Skin Research Peptides: GHK-Cu, Matrixyl, SNAP-8 and More

MOLEVIA’s skin peptide range brings together nine compounds that appear in research on the extracellular matrix, collagen, hair follicles and skin biology. Every product is supplied as a research use only reagent. Purity is confirmed by HPLC at 99% or higher and molecular mass by mass spectrometry (MS).

Peptides in this category

Peptide	Structure	Pack sizes	Main research area
GHK-Cu	Glycine-histidine-lysine tripeptide with a copper(II) ion	50 mg, 100 mg	Extracellular matrix, collagen in vitro
GHK	Glycine-histidine-lysine tripeptide without copper	50 mg	Starting form of the GHK-Cu complex
AHK-Cu	Alanine-histidine-lysine tripeptide with a copper(II) ion	50 mg, 100 mg	Hair follicle models in vitro
SNAP-8	Octapeptide, analogue of a SNAP-25 fragment	10 mg, 100 mg	Cosmetic research
Matrixyl	Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 (Pal-KTTKS)	10 mg	Collagen synthesis in fibroblasts
PTD-DBM	Peptide with a protein transduction domain	1 mg	Wnt pathway, hair follicle models
Melanotan I	Linear alpha-MSH analogue (afamelanotide)	10 mg	MC1R receptor
Melanotan II	Cyclic alpha-MSH analogue	10 mg	Melanocortin receptors
PT-141	Cyclic heptapeptide (bremelanotide)	10 mg	Melanocortin receptors MC3R and MC4R

Copper tripeptides: GHK-Cu, GHK and AHK-Cu

GHK-Cu is the glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine tripeptide bound to a copper(II) ion. The literature describes it as naturally occurring in plasma. GHK is the same tripeptide without copper, the starting point for work with the complex. AHK-Cu replaces glycine with alanine and has been studied in hair follicle models in vitro.

What has been studied

• In vitro work has observed how GHK-Cu affects collagen synthesis by fibroblasts in cell culture.
• The compound has been examined for connective tissue remodelling and for the expression of genes linked to tissue repair.

Signalling peptides: Matrixyl, SNAP-8 and PTD-DBM

Matrixyl (palmitoyl pentapeptide-4) is a lipopeptide studied in models of collagen synthesis in fibroblasts. SNAP-8 is an octapeptide, an analogue of a SNAP-25 fragment, and a component of cosmetic research. PTD-DBM, a peptide with a protein transduction domain, disrupts the binding of CXXC5 to Dishevelled in the Wnt pathway and has been studied in hair follicle models.

Melanocortin analogues: Melanotan I, Melanotan II and PT-141

Melanotan I (afamelanotide) is a linear alpha-MSH analogue and an MC1R agonist, and its active substance is found in a registered medicine. Melanotan II is a cyclic alpha-MSH analogue and a non-selective melanocortin receptor agonist. PT-141 (bremelanotide) is a cyclic heptapeptide acting on MC3R and MC4R, and it has also been studied in clinical trials, which makes it a well-documented reference compound.

Animal model studies have described the involvement of MC3R and MC4R in regulating central nervous system function, and PT-141 is a convenient tool for activating these receptors in cell and tissue models.

Working with research reagents

• Reconstitution: dissolve the lyophilised powder in bacteriostatic water as described on the product page.
• Storage: keep lyophilised vials cold and away from light, and store solutions as recommended on the product page.
• Quality control: each batch has an HPLC purity result and MS confirmation of mass.

Read more about our quality standards on the quality page. Our rules for research reagents are explained on the research use only page, and delivery terms are on the shipping page.