Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Custom Peptide Synthesis Research Papers

Custom Peptide Synthesis Research Papers

Methods Mol Biol. 2011;692:265-74.

Custom synthesis of autoinducers and their analogues.

Igarashi J, Suga H.

Abstract

Bacterial quorum sensing (QS) system is a unique target for the development of a new class of drugs that potentially control pathogenicity and attenuate virulence. Thus, it has been of significant interest to discover small organic molecules that modulate QS circuits by competing with the signaling molecules, or so-called autoinducers (AIs), for binding to QS proteins. In this chapter, we summarize synthetic methodology for custom QS agonists and antagonists against the Lux system in Gram-negative bacteria.

J Immunoassay. 1980;1(1):129-47.

"Custom" synthesis of radioligands for RIA through activated esters. I. Testosterone.

Tantchou JK, Slaunwhite WR Jr.

Abstract

The current method labeling small molecules for radioimmunoassay by coupling iodohistamine to haptens through a mixed anhydride reaction is unacceptable to clinical laboratories. Therefore, we propose the use of a simple two-step procedure: treatment of 125I-2-iodohistamine with the activated ester of a small molecule followed by thin layer chromatography to remove unlabeled ligand. Only one radioactive substance, 125I-2-iodohistamine, need be stocked, and the availability of labeled ligands is limited only by the number of nonradioactive activated esters. This principle is illustrated by the use of testosterone. N-Hydroxysuccinimidyl esters of testosterone hemisuccinate and of testosterone-3-carboxymethyloxime were coupled to 2-iodohistamine, 125I-2-iodohistamine or to 125I-2,5-diiodohistamine. Optimum conditions required reaction of 20-50 fold molar excess of ester in 75 microL of tetrahydrofuran with iodohistamine in 75 microL of buffer at pH 8.5 for 30 min at 4 degrees. The reaction mixture was applied directly to a pre-absorbent TLC plate coated with silica gel and run in the system, benzene:ethanol:acetic acid, 75:24:1 (v:v:v). The desired radioligand was eluted in 85% yield.

Custom synthesis of molecular imprinted polymers for biotechnological application: Preparation of a polymer selective for tylosin

http://www.sciencedirect.com/scidirimg/pdf_icon.gif

Purchase

Sergey PiletskyCorresponding Author Contact Information, E-mail The Corresponding Author, a, Elena Piletskaa, Kal Karima, Graham Fosterb, Colton Leggeb and Anthony Turnera

a Institute of BioScience and Technology, Cranfield University, Silsoe, Bedfordshire MK45 4DT, UK

b GlaxoSmithKline Research and Development, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, Herts SG1 2NY, UK

Received 6 January 2003;

revised 12 June 2003;

accepted 24 June 2003. ;

Available online 26 August 2003. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003267003008146

Abstract

A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) selective for tylosin was designed and synthesised using a computational method (MIP “dialling”). In re-binding experiments the MIP demonstrated high affinity for tylosin in aqueous solutions and in organic solvents. The synthesised polymer was tested for re-binding with the template and related metabolites such as tylactone, narbomycin and picromycin. The HPLC analysis showed that the computationally designed polymer is specific and capable of separating the template from its structural analogues. The MIP was capable of recovering tylosin from broth samples. The polymer capacity for tylosin was estimated as 6.4 mg/g for MIP, which was suitable for practical application and tylosin recovery from broth samples. Among the advantages of this was the possibility to adsorb tylosin from a complex media with easy removal of oils and other impurities which are present in significant quantities, which can create problems for its chromatographic purification procedure. The MIP “dialling” procedure can have a general significance for the fast preparation of specific adsorbents for biotechnological applications.

Author Keywords: Tylosin; Computational design; Molecularly imprinted polymer

Article Outline

1. Introduction

2. Materials and methods

2.1. Reagents

2.2. Molecular modelling

2.3. Preparation of molecularly imprinted polymers

2.4. Solid-phase extraction (SPE)

2.5. HPLC analysis

3. Results and discussion

3.1. MIP “dialling” protocol

3.2. Polymer design

3.3. SPE analysis

3.4. HPLC experiments

4. Conclusions

Acknowledgements

References

Nature Biotechnology 18, 345 - 348 (2000)
doi:10.1038/73815

Custom fluorescent-nucleotide synthesis as an alternative method for nucleic acid labeling

Octavian Henegariu1, Patricia Bray-Ward1 & David C. Ward1

Abstracthttp://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v18/n3/abs/nbt0300_345.html

