Release of Bioactive Peptides from Whey Protein During In Vitro Digestion and Their Effect on CCK Secretion in Enteroendocrine Cells: An In Silico and In Vitro Approach

Molecules 2026 Open access

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Authors: Anaís Ignot-Gutiérrez, Orlando Arellano-Castillo, Gloricel Serena-Romero, Mayvi Alvarado, Daniel Guajardo‐Flores, Armando J. Martínez, Elvia Cruz-Huerta
DOI: 10.3390/molecules31020238
Cited by: 2
References: 55

Abstract

During gastrointestinal digestion, dietary proteins are hydrolyzed into peptides and free amino acids that modulate enteroendocrine function and satiety-related hormone secretion along the gut-brain axis, thereby contributing to obesity prevention. We investigated whey protein concentrate (WPC) as a source of bioactive peptides and evaluated the effects of its digests on cholecystokinin (CCK) secretion in STC-1 enteroendocrine cells by integrating the standardized INFOGEST in vitro digestion protocol, peptidomics (LC-MS/MS), and in silico bioactivity prediction. In STC-1 cells, the

Fields of Study & Subjects

Protein Hydrolysis and Bioactive Peptides Muscle metabolism and nutrition Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology

Publication details

Journal / source
Molecules
Publisher
MDPI AG
Volume
31
Issue
2
Pages
238–238
Publication date
10 January 2026
Language
EN