides — the only difference is the first residue, alanine instead of glycine. That swap nudges charge and hydrophobicity a little but leaves intact the histidine-lysine motif that holds the divalent copper ion, and the complex shows the intense blue typical of copper peptides.

Most research on this tripeptide sits in hair biology: dermal papilla cell cultures, follicle models and the expression of angiogenic markers. That is where it overlaps with the broader copper-peptide field, because copper serves as a cofactor for lysyl oxidase and takes part in several angiogenic processes. Practical handling is governed by coordination chemistry more than by peptide chemistry. Strong acids break the complex apart, and so do competing chelators like EDTA — either way you end up with free peptide and free copper instead of the complex you meant to study, and loss of the blue colour tells you so. Vials hold 50 mg or 100 mg, more than a usual peptide fill, since formulation studies use material fast. Our Pal-AHK listing is the same tripeptide carrying a palmitoyl chain and no bound copper.

## Frequently asked questions

### What separates AHK-Cu from GHK-Cu?

Each is a copper-chelating tripeptide, yet AHK-Cu starts with alanine at the N-terminus while GHK-Cu starts with glycine. Their copper binding is much alike; their research literatures are not. GHK-Cu is studied mainly in skin and extracellular-matrix biology, AHK-Cu chiefly in hair-follicle and dermal papilla cell work.

### Where does the blue colour come from?

It arises from copper(II) held by the histidine imidazole ring and the free terminal amine. The colour doubles as a handy quality check: if a preparation has turned colourless, the copper complex has usually been lost to acid, a chelating additive or degradation.

### What documents support purity?

An independent laboratory tests every lot by HPLC to a minimum of 99%, and the certificate of analysis for your lot can be requested. Filing that COA with your study records links the characterised material to the results it produced.

### Which vial sizes are offered?

AHK-Cu comes in sealed 50 mg and 100 mg vials. The smaller vial is usually enough for a single cell-culture study; the 100 mg vial is typically picked for formulation projects that call for larger batches of stock solution.

### How do I store it once reconstituted?

Keep it in the fridge at 2–8 °C, shielded from light, and label the vial with concentration and preparation date. Copper-peptide solutions do not keep forever, so most labs write a defined use-by window into the protocol instead of holding stocks indefinitely.

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All products offered on this website are intended solely for in-vitro laboratory research and development by qualified professionals. They are not drugs, foods, cosmetics or dietary supplements, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Products must not be introduced into humans or animals in any manner. By purchasing, you confirm that you are a qualified researcher and accept full responsibility for handling and storage in accordance with applicable laws.

Peptide Medix EU · https://peptidemedixeu.com/en/products/ahk-cu/