The variety of potentially useful dyes or haptenes available for fluorescent nucleic acid hybridization assays is far greater than what can be obtained from commercial sources 1, 2. Since this diversity could be useful in many laboratory applications, we have developed a simple and inexpensive procedure for preparing nonpurified labeled nucleotides 3, 4, 5, for use in common nucleic acid labeling reactions, such as PCR and nick translation. The modified nucleotides were synthesized by coupling allylamine-dUTP to the succinimidyl-ester derivatives of the fluorescent dyes or haptenes such as biotin or digoxigenin, which require fluorescently labeled proteins for detection. This method allows custom preparation of most common fluorescent nucleotides and rapid testing of new ones, while reducing the cost of procedures such as multiplex fluorescent in situ hybridization (M-FISH) by 100-200 fold.

top

1. Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510

Correspondence to: Octavian Henegariu1 e-mail: ohenegar@yahoo.com.

Titre du document / Document title http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=14553008

Custom synthesis for drug discovery

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

ROUHI A. Maureen ;

Revue / Journal Title

Chemical & engineering news ISSN 0009-2347

Source / Source

2003, vol. 81, no7, pp. 75-78 [4 page(s) (article)]

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, ETATS-UNIS (1942) (Revue)

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 5061, 35400010415058.0030

Custom synthesis and process development.

Tyson, R.

Chemistry and Industry , pp. 118-22. 15 Feb. 1988

Descriptors: ANTE | Contractors | Manufactures | Drugs

http://md1.csa.com/partners/viewrecord.php?requester=gs&collection=TRD&recid=8819417AN&q=allintitle%3A+custom+synthesis&uid=791001519&setcookie=yes

Conformational study of a custom antibacterial peptide cecropin B1: implications of the lytic activity

S Srisailam - Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Protein Structure …, 2000 - Elsevier
Cecropin B1 (CB1) with two amphipathic α-helical segments is a derivative of the natural antibacterial
peptide, cecropin B. The assays of cell lysis show that, compared with cecropin A (CA), CB1
has a similar ability to lyse bacteria with a higher potency (two- to six-fold higher) in killing ...

Kinetics of membrane lysis by custom lytic peptides and peptide orientations in membrane

HM Chen, AHA Clayton, W Wang… - European Journal of …, 2001 - Wiley Online Library
To aid the development of custom peptide antibiotics, a kinetic study of membrane lysis by cecropin
B (CB) and its analogs, cecropin B1 (CB1) and cecropin B3 (CB3) was carried out to determine
the mechanism by which these peptides disrupt the bilayer structure of liposomes of ...

Crumpled structure of the custom hydrophobic lytic peptide cecropin B3

S Srisailam, TKS Kumar… - European Journal …, 2001 - Wiley Online Library
The solution structure of a custom lytic peptide, cecropin B3 (CB3), having two identical hydrophobic
segments on both the N- and C-termini, was investigated by two-dimensional NMR
spectroscopy. The need to determine the structure of this peptide is rooted in its specific ...

[44] Custom-designed synthetic peptide immunoassays for distinguishing HIV type 1 and type 2 infections

JW Gnann Jr, LL Smith… - Methods in enzymology, 1989 - Elsevier
... Elsevier Inc. Permissions & Reprints. [44] Custom-designed synthetic peptide
immunoassays for distinguishing HIV type 1 and type 2 infections. This article is not
included in your organization's subscription. However, you may ...

Structure and function of a custom anticancer peptide, CB1a

JM Wu, PS Jan, HC Yu, HY Haung, HJ Fang… - Peptides, 2009 - Elsevier
Several natural antimicrobial peptides including cecropins, magainins and melittins have been
found to kill cancer cells. However, their efficacy may not be adequate for their development
as anticancer agents. In this study, we used a natural antimicrobial peptide, cecropin B ...

[PDF] Custom Peptide Mixes for Cytokine Flow Cytometry

[PDF] from typepad.comK Willmann, JA Zawadzki… - maeckerlab.typepad.com
Overlapping peptide mixtures have several benefits over the use of whole protein and whole
viral lysate prepara- tions. First, because they are synthetically derived, they can be made
reproducibly, with less potential lot-to-lot variability. Second, whole protein antigens ...

CUSTOM PEPTIDE MANUFACTURING: COMPANIES MARKET PRODUCTS ON PURITY AND PRICE ISSUES

K LISZEWSKI - Genetic engineering news, 1998 - cat.inist.fr
... Titre du document / Document title. CUSTOM PEPTIDE MANUFACTURING : COMPANIES
MARKET PRODUCTS ON PURITY AND PRICE ISSUES. Auteur(s) / Author(s). LISZEWSKI K. ;
Revue / Journal Title. Genetic engineering news ISSN 0270-6377 Source / Source. 1998, vol ...

