Acetyl tetrapeptide-5
is used in cosmetic eye formulations to decrease puffiness, eye bags, and dark circles by reducing edema and protecting proteins such as SOD from glycation
Alanine
Ala / A · hydrophobic residue · neutral charge
AOD-9604
is studied as an anti-obesity peptide that can reduce weight gain and increase fat oxidation in obese animal models with generally neutral effects on IGF-1 and glucose metabolism in early human trials
Arginine
Arg / R · basic residue · positive charge
Argireline
is a topical cosmetic peptide reported to decrease dynamic wrinkles by partially mimicking the mechanism of botulinum toxin in a non-invasive manner
Asparagine
Asn / N · polar residue · neutral charge
Aspartic acid
Asp / D · acidic residue · negative charge
BPC-157
is investigated for accelerating healing of gastrointestinal mucosa, tendons, ligaments, bone, and nervous tissue in preclinical models, with anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic effects
Comparison
While Acetyl tetrapeptide-5 is used in cosmetic eye formulations to decrease puffiness, eye bags, and dark circles by reducing edema and protecting proteins such as SOD from glycation51150159154, GHK-Cu acts as a tissue-remodeling and wound-healing signal, enhancing skin regeneration, angiogenesis, and repair while reducing inflammation and oxidative damage in experimental models31383.
While Acetyl tetrapeptide-5 works as a synthetic tetrapeptide, Ac-βAla-His-Ser-His (Eyeseryl), with reported ACE-1 inhibition and anti-glycation activity, proposed to improve microcirculation and reduce capillary permeability and fluid accumulation in periorbital tissues51150159157, GHK-Cu is an endogenous tripeptide, Gly-His-Lys, that chelates Cu²⁺ and modulates gene expression, stimulating collagen, elastin, proteoglycan, and glycosaminoglycan synthesis while exerting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects31383.
Acetyl tetrapeptide-5
Not assigned in the current dataset.
GHK-Cu
Not assigned in the current dataset.
Both peptides fall into a similar broad context as Signal peptides, although the details of how they are used and discussed still diverge. Both are often discussed in Dermatology and aesthetics contexts, while Acetyl tetrapeptide-5 is more of a signal peptide and GHK-Cu is better described as a matrikine. Mechanistically, both point toward Signaling modulator and converge on Extracellular matrix proteins, although the downstream emphasis is not identical. Acetyl tetrapeptide-5 has a more synthetic design origin, while GHK-Cu is closer to natural endogenous background. Acetyl tetrapeptide-5 incorporates acetylation features that are not part of GHK-Cu.