EPAS1
Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Endothelial PAS domain-containing protein 1 (EPAS1, also known as hypoxia-inducible factor-2alpha (HIF-2α)) is a protein that is encoded by the EPAS1 gene in mammals. It is a type of hypoxia-inducible factor, a group of transcription factors involved in the physiological response to oxygen concentration.[5][6][7][8] The gene is active under hypoxic conditions. It is also important in the development of the heart, and for maintaining the catecholamine balance required for protection of the heart. Mutation often leads to neuroendocrine tumors.
However, several characterized alleles of EPAS1 contribute to high-altitude adaptation in humans.[9][10] One such allele, which has been inherited from Denisovan archaic hominins, is known to confer increased athletic performance in some people, and has therefore been referred to as the "super athlete gene".[11]