烟粉虱MED隐种抑制蛋白基因Btarrestin的克隆及特性分析

【目的】明确烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci MED隐种抑制蛋白基因Btarrestin是否参与吡虫啉耐药性。【方法】根据已有烟粉虱转录组数据,利用RT-PCR克隆Btarrestin的全长序列,进行生物信息学分析。通过qPCR分析Btarrestin在烟粉虱MED隐种各个龄期(卵,1-2龄、3龄、4龄若虫,雌、雄成虫)以及吡虫啉处理(100 mg/L)后成虫中的表达量变化,明确其时空表达模式。利用RNAi技术沉默Btarrestin,观察沉默前后Btarrestin表达量和烟粉虱MED隐种成虫死亡率变化。【结果】成功克隆烟粉虱MED隐种Btarrestin的cDNA序列(GenBank登录号: MK204377),编码区全长1 227 bp,编码409个氨基酸,预测所编码的蛋白分子量约为45.33 kD,理论等电点(pI)为8.38。保守结构域分析表明,Btarrestin具有Arrestin_N和Arrestin_C两个超家族保守结构域,符合抑制蛋白家族特征。分子系统树分析表明,Btarrestin与褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens的Arrestin亲缘关系最近。Btarrestin的表达量随烟粉虱MED隐种的生长发育逐渐升高,成虫期表达量最高。100 mg/L吡虫啉处理成虫24 h后Btarrestin的表达量较对照增加了2.39倍。RNAi干扰Btarrestin后进行生物测定,烟粉虱MED隐种成虫的死亡率上升了31.27％。【结论】Btarrestin可能与烟粉虱MED隐种对吡虫啉的耐药性有关。     

温室粉虱和烟粉虱3个隐种中热激蛋白基因hsp70和hsp90含量的比较分析

【目的】昆虫适应新环境的能力与其对温度的耐受能力密切相关。热激蛋白HSP70和HSP90具有提高生物体温度耐受性的功能。烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius)不同隐种和不同种粉虱对温度的适应能力有差异,这与它们的热激蛋白基因拷贝数的差异可能相关。【方法】利用实时荧光定量PCR方法,检测入侵型烟粉虱MED隐种和MEAM1隐种、本地型烟粉虱AsiaⅡ1隐种以及温室粉虱Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood)基因组DNA中热激蛋白基因hsp70和hsp90的拷贝数。【结果】不同种类的粉虱和烟粉虱不同隐种体内的hsp70和hsp90的含量均有较大差异,其中hsp70和hsp90拷贝数在入侵型烟粉虱MED和MEAM1隐种中含量较其他两种均高,而在土著种AsiaⅡ1隐种中含量最低,在温室粉虱中居中。此外,相同物种雌雄成虫hsp70和hsp90的拷贝数也不同,雌虫hsp70和hsp90拷贝数约为雄虫的2倍。【结论】不同种粉虱及烟粉虱不同隐种的hsp70和hsp90的拷贝数可能与其耐热性差异相关。本研究为解释不同种粉虱、烟粉虱不同隐种及其不同性别的耐热性差异机制提供了进一步的依据。     

下调烟粉虱MED隐种BtabCSP6表达对番茄黄化曲叶病毒传播的影响

【目的】番茄黄化曲叶病毒(tomato yellow leaf curl virus, TYLCV)是对农业生产造成威胁的主要病毒之一,自然条件下通过媒介昆虫烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci传播。已有研究表明烟粉虱雌成虫比雄成虫具有更强的获毒与传毒能力。本研究旨在探明烟粉虱化学感受蛋白(chemosensory protein, CSP)基因BtabCSP6表达对病毒传播的影响,为控制病毒发生寻找新途径。【方法】使用TYLCV侵染性克隆方法获得带毒番茄植株,微虫笼收集不带毒烟粉虱MED隐种成虫固定在感染TYLCV的番茄植株叶片获毒48 h;利用RT-qPCR技术测定分别取食感染和未感染TYLCV番茄植株的烟粉虱MED隐种雌雄成虫体内BtabCSP1-8基因表达量变化;通过饲喂法利用RNAi对烟粉虱MED隐种雌成虫BtabCSP6基因进行干扰48 h后饲喂TYLCV感染的番茄植株,测定烟粉虱MED隐种雌成虫的获毒率和传毒率。【结果】RT-qPCR检测结果表明,与未侵染的烟粉虱MED隐种雌成虫相比,侵染TYLCV的雌成虫体内BtabCSP3和BtabCSP6基因的表达量变化最为显著。同样...     

