Scientists from the University of Manchester pointed to the maintenance of muscle metabolic activity as a possible reason for the longevity of the Greenland shark, reports Phys.org .
The Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) is the longest-lived species of vertebrate with a maximum lifespan of 500 years. This long life was previously thought to be due to the sharks' cold environment and minimal movement, but the reasons appear to be much more complex.
The researchers focused on studying the metabolic processes that could explain such a long life, assuming that the metabolism of these sharks does not change with age, which was confirmed experimentally.
To measure the metabolism of Greenland sharks, the team performed enzyme assays on samples of preserved muscle tissue. Measurements were performed on sharks of different ages in a wide range of environmental temperatures. The results show that over the years the metabolic activity of shark muscles remains unchanged, which is not characteristic of most animals.
As many organisms age, changes in the activity of metabolic enzymes are common. This supports the hypothesis that the Greenland shark does not show traditional signs of aging.
The Greenland shark's metabolic enzymes are significantly more active at higher temperatures, indicating a lack of specific adaptation to the polar environment. This is important to consider in a changing climate, as species with long generation periods (females reach sexual maturity at 150 years), such as the Greenland shark, may be less able to adapt.