[PDF] Use of JMP® for Optimizing a Custom Peptide Microarray to Identify Autoantibodies for Multiple Sclerosis

[PDF] from sas.comA Rahman, W Robinson, H Garren, R King… - sas.com
Summary ...................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ....................
........................................................................... ... ... USe Of JMP® fOr OPtIMIzIng A CUStOM PePtIde
MICrOArrAy ... Design of experiment (DOE) was utilized to optimize a peptide microarray ...

Custom Peptide Synthesis

SP Kits - sciencemag.org
Science/AAAS. AAAS.ORG; Feedback; Help; Librarians. Science Magazine
Advanced. Google Indexer; Alerts; Access Rights; My Account; ...

Custom microarray analysis of exercise-regulated genes identifies a peptide-precursor with antidepressant-like effects

JG Hunsberger - 2007 - gradworks.umi.com
Abstract: Depression is a serious mental illness that impacts many people each year. Current
treatments which focus on monoaminergic break down and reuptake take weeks to months before
a therapeutic effect is achieved. Therefore, there is great need for the development of new ...

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Copper Peptide ~ Definition, Review, Overview & Research Papers of Copper Peptide ~ Peptide Blog

Copper Peptide ~ Definition, Review, Overview & Research Papers of Copper Peptide ~ Peptide Blog

Copper peptide GHK-Cu is a peptide with an amino acid sequence glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine. Since it has three amino acids it is called tri-peptide. Copper peptide GHK-Cu has strong affinity for copper (II) and naturally occurs in human blood, saliva and urine.

Overview

Copper peptide GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring human tri-peptide. In plasma, the level of GHK-Cu is about 200 ng/ml at age 20. By the age of 60, the level drops to 80 ng/ml. Scientific studies conducted in different research laboratories around the world have established that human tri-peptide GHK-Cu possesses a plethora of biological actions including activation of wound healing, attraction of immune cells, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, stimulation of collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis in skin fibroblasts and promotion of blood vessels growth. Recent studies indicate its important role in stem cell biology and anti-tumor defense. Since GHK-Cu plays an important role in skin biology, it is widely used in cosmetics as a reparative and anti-aging ingredient.

History

Copper peptide GHK-Cu was isolated from human plasma albumin in 1973 by Loren Pickart.[3] Pickart noticed that liver tissue obtained from patients aged 60 to 80 years had an increased level of fibrinogen. However, when liver cells from old patients were incubated in the blood from the younger group, the older cells started functioning in nearly the same way as the younger liver tissue.[4][5] It turned out that this effect was due to a small peptide factor that behaved similarly to the synthetic peptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine (GHK). Pickart proposed that this activity in human plasma albumin was a tri-peptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine and that it might function by chelating metal ions.

In 1977, David Schlesinger of the Harvard University Chemistry Department confirmed that the growth modulating peptide isolated by Pickart was a glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine peptide.

Further research established that GHK peptide has a strong affinity for copper and exists in two forms – GHK and GHK-Cu. On the basis of available data, Pickart proposed that GHK-Cu functions by modulating copper intake into cells.

Wound Healing Research

Biochemical Studies

In the late 1980s, copper peptide GHK-Cu started attracting attention as a promising wound healing agent. Pioneers in this field were J.P Borel and F. Maquart from Universit̩ de Reims Champagne-Ardenne (France). Between 1988 and 2000, they found that GHK-Cu stimulated the synthesis of collagen in the skin fibroblasts, increased accumulation of total proteins, glycosaminoglycans and DNA in the dermal wounds in rats.[9] GHK-Cu also increased synthesis of decorin Рa small proteoglycan involved in the regulation of collagen synthesis, wound healing regulation and anti-tumor defense.[10] The same group established that GHK-Cu stimulated both the synthesis of metalloproteinases, the enzymes which break down dermal proteins, and their inhibitors (anti-proteases). The fact that GHK-Cu not only stimulates the production of dermal components, but also regulates their breakdown suggests its regulatory role in the skin remodeling process.

Animal Studies

A series of animal experiments established pronounced wound healing activity of copper peptide GHK-Cu. In the dermal wounds of rabbits GHK-Cu facilitated wound healing, causing better wound contraction, faster development of granular tissue and improved angiogenesis. It also elevated the level of antioxidant enzymes.

GHK-Cu has been found to induce a systemic enhancement of healing in rats, mice, and pigs; that is, the GHK-Cu peptide injected in one area of the body (such as the thigh muscles) improved healing at distant body areas (such as the ears). These treatments strongly increased healing parameters such as collagen production, angiogenesis, and wound closure in both wound chambers and full thickness wounds.

