Comparison

GHK-Cu vs Melanotan I

Function

While 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, Melanotan I is approved in some regions for prevention of phototoxicity in erythropoietic protoporphyria and is studied as a skin-darkening, photoprotective peptide3444.

Mechanism

While GHK-Cu works as 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, Melanotan I is a linear 13-amino-acid analog of α-MSH (afamelanotide) that selectively activates MC1R on melanocytes, increasing eumelanin synthesis and providing photoprotection3444.

Length and Sequence

GHK-Cu is 3 amino acids long, whereas Melanotan I is longer as it has a length of 13 amino acids. GHK-Cu is made up of a sequence of Glycine, Histidine, Lysine. Melanotan I is made up of a sequence of Serine, Tyrosine, Serine, Nle, Glutamic acid, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Arginine, Tryptophan, Glycine, Lysine, Proline, Valine.

Receptor

GHK-Cu

Not clearly established in the current dataset.

Melanotan I

Melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) 344481

Organism or Origin

GHK-Cu

Naturally occurring human plasma peptide also found in saliva and urine313

Melanotan I

Synthetic analog of human α-MSH derived from POMC34448190

Gene

GHK-Cu

Not assigned in the current dataset.

Melanotan I

POMC

Sources

3GHK-Cu: Structure And Mechanism Of Action, https://sportstechnologylabs.com/ghk-cu-structure-and-mechanism-of-action/
13What is GHK-Cu and How Does it Work?, https://www.peptidesciences.com/peptide-research/what-is-ghk-cu-and-how
83What is GHK-Cu | Peptides for sale, https://polarispeptides.com/what-is-ghk-cu/
34Melanotan I (Afamelanotide): Research Profile - PeptideJournal, https://www.peptidejournal.org/peptides/melanotan-i-research-profile
44Melanotan I: properties, applications and references, https://www.benchchem.com/zh/product/b1666627
81Proopiomelanocortin (POMC), the ACTH/melanocortin precursor, is ..., https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2253185/
90alpha-Melanocyte stimulating hormone: production and degradation, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3936413/