烟粉虱MED隐种钙离子结合蛋白基因的RNAi及其生物学效应

【目的】前期研究发现烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci MED隐种2个钙离子结合蛋白(BtCaBP1和BtCaBP2)参与烟粉虱对溴氰虫酰胺的应激反应。本研究旨在通过RNAi干扰钙离子结合蛋白基因,系统揭示钙离子结合蛋白对烟粉虱的生物学影响。【方法】通过dsRNA饲喂法分别干扰烟粉虱MED隐种成虫钙离子结合蛋白基因BtCaBP1和BtCaBP2后,qPCR检测BtCaBP1和BtCaBP2的表达量;观测并比较了RNAi 3 d后处理组(分别饲喂dsBtCaBP1和dsBtCaBP2)和对照组(饲喂dsEGFP)间烟粉虱MED隐种亲代成虫(雌雄)寿命、单雌产卵量以及子一代的卵孵化率和成虫前期发育历期等生物学参数。【结果】分别饲喂dsBtCaBP1和dsBtCaBP2 3 d后,处理组烟粉虱MED隐种靶标基因BtCaBP1和BtCaBP2的表达量较对照组均显著降低。处理组中干扰BtCaBP2后的亲代烟粉虱MED隐种成虫寿命(雌:15.46±1.24 d;雄:13.84±0.38 d)较对照组的(雌:13.25±0.58 d;雄:12.67±0.65 d)显著延长;处理组的单雌产卵量(39....     

内共生菌Cardinium对烟粉虱MED隐种耐药性的影响

【目的】次生内共生菌感染可影响烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci对杀虫剂的敏感性。本研究旨在揭示内共生菌Cardinium感染对烟粉虱B. tabaci MED隐种耐药性的影响。【方法】室内测定海南陵水与山东寿光烟粉虱MED隐种种群内遗传背景一致的Cardinium感染与未感染品系对不同浓度新烟碱类杀虫剂噻虫嗪和吡虫啉的耐药性。【结果】各浓度噻虫嗪和吡虫啉处理后,烟粉虱陵水种群感染Cardinium品系死亡率比未感染品系显著降低;100, 150, 175和200 mg/L噻虫嗪以及175和200 mg/L吡虫啉处理后,烟粉虱寿光种群感染Cardinium品系死亡率比未感染品系显著上升。相对于未感染品系,烟粉虱陵水种群感染Cardinium品系对噻虫嗪、吡虫啉的抗性倍数(RR)分别是1.355和1.847,烟粉虱寿光种群感染Cardinium品系的RR分别是0.790和0.847。【结论】内共生菌Cardinium感染能影响烟粉虱MED隐种对噻虫嗪和吡虫啉的耐药性,且这种影响在不同种群间存在差异。研究结果对于揭示烟粉虱MED隐种的种群适应性及扩张机制具有重要参考价值。     

烟粉虱MEAM1和MED成虫在辣椒上传播番茄褪绿病毒的特性

【目的】分析与比较烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci MEAM1和MED成虫在辣椒Capsicum annuum植株上对番茄褪绿病毒(tomato chlorosis virus, ToCV)的传播差异,解析媒介昆虫-病毒-寄主植物间的互作关系,为田间辣椒上ToCV防治提供参考。【方法】利用烟粉虱MEAM1和MED成虫及ToCV cDNA侵染性克隆,对烟粉虱MEAM1和MED成虫在辣椒植株上获取和传播ToCV的能力进行比较,同时比较烟粉虱MEAM1和MED成虫在健康和携带ToCV辣椒植株上的取食偏好。【结果】在感染ToCV的辣椒植株上接虫后96 h内,烟粉虱MEAM1和MED成虫体内病毒积累量逐渐增加,MED成虫获毒速度和病毒积累量均大于MEAM1成虫的,MED成虫获毒量是MEAM1成虫的1.74倍;MED成虫在辣椒植株上的传毒量明显高于MEAM1成虫,传毒量平均相差9倍,且MED成虫传毒率比MEAM1成虫高29%。MEAM1和MED成虫对健康和感染ToCV的辣椒植株的取食偏好相似,都明显倾向于取食被ToCV侵染的辣椒植株。【结论】烟粉虱MED成虫在辣椒植株上获取、传播ToCV的能力均...     