Biotinylated GHK-Cu was incorporated into a collagen membrane, which was used as a wound dressing. This GHK-Cu enriched material stimulated wound contraction and cell proliferation, as well as increased expression of antioxidant enzymes. The same material was tested for wound healing in diabetic rats. GHK-Cu treatment resulted in faster wound contraction and epithelization, higher level of glutathione and ascorbic acid, increased synthesis of collagen, and activation of fibroblasts and mast cells.[14] Ischemic open wounds in rats treated with GHK-copper healed faster and had decreased concentration of metalloproteinases 2 and 9 as well as of TNF-beta (a major inflammatory cytokine) compared with vehicle alone or with untreated wounds.

Human Trials

A 2% GHK gel showed promising results in treatment of 120 diabetic patients, increasing the percentage of ulcer closure from 60.8% to 98.5%, and decreasing the percentage of infection from 34% to 7%.[16] However, a 0.4% GHK-Cu cream failed to reach therapeutic goal in treatment of venous ulcers.[17] It is possible that that failure was due to a presence of bacterial film on hospital wounds that led to a fast degradation of the peptide. Recently, a second generation of breakdown resistant copper peptides was developed.

Current Research

Human Fibroblasts

Recent studies have revealed many new aspects of molecular actions of the copper-peptide GHK-Cu. Pollard at al established that GHK-Cu is able to restore function of human fibroblasts damaged by radiation treatment. Irradiated fibroblasts incubated with GHK-Cu had growth dynamics and growth factor production similar to the intact cells.

Nerve Regeneration

In 2005, Ahmed et al. demonstrated that GHK promotes nerve regeneration. Axon regeneration was studied using collagen tubes with incorporated peptides. GHK increased migration of hematogenous cells into collagen tube, production of nerve growth factors, expression of integrins and the rate of regeneration of myelinated nerve fibers. In addition, GHK also increased axon count and proliferation of Schwann cells compared to the control.

Stem Cells

In 2009, a group of researchers from the Seoul National University (Republic of Korea) demonstrated that the copper-peptide GHK-Cu stimulated proliferation of keratinocytes and increased expression of integrins and p63 protein in the epidermal stem cells. Since p63 is considered to be an important marker of stem cell and anti-senescence protein, the authors concluded that GHK-copper is able to revive the proliferative potential of epidermal stem cells and increase their ability to repair tissue.

Anti-Cancer Effect

In 2010, Hong Y. et al. (Department of Colorectal Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore) demonstrated that GHK-Cu is able to reverse the expression of certain genes involved in metastatic spreading of colon cancer. GHK-Cu was effective at a very low concentration - 1mkM.

Facial Studies

Copper peptide GHK-Cu is widely used in anti-aging cosmetics (INCI name: Copper tripeptide-1).[23] Several controlled facial studies confirmed anti-aging, firming and anti-wrinkle activity of copper peptide GHK-Cu.

Abdulghani et al. established that facial cream containing GHK-Cu increased collagen in photoaged skin of 20 female volunteers, performing better than vitamin C and retinoic acid.[24]

Leyden et al. conducted 12 weeks facial study of GHK-Cu containing face and eye cream, reporting significant improvement of skin laxity, clarity and appearance, reduced fine lines and the depths of wrinkles and increased skin density and thickness comparing to placebo. GHK-Cu eye cream performed better than vitamin K cream.

Finkley et al. conducted 12 week facial study on 67 women and reported that GHK-Cu cream applied twice daily improved aged skin appearance, increased thickness, reduced wrinkles and strongly stimulated dermal keratinocyte proliferation as determined by histological analysis of biopsies. The same study found copper peptide GHK-Cu to be non-toxic and non-irritating.

Hair Growth

Copper peptide GHK-Cu and its analogues were found to strongly stimulate hair growth. The efficiency of synthetic analog of GHK-Cu was similar to that of 5% minoxidil.[27] A commercial product GraftCyte was clinically proven to improve hair transplantation outcome. Another hair product that contains copper-peptide GHK-Cu is Tricomin.

Copper Binding

Research of the copper binding properties of GHK and two synthetic peptides, in which histidine was replaced with a synthetic amino acid, established that the amino acid glycine plays major role in copper binding, while lysine can interact with copper only at alkaline pH. At physiological pH, lysine is able to interact with a cellular receptor. The ability of GHK to interact both with copper and with a cellular receptor allows it to transfer copper into and from cells. The small size of GHK permits speedy traveling in extracellular space and its easy access to cellular receptors.

