A DEEP-sea predator that can live for 500 years could hold the key to fighting heart disease and living longer.
Researchers believe the metabolism of the invincible Greenland shark could be the secret to its longevity. They hope it is the same for us.
Little is known about the world’s longest-living vertebrate, which can survive for centuries in the frigid Atlantic Ocean from Canada to Norway and off the coast of Scotland.
One shark was found to be so old that it was born in 1624, the year England declared war on Spain and established its first colony in the Caribbean.
The incredibly old sample was discovered by the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
That is to say, it survived the Great Fire of London, the English and American Civil Wars, and both World Wars of the last century.
The monsters, which can grow up to 7 meters long, even eat polar bears.
They are known to be rarely seen, as many of them live 600 metres beneath the Arctic ice.
Experimental research now shows that muscle metabolism may be an important factor in the Greenland shark’s incredible longevity.
The new findings could be crucial for improving heart health and help other species fight climate change.
Lead researcher Ewan Camplisson, a PhD candidate at the University of Manchester, said: “We want to understand what adaptations they have that allow them to live so long.
Research presented by Mr Camplisson at the annual conference of the Society for Experimental Biology in Prague showed that the species’ metabolic activity did not change as it aged, unlike other species.
He said: “In most species there is some variation in their metabolism as they age.
“The results support our hypothesis that the Greenland shark does not show the same traditional signs of aging as other animals.”
The scientists performed enzyme assays on preserved muscle tissue samples from Greenland sharks and measured the metabolic activity of the enzymes.
The team found no significant variation in muscle metabolic activity across ages, suggesting that metabolism does not appear to decline over time and may play an important role in their longevity.
The researchers now plan to test more enzymes and tissue types to gain even more insight into the shark’s metabolic activity.
Mr Camplisson said: “My ultimate goal is to protect the species and the best way to do that is to understand them better.”
“By studying the Greenland shark and its heart, we may be able to better understand our own cardiovascular health.
“These are problems that become more common and serious as we age.”
Researchers have already mapped the mitochondrial DNA of the 5-meter shark, genetic material found in small battery-like bodies inside cells that provide energy.
They hope to discover what determines the life expectancy of different species, including humans.
The bone and tissue research by the Arctic University of Norway may also provide insight into the long-term effects of climate change and pollution.
Five facts about the Greenland shark
It is the longest living vertebrate in the world
Greenland sharks can live for 400 years or more in the freezing waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Scientists believe this is due to their metabolism.
Greenland sharks can tolerate temperatures below freezing
These creatures thrive in cold environments, preferring to stay in waters with temperatures ranging from -1 to 10°C. They are the only known shark species that can tolerate Arctic conditions year-round.
The meat of a Greenland shark is poisonous
Greenland shark meat can cause symptoms in humans that resemble severe intoxication. In addition, the neurotoxins in their meat can even paralyze sled dogs.
Greenlandic shark meat is a national dish in Iceland
The dish known as Hákarl or kæstur hákarl is prepared by hanging the meat of the Greenland shark for four to five months, which removes the harmful effects of the neurotoxins.
Greenland sharks are really big
Sharks have been known to grow to 6.5 metres in length and 1,000 kilos in weight. The average Greenland shark, however, weighs around 400 kilos and is 8 to 4.5 metres long.