The Schizosaccharomyces pombe php2 þ gene encodes a subunit of the CCAAT-binding factor complex. We found that disruption of the php2 þ gene extended the chronological lifespan of the fission yeast. Moreover, the lifespan of the Áphp2 mutant was barely extended under calorie restricted (CR) conditions. Many other phenotypes of the Áphp2 mutant resembled those of wild-type cells grown under CR conditions, suggesting that the Áphp2 mutant might undergo CR. The mutant also showed low respiratory activity concomitant with decreased expression of the cyc1 þ and rip1 þ genes, both of which are involved in mitochondrial electron transport. On the basis of a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, we determined that Php2 binds to a DNA region upstream of cyc1 þ and rip1 þ in S. pombe. Here we discuss the possible mechanisms by which the chronological lifespan of Áphp2 mutant is extended.

We investigated the effects of dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on fatty acid composition and lipid oxidation in breast meat of broiler chickens. Broiler chickens (28-day-old females) were fed diets containing experimental oils at 20 g/kg diet for 28 days. The experimental oils consisted of either a 2:0, 1:1, or a 0:2 (wt : wt) ratio of safflower oil (high linoleic acid content) to a commercial CLA mixture. In this study, dietary CLA supplementation significantly increased the composition and content of CLA in chicken meat. The predominant CLA in meat from birds with supplemented diets was the cis-9, trans-11 isomer. The proportion of saturated fatty acid in meat significantly increased with increasing CLA supplementation, with a corresponding decrease in monounsaturated fatty acid. Dietary CLA also reduced thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values in raw meat during storage at 4 degrees C for 5 days. These results provide evidence that CLA feeding is a practical strategy not only for adding nutritional benefits to chicken meat but also for improving meat quality including oxidative stability.