Biological Significance

Copper is a transitional metal that is vital for all eukaryotic organisms from microbes to humans. A dozen enzymes (cuproenzymes) use changes in copper oxidation state to catalyze important biochemical reactions including cellular respiration (cytochrome c oxidase), antioxidant defense (ceruloplasmin, superoxide dismutase (SOD), detoxification (metallothioneins), blood clotting (blood clotting factors V and VIII), melanin production (tyrosinase) and the connective tissue formation (lysyl peroxidase). Copper is required for iron metabolism, oxygenation, neurotransmission, embryonic development and many other essential biological processes. Another function of copper is signaling – for example, stem cells require a certain level of copper in the media to start their differentiation into cells needed for repair. Thus, GHK-Cu’s ability to bind copper and to modulate its tissue level is a key factor determining its biological activity. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_peptide_GHK-Cu

Do Peptides in Skin Care Products Work?

BY DR. BENABIO,ON JUNE 23RD,2008

Many skincare products use peptides to treat wrinkles. But what are peptides? And do they actually make you look younger?

Skin is made up mostly of collagen;it is the foundation that gives your skin its support and thickness. Young people have lots of collagen and taut,smooth skin. In contrast,older people have much less collagen and thin,wrinkled skin.

Collagen is protein and is made up long chains of amino acids strung together,like chains of linked building blocks. When it is broken down,short segments of 3-5 amino acids form,called peptides. Peptides are not just junk collagen;these “mini proteins”are active molecules —and you pay a whole lot for them in your wrinkle cream.

Here are three ways that peptides claim to improve wrinkles and make you look younger:

1. Peptides Signal Your Skin to Make More Collagen

When we age collagen is destroyed but not replaced. As a result young,smooth becomes thin and wrinkled over time.

One strategy to improve winkles and to make you look younger is to replace lost collagen. When collagen breaks down,it forms specific peptides. These peptides act as a signal to tell your skin it was damaged and to make new collagen.

Applying peptides directly to your skin is a way to trick your skin into thinking that it has lost collagen recently and needs to make more. The most popular signal peptide for cosmetic use is palmitoyl pentapeptide (Matrixyl). It can be found in many peptide skin products and might be effective in improving the appearance of fine lines. Be a smart skin care consumer —you can find this active ingredient in Strivectin and many other expensive peptide creams. Yet,it can also be found in the much less expensive products like Oil of Olay’s Regenerist,which I recommend to my patients.

2. Peptides Deliver Copper into Your Skin

Because peptides are small,they can penetrate the skin’s protective barriers to get to the deeper layers. When copper is attached to a peptide,the peptide can deliver copper to the living layers of the skin. There is research showing that copper is an effective agent in skin healing which is why it has been used for years to treat chronic wounds.

Copper peptides seem to promote collagen production and act as antioxidants. They are needed for natural healing and regeneration of your skin and to help remove damaged collagen. Copper peptides can be found in pricey product lines such as Neova or Osmotics as well as less expensive products like Neutrogena’s Visibly Firm Night Cream.

3. Neuropeptides Might Act Like Botox

Some peptides might block transmission of signals from nerves to your facial muscles. In particular,a neuropeptide called argireline has been shown in the laboratory to block the release of neurotransmitters from nerves. If argireline was absorbed all the way through the skin to the level of the muscle,then it might block contraction of the muscle,leading to smoother skin,similar to Botox. However,it would be like pouring a small glass of water onto a mattress and expecting it to soak through the underside of your box spring–it’s very unlikely.

Neuropeptides are sold in products often called wrinkle-relax creams and are a big part of Dr. Perricone’s line. There are plenty of anecdotal stories of their efficacy but essentially no good published scientific data. Although they sound great,until there are good studies to show they actually work,I would skip neuropeptides for now.

Peptides Might Not Do Anything

There are many things that have to go right in order for peptides to actually have a benefit. Because they are break-down products of proteins,they have to be stabilized or they might continue to break down further in a topical cream,becoming useless. Also,they have to be in a cream that allows them to penetrate the skin. If a great peptide is in a thick cream that only sits on the surface,then it will never penetrate and will eventually be washed off,without any benefit.

That being said,signal peptides and copper peptides seem to have the most evidence for their efficacy and can be found in products that cost less than a tank of gas. http://thedermblog.com/2008/06/23/do-peptides-in-skin-care-products-work/

These recommendations are based on my research studies over the past 20 years on the skin's response to various types of copper peptides. We also have been greatly aided by reports from thousands of clients plus dermatologists, estheticians, make up artists and cosmetologists at clinics, spas, and salons.