烟粉虱传毒相关蛋白基因的克隆及其表达量分析

【目的】烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius)是一种世界性的入侵性害虫,其传播的番茄黄化曲叶病毒(Tomato yellow leaf curl virus,TYLCV)给我国番茄生产造成巨大经济损失。为了阐明烟粉虱传播双生病毒的机理,本文拟研究明确B和Q烟粉虱体内传毒相关蛋白Gro EL基因及其表达量。【方法】采用特异性引物克隆了B和Q烟粉虱内共生菌编码的传毒相关蛋白Gro EL基因,并进行序列分析;并利用荧光定量PCR技术检测两种生物型及其获取双生病毒前后该基因的相对表达量。【结果】烟粉虱内共生菌Hamiltonella编码的Gro EL基因全长为1 668 bp,编码555个氨基酸;B、Q烟粉虱该基因的核苷酸序列相似性为99.94%,氨基酸同源性为99.82%;带毒烟粉虱中Gro EL基因的表达量显著高于未带毒的对应生物型烟粉虱;无论带毒与否,Q烟粉虱该基因的表达量均显著高于B(P<0.05)。【结论】烟粉虱携带TYLCV后可诱导Gro EL的表达量升高,B和Q烟粉虱中Gro EL基因及其表达量均存在差异,这可能是B和Q烟粉虱传毒效率存在显著差异的原因之一。     

MED烟粉虱钙结合蛋白的鉴定及表达分析

【目的】钙结合蛋白作为钙信号传导途径的组分,通过与钙离子结合实现其生物学功能,调控细胞信号传导和细胞生命周期等过程,且钙结合蛋白可以通过与植物中钙离子结合降低钙离子浓度来保持昆虫的持续摄取。为明确钙结合蛋白在MED (Mediterranean)烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci体内的时空表达模式,烟粉虱取食后钙结合蛋白的表达特征及取食不同寄主的烟粉虱体内钙结合蛋白的表达量变化情况。【方法】利用RT-PCR和基因克隆得到烟粉虱钙结合蛋白cDNA序列,并通过实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)技术分析其在烟粉虱不同组织、不同龄期、不同寄主以及烟粉虱饥饿诱导取食后不同时间点的表达模式。【结果】生物信息学分析结果显示:烟粉虱钙结合蛋白基因的开放阅读框为669bp,编码一个由222个氨基酸组成的蛋白,其N端包含一段长为22个AA的信号肽序列,C末端具有钙离子结合位点。系统进化分析表明:烟粉虱钙结合蛋白与半翅目昆虫关系最近,分属同支。荧光定量PCR结果显示:钙结合蛋白在烟粉虱头部的表达量显著高于胸部、腹部、足和翅的表达量;钙结合蛋白在烟粉虱整个发育阶段均有表达,4龄若虫的表达量最高,卵期表达量最低,1-2龄、3龄、4龄和成虫期的表达量分别为卵期表达量的4.38倍、5.47倍、16.76倍和5.03倍;钙结合蛋白在取食棉花、辣椒和番茄3种不同寄主的烟粉虱中的表达量无显著性差异;饥饿诱导取食后1 h的烟粉虱成虫钙结合蛋白的表达量显著高于取食0 h,为取食0h的2.12倍。【结论】本研究克隆了烟粉虱钙结合蛋白基因并对其在烟粉虱中的表达模式进行分析,为进一步明确烟粉虱钙结合蛋白功能研究奠定基础。     

