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Research Catalog

Molecular mechanism

Cu(II) coordination

Formation of a discrete coordination complex between a peptide ligand and a Cu(II) ion. Spectroscopic study of the glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine complex reports a mononuclear 1:1 species at neutral pH with equatorial nitrogen coordination including the histidyl imidazole. Complex formation changes the molecular formula, mass, and analytical identity of the species relative to the free peptide, and is reversible by competing chelators.

Type: binding-interactionPublished: 2026-09-04Literature/identifier verification: 2026-08-23

See this target on the receptor map

Copper(II) chelationCopper-peptide complex formation

01

Neutral molecular overview

Formation of a discrete coordination complex between a peptide ligand and a Cu(II) ion. Spectroscopic study of the glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine complex reports a mononuclear 1:1 species at neutral pH with equatorial nitrogen coordination including the histidyl imidazole. Complex formation changes the molecular formula, mass, and analytical identity of the species relative to the free peptide, and is reversible by competing chelators.

02

Target identifiers

No target identifier beyond the verified name and aliases is listed for this mechanism.

03

Related compounds

Compound

GHK-Cu

Prezatide copper is the Cu(II) coordination complex of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine. The copper ion is part of the declared molecular identity and distinguishes this record from the free tripeptide.

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Related mechanisms

No related mechanism is declared in this seed record.

05

Verified bibliography

  1. Reference 1

    Structure of the Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine--copper(II) complex in solution.

    Freedman JH, Pickart L, Weinstein B, Mims WB, Peisach J

    Biochemistry · 1982-09-14 · Journal Article

    current
    PMID 6291585DOI 10.1021/bi00262a004GHK-CuCopper(II) chelation

  2. Reference 2

    The interaction of copper(II) and glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine, a growth-modulating tripeptide from plasma.

    Lau SJ, Sarkar B

    The Biochemical journal · 1981-12-01 · Journal Article

    current
    PMID 7340824PMC1163421DOI 10.1042/bj1990649GHK-CuCopper(II) chelation

  3. Reference 3

    Ultrasensitive and Label-Free Detection of Copper Ions by GHK-Modified Asymmetric Nanochannels.

    An P, Zhang Z, Yang J, Wang T, Wang Z, Sun CL, Qin C, Li J

    Analytical chemistry · 2023-08-25 · Journal Article

    current
    PMID 37624577DOI 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c01174GHK-CuCopper(II) chelation

  4. Reference 4

    Effects of glycyl-histidyl-lysyl chelated Cu(II) on ferritin dependent lipid peroxidation.

    Miller DM, DeSilva D, Pickart L, Aust SD

    Advances in experimental medicine and biology · 1990 · Journal Article

    current
    PMID 2244543DOI 10.1007/978-1-4684-5730-8_11GHK-CuCopper(II) chelation

  5. Reference 5

    The human tri-peptide GHK and tissue remodeling.

    Pickart L

    Journal of biomaterials science. Polymer edition · 2008 · Review

    current
    PMID 18644225DOI 10.1163/156856208784909435GHK-CuCopper(II) chelation

Study models of these references

What kind of experiment each cited paper reports, taken from its abstract unless marked. Not a summary of results.

ReferenceStudy models
Freedman JH et al. 1982Chemical, structural or analytical study; no biological model reported
Lau SJ et al. 1981Study models reported: in vitro · from the abstract
An P et al. 2023Chemical, structural or analytical study; no biological model reported
Miller DM et al. 1990Study models reported: in vitro · from the abstract
Pickart L 2008Review article

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Related glossary terms

AgonistLigandG-protein-coupled receptor

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Related Purely Peptides research articles

No existing Research Article is mapped to this mechanism seed record.