The recommendation below are of products containing Dr. Pickart's Second Generation Skin Remodeling Copper Peptides. Products built around Pickart's First Generation Skin Remodeling Copper Peptides are sold by Neutrogena, Procyte, and Simple Solutions. http://www.skinbiology.com/skinrenewalmethods.html

Copper peptides: Can you 'repair' a wrinkle?

If aging, as some say, is a disease, then wrinkles can be viewed as small, improperly healed wounds. Indeed wrinkles are characterized by incorrect deposition of collagen and imperfect skin cell layering, which is also seen in healed wounds albeit on a much larger scale. If so, could the agents that modify the process of wound healing (by minimizing scar formation and improving skin remodeling) have a potential to prevent or even reduce wrinkles? Well, possibly. A good example of a wound-healing agent that appears to also have anti-wrinkle potential is the class of compounds called copper peptides.

What exactly are copper peptides and how can they boost skin rejuvenation? Generally speaking, peptides are small fragments of proteins. (And the proteins are the key building blocks of most living tissues.) Certain kinds of peptides have an avid affinity for copper, to which they bind very tightly. The resulting compound consisting of a peptide and a copper atom has become known as a copper peptide.

The benefits of copper peptides for tissue regeneration were discovered by Dr. Loren Pickart in the 1970s. He found and patented a number of specific copper peptides (in particular, GHK copper peptides or GHK-Cu) that were particularly effective in healing wounds and skin lesions as well as some gastrointestinal conditions. One of the end results of this research was Iamin gel approved by the FDA for the treatment of acute and chronic wounds and ulcers.

A lot of substances can have a positive effect on wound healing. A distinctive feature of GHK copper peptides is that they reduce scar tissue formation while stimulating normal skin remodeling. In other words, they help better restore the damaged area to its original look.

The mechanism of copper peptide action is relatively complex. GHK-Cu induces the degradation of "extra-large" collagen aggregates found in scars and promotes the synthesis of smaller more regular collagen found in normal skin. It also promotes the synthesis of elastin, proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans and other components of skin matrix. Other important effects of GHK-Cu include the ability to regulate the growth rate and migration of different types of cells; significant anti-inflammatory action; and the ability to prevent the release of oxidation-promoting iron into the tissues. The net result is a faster, better and "cleaner" healing.

You might say it's nice to have cleanly healed wounds, but what about people who do not have any wounds or ulcerations to heal? Can copper peptides be useful for regular skin protection and rejuvenation? It appears that they can. However, while the wound healing effects of copper peptide have been investigated and documented in many studies, much less research has been done so far on their cosmetic and anti-aging use. The available evidence indicated the following potential skin benefits:

Many existing skin care treatments are based on the concept of removing the outermost or even deeper layers of the skin. The resulting healing process stimulates skin remodeling leading to smoother, younger looking skin. Since copper peptides optimize healing and improve skin remodeling, then can augment the effect of treatments based on various forms of controlled skin injury. In particular, copper peptides can be useful after various forms of laser resurfacing, dermabrasion, and chemical peels. IMPORTANT: If you are considering using copper peptides after a particular procedure, make sure to discuss it with your physician.

Copper peptides are effective against various forms of skin irritation, mainly due to their anti-inflammatory effects. Skin irritation, even in the absence of open lesions, dramatically accelerates skin aging by promoting the formation of free radicals and other toxic byproducts. Some common skin rejuvenation treatments, such as tretinoin (Retin A, Renova) and alpha hydroxy acids, can cause irritation. If during treatment you experience skin irritation for an extended period of time, your skin will likely end up in a worse shape than when you started. In many cases, copper peptides can reduce or eliminate the irritation and help maximize treatment benefits.

It is always easier to prevent the damage than to fix it later. To a significant degree, skin aging is caused by the accumulation of minor day-to-day damage from sun, wind, detergents, acne, abrasions and so forth. As these minute lesions heal, they leave microscopic imperfections, which, eventually, accumulate to become visible signs of aging. While it remain to be further researched, it appears that copper peptide can help minimize the damage from daily wear and tear of the skin. For instance, one study demonstrated that copper peptides helped recover skin integrity after exposure to SLS, a common detergent found in many shampoos, cleansers, and dishwashing/laundry products.

It remains unclear whether copper peptides can reverse wrinkles and other signs of aging in the intact skin. Theoretically, it is possible since copper peptides promote the degradation of abnormally large cross-linked collagen (the one found in scars and, to a lesser degree, in wrinkles). They also stimulate the production of "regular" collagen found in normal skin. In one small study, copper peptides stimulated collagen production in the intact skin. In fact, in that study copper peptides produced a stronger stimulation of collagen sysnthesis than tretinoin (Retin A, Renova) or ascorbate (vitamin C).

