biostudies-literatureUnknown31(2)Ignot-Gutierrez ADuring 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 <3 kDa intestinal peptide fraction exhibited the strongest CCK stimulation, positioning these low-molecular-weight peptides as promising bioactive components for satiety modulation and metabolic health applicatiMolecules (Basel, Switzerland)238https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12844283biostudies-literatureRelease 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.PMC12844283Serena-Romero GCruz-Huerta EMartinez AJArellano-Castillo OIgnot-Gutierrez AAlvarado-Olivarez MGuajardo-Flores DfalseRelease 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.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 <3 kDa intestinal peptide fraction exhibited the strongest CCK stimulation, positioning these low-molecular-weight peptides as promising bioactive components for satiety modulation and metabolic health applicati2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Jan2026-06-15T03:16:59.866Z2026-06-15T03:11:09.153ZS-EPMC128442834159928710.3390/molecules31020238