烟粉虱MEAM1隐种磷脂氢谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶基因克隆与表达分析

【目的】本研究旨在从烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci中东-小亚细亚1隐种(Middle East-Asia Minor 1, MEAM1)中克隆磷脂氢谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase, PHGPX)基因,鉴定其在烟粉虱不同发育阶段及吡虫啉处理不同时间后雌成虫体内的表达情况,明确其在烟粉虱应对外界环境压力中的功能。【方法】利用3′RACE克隆和测定烟粉虱MEAM1隐种内PHGPX基因的cDNA全长序列,并对其编码的氨基酸序列进行生物信息学分析;利用定量RT-PCR技术对该基因在烟粉虱MEAM1隐种不同发育阶段及吡虫啉处理不同时间后雌成虫体内的表达量进行分析。【结果】获得了烟粉虱MEAM1隐种两个磷脂氢谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶基因的全长cDNA序列,分别命名为BtB-PHGPX1(GenBank登录号:KY312116)和BtB-PHGPX2(GenBank登录号:KY312117)。序列分析表明,BtB-PHGPX1基因开放阅读框全长732 bp,编码243个氨基酸;BtB-PHGPX2基因开放阅读框全长567 bp,编码188个氨基酸。序列比对结果表明两基因的编码蛋白内均具有谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶保守的半胱氨酸、谷氨酰胺和色氨酸残基位点。BtB-PHGPX1在烟粉虱MEAM1隐种卵内表达量显著高于其在若虫、伪蛹、雌成虫和雄成虫内的表达量,BtB-PHGPX2在烟粉虱MEAM1隐种卵内的表达量显著低于其在若虫、伪蛹和雌成虫内的表达量(P<0.05)。BtB-PHGPX1和BtB-PHGPX2在雌成虫内的表达量均显著高于雄成虫内。吡虫啉处理雌成虫2 h时两基因的表达量均较对照显著提高(P<0.05),处理后5, 10和24 h时其表达量均较对照显著下降(P<0.01)。【结论】本研究克隆了烟粉虱MEAM1隐种两个PHGPX基因的序列全长,明确了其在不同发育阶段及吡虫啉处理不同时间后雌成虫体内的差异表达,推测PHGPX在烟粉虱抵御环境压力及杀虫剂胁迫时可能发挥着重要的防御作用。     

Synthesis and luminescence properties of a blue-emitting Sr(3.5) Y(6.5) O(2) (PO(4) )(1.5) (SiO(4) )(4.5) :Eu(2+) phosphor

A novel blue‐emitting Sr_3.5Y_6.5O₂(PO₄)_1.5(SiO₄)_4.5:Eu²⁺ phosphor was synthesized via a solid‐state reaction. Powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis demonstrated that the Sr_3.5Y_6.5O₂(PO₄)_1.5(SiO₄)_4.5 host had a hexagonal crystal structure in the space group P6₃/m and unit cell parameters a = 9.418 Å, c = 6.900 Å. The as‐prepared phosphor showed a blue emission and all the main emission peaks were located at around 466 nm for different excitation wavelengths of 297, 333 and 391 nm. The temperature dependence of the photoluminescence property was investigated in the range 20–250 °C, and the emission intensity decreased to 71% of the initial value at room temperature on increasing the temperature to 150 °C. According to the classical theory of fluorescent thermal quenching, the activation energy (ΔE) for the thermal quenching luminescence of the as‐prepared Sr_3.45Y_6.5O₂(PO₄)_1.5(SiO₄)_4.5:0.05Eu²⁺ phosphor was determined to be 0.20 eV. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Collagen-like triple helix formation of synthetic (Pro-Pro-Gly)10 analogues: (4(S)-hydroxyprolyl-4(R)-hydroxyprolyl-Gly)10, (4(R)-hydroxyprolyl-4(R)-hydroxyprolyl-Gly)10 and (4(S)-fluoroprolyl-4(R)-fluoroprolyl-Gly)10.