At present, several skin care companies offer a range of copper peptide products. However, to the best of my knowledge, all copper peptides in these products are based on Dr. Pickart's patents.

Caution: While moderate use of copper peptides stimulates collagen synthesis and has antioxidant effect (by stimulating the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase), excessive use can have an opposite effect by increasing the levels of free copper and/or by triggering excessive production of metalloproteinases. Free copper promotes free radical damage and collagen breakdown leading to accelerated skin aging. Metalloproteinases can digest collagen and elastin, weakening the skin and causing sag. These problems do not seem to occur among the majority of copper peptide users. However, there are anecdotal reports indicating that such side-effects might happen with overuse or, rarely, even normal use in sensitive individuals. Ideally, a sufficiently large study is needed to better quiantify these risk.

The bottom line

Copper peptides are a promising skin treatment with a good safety profile. Their ability to improve the healing of various types of skin lesions is well established. It is likely that copper peptides may slow down the development of the signs of skin aging by limiting the consequences of daily wear and tear. Also, copper peptides may augment the results of the skin rejuvenation treatments based on controlled skin injury, such as laser resurfacing, dermabrasion and peels. There are also indications that copper peptides have the potential to improve wrinkles and skin texture on their own. However, more extensive and prolonged studies are required to definitively prove it. Also, it appears that copper peptides may cause rare but significant skin damage in some cases of overuse or unusual sensitivity. http://www.smartskincare.com/treatments/topical/copper.html

Important Warning on Copper Peptide Overuse:

Some people experience side effects from overuse of copper peptides (either through too much applied, too frequently, or both). These side effects include looseness of the skin and sagging or wrinkly skin.

If you’re using copper peptides for the delicate under-eye area, be especially careful. Excessive use can also lead to irritation and skin redness.

However, the good news is that these side effects are usually temporary and your skin will heal itself over a few weeks. Take Vitamin C and MSM to speed up the healing.

(There have been rare reports of users experiencing wrinkly skin from overuse of CPs and not recovering i.e. having permanent damage from copper peptides. The best advice I can give you is to pay attention to the state of your skin while on CPs. If its suffering from overuse, stop copper peptide use until the skin tightens. Then lower your frequency to every other day or every few days. In other words, be kind to your skin.)

With copper peptides, the old adage is true – less is more.

Before You Start on a Copper Peptide Regimen…

1. Be prepared to stick to a long-term commitment. Scar reduction through copper peptides is a long process of 8 months to a year. Unfortunately, most people get disheartened when they don’t see results within a few weeks and they stop.

2. Progress is slow, so take a ‘before’ picture. Because skin renews itself every 28 days or so, progress can come very slowly so that its not noticeable. So help yourself by taking a good ‘before’ picture and save it. If you’re feeling that there has been no progress after 2 months or more, compare your skin’s current state to the ‘before ‘picture. You might be amazed, and this will help motivate you to stay the course.

3. Keep your regimen as simple as possible. If you keep your regimen as simple and fuss-free as possible, there’s a higher chance that you won’t get tired of it.

How to Optimize your Results with Copper Peptides

While progress with copper peptides is slow, you can help speed up the results a little by doing the following:

1. Exfoliate. Skin renews itself faster if the top layer of dead skin cells are sloughed off regularly. Exfoliation also helps the copper peptides to penetrate more easily and deeply into the skin layers to target the scar or wrinkle.

You can exfoliate cheaply with a microdermabrasion cloth, or use gentle peeling agents like salicylic acid or lactic acid. Go slow if you have skin that darkens easily with trauma.

2. Take regular breaks from CPs. Copper peptides are excellent for breaking down scar tissue but constant daily use will not give your skin time to rebuild healthy tissue in its place. Find a cycle that works for you. Such as 1st month use CPs, 2nd month take a break, 3rd month use CPs, and so on. If that doesn’t work for you, try a weekly cycle instead. Find what works best for your skin.

The added advantage of incorporating regular breaks is that your skin will remain sensitive enough to copper peptides and you won’t build up a tolerance for it. You’ll notice that when restarting copper peptides after a break, your skin will feel much more tingly and you won’t need to use as much.

3. Take supplements to aid skin healing. I’ve already raved about the wonders of taking MSM before, and this time is no different. MSM coupled with Vitamin C will be especially helpful while you are on a copper peptide regimen.

These two supplements will not only speed up skin renewal and healing, but the MSM will make your skin cells much more permeable to the copper peptides, making the whole delivery process much more efficient. http://skinverse.com/skinverse-guide-to-copper-peptides.html

Copper peptides are complex peptide molecules containing copper. In the 1970s, researchers discovered the healing properties of copper peptides some time ago. Put simply, copper peptides seem to encourage the body's own healing mechanisms.

