Research Comparison
AHK-Cu (Copper Tripeptide-3) vs SS-31 (Elamipretide)
A side-by-side research comparison of AHK-Cu (Copper Tripeptide-3) and SS-31 (Elamipretide) drawn from Cedar Peptides' peptide database records.
AHK-Cu (Copper Tripeptide-3)
AHK-Cu (Copper Tripeptide-3) is a synthetic copper-binding tripeptide composed of alanine, histidine, and lysine complexed with a divalent copper ion (Cu²⁺). It is structurally analogous to GHK-Cu, differing by a single amino acid substitution at the N-terminus, which contributes to its more targeted activity in dermal papilla cells and hair follicles. The compound is primarily investigated for its role in hair growth and skin regeneration. It has demonstrated the ability to stimulate follicular activity, enhance vascular signaling, and modulate pathways associated with hair miniaturization. In addition to hair-focused applications, AHK-Cu supports fibroblast activation and collagen synthesis, contributing to improved skin structure and repair.
SS-31 (Elamipretide)
SS-31, also known as Elamipretide or Bendavia, is a small aromatic-cationic tetrapeptide that selectively targets the inner mitochondrial membrane. Unlike traditional antioxidants that scavenge reactive oxygen species diffusely, SS-31 specifically binds to cardiolipin — a phospholipid critical for maintaining the structural integrity of the electron transport chain — protecting it from oxidative damage and restoring cellular energy production. This targeted mechanism makes SS-31 highly relevant in mitochondrial dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, and age-related decline. It has received regulatory approval for specific mitochondrial disorders, representing the first class of therapies directly targeting mitochondrial membrane integrity rather than downstream oxidative damage.
Reading a comparison
A comparison places two records side by side; it does not merge them. Each description above is drawn from that compound's own record, and the two were not necessarily characterised by the same methods, at the same time, or to the same level of detail. Before comparing any attribute, it is worth establishing that both records describe the substance you think they describe — names are not identifiers, and two entries sharing a name can differ in salt form, stereochemistry or the convention used to state a mass. Where a figure carries no method beside it, the comparison is between two reported numbers rather than between two measurements.