For the rational design of a stable collagen triple helix according to the conventional rule that the pyrrolidine puckerings of Pro, 4-hydroxyproline (Hyp) and 4-fluoroproline (fPro) should be down at the X-position and up at the Y-position in the X-Y-Gly repeated sequence for enhancing the triple helix propensities of collagen model peptides, a series of peptides were prepared in which X- and Y-positions were altogether occupied by Hyp(R), Hyp(S), fPro(R) or fPro(S). Contrary to our presumption that inducing the X-Y residues to adopt a down-up conformation would result in an increase in the thermal stability of peptides, the triple helices of (Hyp(S)-Hyp(R)-Gly)(10) and (fPro(S)-fPro(R)-Gly)(10) were less stable than those of (Pro-Hyp(R)-Gly)(10) and (Pro-fPro(R)-Gly)(10), respectively. As reported by B?chinger's and Zagari's groups, (Hyp(R)-Hyp(R)-Gly)(10) which could have an up-up conformation unfavorable for the triple helix, formed a triple helix that has a high thermal stability close to that of (Pro-Hyp(R)-Gly)(10). These results clearly show that the empirical rule based on the conformational preference of pyrrolidine ring at each of X and Y residues should not be regarded as still valid, at least for predicting the stability of collagen models in which both X and Y residues have electronegative groups at the 4-position.     

Role of tfdC(I)D(I)E(I)F(I) and tfdD(II)C(II)E(II)F(II) gene modules in catabolism of 3-chlorobenzoate by Ralstonia eutropha JMP134(pJP4)

The enzymes chlorocatechol-1,2-dioxygenase, chloromuconate cycloisomerase, dienelactone hydrolase, and maleylacetate reductase allow Ralstonia eutropha JMP134(pJP4) to degrade chlorocatechols formed during growth in 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate or 3-chlorobenzoate (3-CB). There are two gene modules located in plasmid pJP4, tfdC(I)D(I)E(I)F(I) (module I) and tfdD(II)C(II)E(II)F(II) (module II), putatively encoding these enzymes. To assess the role of both tfd modules in the degradation of chloroaromatics, each module was cloned into the medium-copy-number plasmid vector pBBR1MCS-2 under the control of the tfdR regulatory gene. These constructs were introduced into R. eutropha JMP222 (a JMP134 derivative lacking pJP4) and Pseudomonas putida KT2442, two strains able to transform 3-CB into chlorocatechols. Specific activities in cell extracts of chlorocatechol-1,2-dioxygenase (tfdC), chloromuconate cycloisomerase (tfdD), and dienelactone hydrolase (tfdE) were 2 to 50 times higher for microorganisms containing module I compared to those containing module II. In contrast, a significantly (50-fold) higher activity of maleylacetate reductase (tfdF) was observed in cell extracts of microorganisms containing module II compared to module I. The R. eutropha JMP222 derivative containing tfdR-tfdC(I)D(I)E(I)F(I) grew four times faster in liquid cultures with 3-CB as a sole carbon and energy source than in cultures containing tfdR-tfdD(II)C(II)E(II)F(II). In the case of P. putida KT2442, only the derivative containing module I was able to grow in liquid cultures of 3-CB. These results indicate that efficient degradation of 3-CB by R. eutropha JMP134(pJP4) requires the two tfd modules such that TfdCDE is likely supplied primarily by module I, while TfdF is likely supplied by module II.     

Induction of in vitro flowering in Dendrobium Madame Thong-In (Orchidaceae) seedlings is associated with increase in endogenous N(6)-(Delta (2)-isopentenyl)-adenine (iP) and N (6)-(Delta (2)-isopentenyl)-adenosine (iPA) levels

We analysed the endogenous cytokinin levels of Dendrobium Madame Thong-In seedlings grown in vitro during vegetative and flowering-inductive periods. HPLC was used to fractionate the extracts and radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used for assay of zeatin (Z), dihydrozeatin (DZ), N(6)-(Delta(2)-isopentenyl)-adenine (iP) and their derivatives. Coconut water used in experiments was found to contain high level (>136 pmol ml(-1)) of zeatin riboside (ZR). Protocorms and seedlings cultured in medium with coconut water were found to contain 0.5-3.9 pmol g(-1) FW of the cytokinins analysed. Seedlings (1.0-1.5 cm) cultured in flowering-inductive liquid medium containing 6-benzyladenine (BA, 4.4 muM) and coconut water (CW, 15%) contained up to 200 and 133 pmol g(-1) FW of iP and iPA, respectively. These levels were significantly higher than all other cytokinins analysed in seedlings of the same stage and were about 80- to 150-folds higher than seedlings cultured in non-inductive medium. During the transitional (vegetative to reproductive) stage, the endogenous levels of iP (178 pmol g(-1) FW) and iPA (63 pmol g(-1) FW) were also significantly higher than cytokinins in the zeatine (Z) and dihydrozeatin (DZ) families in the same seedlings. Seedlings that grew on inductive medium but remained vegetative contained lower levels of iPA. The importance of the profiles of iP and its derivatives in induction of in vitro flowering of D. Madame Thong-In is discussed.     