What are copper peptides?

Peptides are small fragments of proteins. Proteins, as you probably already know, are the key building blocks of nearly all living tissues. Certain kinds of peptides have an avid affinity for copper atoms, to which they bind themselves very tightly. The resulting compound consisting of a peptide and a copper atom are known as copper peptides.

What do copper peptides do?

In the 1970s, Dr. Loren Pickart discovered that a variety of copper peptides have the ability to aid in tissue regeneration. Copper peptides boosted the body's healing abilities. Dr. Pickart patented a number of specific copper peptides. They seemed to be particularly effective in healing wounds, skin lesions and even gastrointestinal ulcers.

In addition, copper peptides help wounds heal. Copper peptides break down a specific type of tissue that forms scars (known as extra-large collagen aggregates). When these aggregates are broken down, wounds heal with far less scar tissue. Copper peptides also offer a significant anti-inflammatory benefit. In short, they help wounds heal faster, better and with less scarring.

Are copper peptides an effective anti wrinkle ingredient?

Probably not. Because wrinkles aren't wounds, but simply folds in the epidermis, the main action of copper peptides is not effective on wrinkles. Copper peptides are sometimes used by doctors to help skin heal after cosmetic surgical procedures or severe chemical resurfacing. Copper peptides can be used to counteract some of the more serious irritations caused by such treatments as Retin-A. One small study has shown that copper peptides, by themselves, can stimulate collagen production in the skin.

But there is not currently sufficient research to prove that copper peptide is an effective anti wrinkle ingredient. http://www.wrinklereview.com/wrinkle-reducer/copper-peptides.html

Copper Peptides Reviews

Pros-I use it for scar treatment. It softens the scar and the surrounding area making your skin look smoother overall. It penetrates into the damaged skin and sort of "breaks up" the scar tissue which over time will eventually remove the scar 100%. For example, I had a severe scar on my left cheek and it's almost gone. Be patient and persevering. I've been using Super Cop for over a year.

Cons It's greenish and looks weird going to bed - not too sexy. Sleep on your back (train yourself to do so) otherwise the cream will end up on your pillow case.

Bottom line Use the Super Cop Cream 2X - Extra Strength as a spot treatment. It's an expensive product, so you won't want to use it all over your face. I got the best results doing a combination of self-needling (using 5-6 sewing needles - not diabetic ones - superglued together - trust me it works). Or you can get a derma roller. The needling will help the product penetrate the dermis to get to the all important scar tissue.

You can use the weaker varieties of Super Cops if you have sensitive skin but you can actually feel the 2x working. Use it consistently everyday. Focus on specific areas like the temples and try to use harsh lighting to see how the shape of the scar changes as it begins to break down. http://www.acne.org/copper-peptides-reviews/354/page1.html

Research Papers on Copper Peptide

Transition metals as electron traps. I. Structures, energetics, electron capture, and electron-transfer-induced dissociations of ternary copper-peptide complexes in the gas phase.

Turecek F, Jones JW, Holm AI, Panja S, Nielsen SB, Hvelplund P.

J Mass Spectrom. 2009 May;44(5):707-24.

On-line electrogeneration of copper-peptide complexes in microspray mass spectrometry.

Prudent M, Girault HH.

J Am Soc Mass Spectrom. 2008 Apr;19(4):560-8. Epub 2008 Jan 31.

In vitro observations on the influence of copper peptide aids for the LED photoirradiation of fibroblast collagen synthesis.

Huang PJ, Huang YC, Su MF, Yang TY, Huang JR, Jiang CP.

Photomed Laser Surg. 2007 Jun;25(3):183-90.

Magnetic properties of ferromagnetic quasi-1D copper-peptide compounds: exchange interactions and very low temperature phase transitions.

Chagas EF, Rapp RE, Rodrigues DE, Casado NM, Calvo R.

J Phys Chem B. 2006 Apr 20;110(15):8052-63.

Inactivation of human angiotensin converting enzyme by copper peptide complexes containing ATCUN motifs.

Gokhale NH, Cowan JA.

Chem Commun (Camb). 2005 Dec 21;(47):5916-8. Epub 2005 Oct 21.

Using Aldara, copper peptide, and niacinamide for skin care.

Carraway JH.

Aesthet Surg J. 2004 Jan-Feb;24(1):83-4.

DNA- and protein-scission activities of ascorbate in the presence of copper ion and a copper-peptidecomplex.

Chiou SH.

J Biochem. 1983 Oct;94(4):1259-67.