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“It may be that the kind of damage caused in humans by low oxygen levels, could be countered by increasing myoglobin levels.”
The discovery of the protein suggests a gene in the fish may trigger its production when there is a lack of oxygen.
The team now hopes to discover how the protein helps sustain normal blood flow and oxygen when oxygen levels are low.
The US National Institute of Health is already following up the findings after recognising the significance in human cardiovascular health.
After two years of research, the team now hope to explore the gene sequences which trigger the release of the protein.
They are also looking at the spread of myoglobin in mice in the hope of showing a closer link to humans.
The research is published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA.
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