Gene HIF1A
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Also known as
HIF-1-alpha, hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha, MOP1, PASD8Overview
HIF1A (Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1 Subunit Alpha) encodes the alpha subunit of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), a transcription factor that serves as the master regulator of cellular responses to low oxygen. Under normal oxygen conditions, HIF-1α is rapidly degraded, but during hypoxia it accumulates and activates genes involved in angiogenesis, metabolism, and cell survival.Variants in HIF1A influence the body's adaptation to altitude and exercise performance. The Pro582Ser polymorphism has been associated with elite endurance athlete status and better high-altitude adaptation. HIF1A also plays critical roles in cancer biology, as tumors often exploit the hypoxia response pathway for growth and metastasis.
Understanding your HIF1A genetic status provides insights into oxygen sensing and adaptation capacity. This information is relevant for understanding athletic performance, altitude tolerance, and potentially cancer susceptibility and treatment response.