Comparison
GHK-Cu vs MOTS-c
Side-by-side of GHK-Cu and MOTS-c. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
GHK-Cu
GHK-Cu peptide (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper) is a topical copper peptide. Trials show fine-line and wound-healing gains; injectable longevity claims rem.
MOTS-c
MOTS-c peptide is a 16-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide. Preclinical signals for insulin sensitivity, exercise capacity, dosage notes.
Effects at a glance
GHK-Cu
- •Endogenous tripeptide that binds copper(II); plasma levels decline ~60% from age 20 to 60
- •Topical RCTs show improvement in skin firmness, fine lines, and barrier function over 12 weeks
- •Wound-healing models report accelerated re-epithelialization in diabetic and aged skin
- •Pickart gene-expression analyses show reset of >4000 genes toward a younger expression profile in cell culture
- •Anecdotal subcutaneous longevity protocols use 1 to 3 mg daily; no human longevity RCTs exist
- •Hair-growth claims rest on small open-label trials and topical scalp formulations
MOTS-c
- •16-amino-acid peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA (12S rRNA region); discovered 2015
- •Activates AMPK in skeletal muscle and liver; improves insulin sensitivity in rodent models
- •Circulating endogenous levels decline with age, motivating the longevity-restoration hypothesis
- •CohBar's MOTS-c analog CB4211 discontinued after phase 1b NASH readout did not meet endpoints
- •Anecdotal protocols use 5 to 10 mg subcutaneously 2 to 3 times weekly
- •Not on the WADA Prohibited List as of 2026; future scrutiny likely given exercise-mimetic mechanism
Side-by-side
| Attribute | GHK-Cu | MOTS-c |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | peptide |
| Also known as | Copper Peptide, Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper, GHK | Mitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the Twelve S rRNA-c, MOTSc |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 2 | 5 |
| Dosing frequency | daily | 2-3x weekly |
| Routes | topical, subcutaneous | subcutaneous |
| Onset (hr) | 24 | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | 168 | 4 |
| Molecular weight | 340.85 | 1880.18 |
| Molecular formula | C14H24N6O4 (GHK alone); C14H22CuN6O4 with Cu(II) | C82H132N22O25S2 |
| Mechanism | Tripeptide that chelates Cu(II) and delivers it to copper-dependent enzymes (lysyl oxidase, superoxide dismutase). Modulates expression of >4000 genes toward a younger profile in fibroblast culture, including upregulation of decorin and downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. | Mitochondrial-derived peptide that activates AMPK in skeletal muscle and liver, improves insulin sensitivity, and translocates to the nucleus under metabolic stress to modulate nuclear gene expression in retrograde mitochondrial signaling. |
| Legal status | Topical cosmetics legal in most jurisdictions; injectable form not FDA approved for any indication; research-use-only grey market | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market; not currently on WADA Prohibited List |
| WADA status | allowed | unknown |
| DEA / Rx | Topical OTC (cosmetic); injectable not FDA approved; research-chemical status | Not scheduled (research chemical) |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; topical use likely low-risk; injectable not recommended | Insufficient data; not recommended |
| CAS | 49557-75-7 | 1627580-64-6 |
| PubChem CID | 73587 | 139599184 |
| Wikidata | Q3104638 | Q24832108 |
Safety profile
GHK-Cu
Common side effects
- mild erythema at topical site
- transient itch
- blue-green discoloration of injection site (copper)
- rare contact dermatitis
Contraindications
- copper allergy
- Wilson disease
- open wound near injection site (caution)
- pregnancy (no data)
Interactions
- topical retinoids: additive irritation; alternate days or apply at different times(minor)
- topical vitamin C (ascorbic acid): ascorbate reduces Cu(II) to Cu(I), which can destabilize the GHK-Cu complex; separate by 30 minutes(minor)
MOTS-c
Common side effects
- injection-site irritation
- transient fatigue
- headache (anecdotal)
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- lactation
- active malignancy (theoretical)
- severe hypoglycemia risk on concurrent insulin or sulfonylurea
Interactions
- insulin: additive insulin sensitization may increase hypoglycemia risk(moderate)
- metformin: both activate AMPK; theoretical additive metabolic effect, no controlled data(minor)
- sulfonylureas: increased hypoglycemia risk via additive insulin sensitization(moderate)
Which Should You Take?
GHK-Cu comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 4 catalogued goals, research-only / gray-market sourcing, with a Tier-B outcome catalogued. MOTS-c is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is skin health, pick GHK-Cu.
- → If your priority is wound healing, pick GHK-Cu.
- → If your priority is metabolic health and glucose control, pick MOTS-c.
- → If your priority is mitochondrial function, pick MOTS-c.
Default choice: GHK-Cu. Wider use case, and broader goal coverage. Reach for MOTS-c only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between GHK-Cu and MOTS-c?
GHK-Cu and MOTS-c differ in category (peptide vs peptide), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, GHK-Cu or MOTS-c?
GHK-Cu half-life is 0.5 hours; MOTS-c half-life is 0.5 hours.
Can you stack GHK-Cu with MOTS-c?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
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