Biology of Bactrocera (Zeugodacus) tau (Walker) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

The biology of the fruit fly Bactrocera tau, an important horticultural pest, was studied under laboratory conditions at 25°C and 60–70% relative humidity on Cucurbita maxima. The duration of mating averaged 408.03 ± 235.93 min. After mating, the female fly had a preoviposition period of 11.7 ± 4.49 days. The oviposition rate was 9.9 ± 8.50 eggs and fecundity was 464.6 ± 67.98 eggs/female. Eggs were elliptical, smooth and shiny white, turning darker as hatching approached, and measured 1.30 ± 0.07 mm × 0.24 ± 0.04 mm. The chorion has polygonal microsculpturing and is species-specific with polygonal walls. The egg period lasts for 1.3 ± 0.41 days. The duration of the larval period is 1.2 ± 0.42, 1.7 ± 0.48 and 4.0 ± 0.94 days for first, second and third instars, respectively. Pupation occurs in the sand or soil and pupal periods are 7.0 ± 0.47 days. The life cycle from egg to adult was completed in 14.2 ± 1.69 days; the longevity of mated females and males was 130.33 ± 14.18 and 104.66 ± 31.21 days, respectively. At least two to three generations were observed from June 2008 to June 2009.     

Spectroscopic investigations of Er(3+) :CdO-Bi(2) O(3) -B(2) O(3) glasses

This article reports on the optical properties of Er³⁺ ions doped CdO–Bi₂O₃–B₂O₃ (CdBiB) glasses. The materials were characterized by optical absorption and emission spectra. By using Judd–Ofelt theory, the intensity parameters Ω_λ (λ = 2, 4, 6) and also oscillatory strengths were calculated from the absorption spectra. The results were used to compute the radiative properties of Er³⁺:CdBiB glasses. The concentration quenching and energy transfer from Yb³⁺–Er³⁺ were explained. The stimulated emission cross‐section, full width at half maximum (FWHM) and FWHM × values are also calculated for all the Er³⁺:CdBiB glasses. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cationic (tripyrrinato)palladium(II) complexes

The formation of cationic palladium(II)complexes [TrpyPd^II]⁺X⁻ by salt metathesis of the respective trifluoroacetates with different salts of weakly coordinating anions X⁻ was investigated. With non-hydrolizable counterions, cationic mono- and dinuclear complexes are observed depending on the nature of the anion X⁻ and the solvent. The mononuclear cations, which are only formed with X = BAr^F, most probably carry a weakly bound molecule of dichloromethane at the fourth coordination site of Pd^II. When treated with diazoalkanes, only these are sufficiently reactive to form carbene complexes. Four- and five coordinate Lewis base adducts [TrpyPd^IIL]⁺ with L = CH₃NC, tBuNH₂, PMe₃, PEt₃ and PiPr₃ and [TrpyPd^IIL₂]⁺ with L = PMe₃ were prepared from the mononuclear cations [TrpyPd^II]⁺BAr^F−. From structural studies it becomes apparent, that the formation of stable five coordinate Pd^II species is restricted to medium size ligands and depends on the delicate balance between the steric influence of L and the strain, which is induced on the TrpyPd^II unit.     

The helix-coil transitions of poly (dA)-poly (dT) and poly (dA-dT)-poly (dA-dT)

Helix–coil transition curves are calculated for poly (dA) poly(dT) and poly (dA-dT) poly (dA-dT) using the integral equation approach of Goel and Montroll.⁵ The transitions are described by the loop entropy model with the exponent of the loop entropy factor, k, remaining an arbitrary constant. The theoretical calculations are compared with experimental transition curves of the two polymers. Results indicate that the stacking energies for these two polymers differ by about 1 kcal/mole of base pairs. Also, a fit between theory and experiment was not possible for k > 1.70.