MOTS-c vs GHK-Cu
Side-by-side comparison of MOTS-c and GHK-Cu: mechanism, half-life, dose range, safety profile, and vendor pricing.
Price snapshot
MOTS-c
GHK-Cu
MOTS-c
MOTS-c (Mitochondrial ORF of the Twelve S rRNA type-c) is a 16-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide — a member of a recently discovered class of small peptides encoded in mitochondrial DNA rather than nuclear DNA. It…
Lowest listed price: $44.99 across 9 listings
Full MOTS-c profileGHK-Cu
GHK-Cu is the copper(II) complex of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine, a molecule Pickart and Thaler first pulled out of human plasma in 1973. The free peptide (GHK, C14H24N6O4) weighs about 340.4 Da; bind it 1:1…
Lowest listed price: $34.99 across 7 listings
Full GHK-Cu profileSide-by-side comparison
| Attribute | MOTS-c | GHK-Cu |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Longevity & Cellular Health | Skin, Hair & Aesthetics |
| Research Stage | Preclinical | Approved/marketed as a topical cosmetic ingredient (Copper tripeptide-1) with supporting small human studies. Injectable use is preclinical/off-label, research-use-only, with no human clinical trials. |
| Mechanism of Action | A New Class of Signaling Molecule MOTS-c belongs to the mitochondrial-derived peptides (MDPs) - a class of small peptides encoded within mitochondrial DNA open reading frames that were historically thought to encode only ribosomal RNAs. The known MDPs include:… | GHK-Cu works mostly as a copper shuttle and a signaling peptide. It binds Cu(II) with high affinity (log K around 16.4, close to albumin's 16.2) and can supply or regulate copper for copper-dependent enzymes like SOD1, lysyl oxidase, cytochrome c oxidase, and… |
| Half-Life | ~4–6 hours | ~30-60 min (plasma; approximate legacy figure, no robust modern human PK study) |
| Typical Dose Range | 5,000–10,000 mcg (5–10 mg) per injection | 200-500 mcg SC daily (community/RUO; no clinically established injectable dose) |
| Dosing Frequency | 2-3 times per week | Once daily subcutaneous; some run 5 days on / 2 days off. Topical: 1-2x daily to cleansed skin. |
| Administration | Subcutaneous, Intramuscular | Subcutaneous, Topical |
| Side Effects | Reported Effects (limited human data) - Injection site reactions — Mild erythema, transient itching at SC injection site. Site rotation minimizes. Probably the single most reported issue. - Transient fatigue — Some users report mild fatigue in the first week… | Topical GHK-Cu is generally well tolerated; higher-concentration formulations (4-5%) raise the odds of irritation, redness, or stinging. Injectable use has no safety data from controlled trials; the main theoretical concern is copper accumulation with repeated… |
| Molecular Weight | 2174 Da | Free peptide (GHK): 340.38 Da (C14H24N6O4). Copper complex (GHK-Cu): 401.9 Da (C14H22CuN6O4, neutral 1:1 Cu(II) complex). |
| Common Vial Sizes | 5mg, 10mg | 50 mg, 100 mg |
Price History
5 data points- OF
- BM
- Half Nattys
- Ion Peptide
- Disguised Alpha
- BHG Labs
Price History
4 data points- OF
- BM
- Half Nattys
- BHG Labs
MOTS-c: potential benefits
- Insulin sensitivity
- Exercise mimicry
- Metabolic health
- Anti-aging
- Fat oxidation
- Longevity
GHK-Cu: potential benefits
- Stimulates type I collagen synthesis in human fibroblasts at low nanomolar-to-picomolar concentrations (PMID: 3169264)
- Increases glycosaminoglycans (dermatan/chondroitin sulfate) and upregulates decorin in wound models (PMID: 11121126)
- Modulates matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors, partially correcting the MMP-9/TIMP-1 imbalance in a smoke-induced emphysema model (PMID: 35936787)
- Drives tissue remodeling and chemoattracts macrophages, mast cells, and capillary cells to injury sites (PMID: 18644225)
- Modulates expression of ~4,000+ human genes via the Broad Institute Connectivity Map, including DNA-repair and antioxidant genes (PMID: 25302294)
- Increases stemness and proliferative potential of epidermal basal cells and keratinocytes (PMID: 23019153)
- Acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory copper regulator in the context of aging (PMID: 22666519)
- Broad skin-regeneration effects on collagen, proteoglycans, MMPs, and immune/endothelial cell recruitment (PMID: 26236730)
Frequently asked
What's the difference between MOTS-c and GHK-Cu?
MOTS-c is a longevity & cellular health that a new class of signaling molecule mots-c belongs to the mitochondrial-derived peptides (mdps) - a class of small peptides encoded within mitochondrial dna open reading frames that…. GHK-Cu is a skin, hair & aesthetics that ghk-cu works mostly as a copper shuttle and a signaling peptide. it binds cu(ii) with high affinity (log k around 16.4, close to albumin's 16.2) and can supply or regulate copper…. The two differ in mechanism, half-life (~4–6 hours vs ~30-60 min (plasma; approximate legacy figure, no robust modern human PK study)), and typical dose range.
Which has the longer half-life, MOTS-c or GHK-Cu?
MOTS-c has a half-life of ~4–6 hours. GHK-Cu has a half-life of ~30-60 min (plasma; approximate legacy figure, no robust modern human PK study). Longer half-lives generally mean less frequent dosing but slower on/off kinetics.
Which is cheaper, MOTS-c or GHK-Cu?
Lowest listed price on BodyHackGuide: MOTS-c from $44.99, GHK-Cu from $34.99. Prices are pulled from the vendor listings tracked on BHG and change frequently. See the compare tables on each compound page for the current set of offers.
Can you stack MOTS-c and GHK-Cu?
Stacking depends on mechanism overlap, safety profile, and goals. MOTS-c and GHK-Cu should only be stacked after reviewing each compound's individual protocol page, side effect profile, and any published interaction data. Use the BodyHackGuide stack builder for a structured review before combining research compounds.
See current vendor prices
Listings from the vendors we track. Prices change often, so check the vendor before you buy.
Before you buy MOTS-c or GHK-Cu
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Related comparisons
Research use only. BodyHackGuide is a research and price-comparison reference. The compounds discussed on this page are not approved by the FDA for human consumption and are sold strictly for laboratory research. Prices shown are pulled from vendor listings tracked on BHG and are subject to change. We earn an affiliate commission on some outbound clicks, and every vendor is ranked on the same public, reproducible methodology. See editorial standards and affiliate disclosure.