大豆食心虫储存蛋白hexamerin基因的克隆与表达分析

【目的】储存蛋白是昆虫发育、变态和生殖过程中氨基酸的主要来源,Hexamerin是储存蛋白家族重要成员,在昆虫的生长发育中起着重要作用。为了研究hexamerin基因(SpbHex)在大豆食心虫Leguminivora glycinivorella Matsumurav生长发育过程中的作用,对大豆食心虫SpbHex基因进行克隆与表达分析。【方法】利用RT-PCR和RACE技术克隆SpbHex的cDNA全长序列,并通过qPCR研究其在不同发育阶段和幼虫不同组织的表达情况。【结果】SpbHex基因cDNA序列全长2 161 bp,其中开放阅读框2 112 bp,编码703个氨基酸。蛋白预测分子量84.15 ku。hexamerin基因在大豆食心虫不同发育阶段和不同组织中均有表达。在不同生长发育阶段中4龄幼虫的表达量较高,1龄和成虫的表达量较低;在不同组织中脂肪体的表达量较高,表皮中的表达量最低。【结论】本研究克隆了大豆食心虫储存蛋白hexamerin基因,并对其在大豆食心虫中表达模式进行分析,为进一步明确hexamerin基因在大豆食心虫生长发育中的作用奠定基础。     

意大利蝗血蓝蛋白亚基Ⅰ基因的克隆与原核表达

昆虫血蓝蛋白是在昆虫体内普遍存在的一种含Cu~(2+)的多功能蛋白,除参与呼吸外还具有能量贮存、抗菌和抗病毒等多种生物学功能。为了研究意大利蝗(Calliptanus italicus)血蓝蛋白亚基Cit Hc-1的结构和表达,通过RACE技术获得了Cit Hc-1的全长cDNA(2 335 bp)序列,其中开放阅读框2 079 bp,编码692个氨基酸,预测蛋白分子量79.88 k Da。序列比对结果显示Cit Hc-1基因cDNA序列与蝗总科其他物种血蓝蛋白亚基Ⅰ的cDNA序列的相似性为91%~94%。利用MEGA的NJ法构建昆虫纲血蓝蛋白亚基Ⅰ系统发育树,结果显示意大利蝗Cit Hc-1与东亚飞蝗Lmi Hc-1血蓝蛋白遗传距离最近形成姐妹群。为了研究血蓝蛋白的结构和功能,成功构建了意大利蝗Cit Hc-1基因活性区域的原核表达载体。融合蛋白p EASY-E1-Hc分子量约为32 k Da,与预期值一致,为进一步分析意大利蝗C.italicus Cit Hc-1的功能提供了理论基础。     

松墨天牛表皮蛋白基因的克隆及表达分析

【目的】本研究旨在探索松墨天牛Monochamus alternatus Hope中昆虫表皮蛋白（ICP）基因在幼虫各组织中和不同发育阶段的时空表达模式。【方法】用cDNA末端快速扩增方法(rapid amplification of cDNA ends, RACE) 克隆了松墨天牛表皮蛋白基因,用实时荧光定量PCR分析了该基因在幼虫体内和不同虫态中的表达。【结果】克隆获得的松墨天牛幼虫表皮蛋白基命名为MoalICP（GenBank 登录号：AGX00998.1）,开放阅读框长408 bp,编码135个氨基酸,推测得到的蛋白的分子量为14.51 kDa。由MoalICP推导的蛋白与桑天牛Apriona germari ICP (AAM66718.1)氨基酸序列一致性为79%;与丽蝇蛹集金小蜂Nasonia vitripennis ICP (NP_001161297.1)、果蝇Drosophila mojavensis ICP (XP_002005461.1)、玉带凤蝶Papilio polytes ICP (BAM18876.1)等19种昆虫表皮蛋白的氨基酸序列一致性在35%~45%之间;在第10-26位氨基酸位处含有一个跨膜片段。MoalICP在幼虫头、体壁、脂肪体、血细胞、中肠和马氏管均有表达;在蛹和成虫中的表达量分别是在幼虫中的44%和161%。【结论】MoalICP与其他昆虫有较高的氨基酸序列一致性。MoalICP在松墨天牛幼虫内广泛表达;在各个发育阶段中,以成虫中的表达量最高。本文为进一步研究松墨天牛表皮蛋白基因的生理功能和松墨天牛的表皮化学奠定基础。     

棉铃虫HaTO-like基因的克隆、序列分析和表达特征

【目的】克隆和分析了棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera HaTO-like基因的编码框序列,检测了该基因的时空表达谱以及在棉铃虫感染核型多角体病毒HaSNPV后的转录变化,为深入研究该基因的功能提供理论依据。【方法】本研究利用RT-PCR的方法首次克隆获得HaTO-like基因的全长cDNA序列,通过几种生物信息学软件对该基因的核苷酸序列和氨基酸序列进行了分析,并利用荧光定量PCR技术检测了该基因在棉铃虫不同发育阶段、幼虫组织和成虫组织的表达情况,以及HaSNPV感染对HaTO-like基因表达的影响。【结果】棉铃虫HaTO-like基因cDNA全长为994 bp,开放阅读框为756 bp,编码251个氨基酸,其蛋白序列的N端含有23个氨基酸的信号肽。进一步的序列分析表明棉铃虫HaTO-like与其他昆虫同源蛋白的氨基酸序列一致性不是太高,大概在39%~61%之间,其中与家蚕和脐橙螟在系统进化上关系最近。荧光定量PCR结果表明该基因在棉铃虫的5龄0 h和成虫第1天的的表达量相对较高,在幼虫的头部和表皮内的表达量较其他幼虫组织较高,在成虫的头部和足的表达量也相对较高。而病毒感染则显著地诱导了该基因在棉铃虫幼虫头部和表皮内的表达。【讨论】本研究克隆了棉铃虫HaTO-like基因的全长cDNA序列,分析了该基因的序列特征和表达谱,为进一步阐释该基因的功能奠定理论基础。     

桔小实蝇细胞凋亡基因hid的克隆及不同发育阶段表达分析

【目的】细胞凋亡是一个细胞自动结束生命的过程,也称为程序性细胞死亡（programmed cell death, PCD）。头部退化缺陷基因 (head involution defective, hid )是昆虫细胞凋亡基因RHG家族的成员,该家族基因通过克服凋亡蛋白抑制因子（inhibitor of apoptosis proteins, IAPs）的保护作用来保证PCD的发生。本研究旨在克隆和分析桔小实蝇Bactrocera dorsalis的hid基因,并研究其在各发育阶段的表达情况。【方法】利用RT-PCR和RACE技术获得了桔小实蝇hid基因的cDNA全长序列。利用荧光定量PCR对hid基因在桔小实蝇不同发育阶段的转录水平进行分析。【结果】克隆获得桔小实蝇hid cDNA序列,将其命名为Bdhid (GenBank登录号为KJ461670),其开放阅读框长1 029 bp,编码342个氨基酸。氨基酸序列分析显示其具有一个短的N-端肽基元( IAP-binding-motif, IBM) 和C-端Grim Helix 3 (GH3) 结构域,与其他已知的双翅目昆虫hid基因有较高的同源性。实时荧光定量PCR检测结果表明,该基因在桔小实蝇的幼虫期表达水平较低,蛹期及成虫期表达量显著升高。【结论】这些结果为进一步研究hid基因在桔小实蝇细胞凋亡途径中的功能及其转基因条件致死品系的获得奠定了基础。     

南亚实蝇鞣化激素基因的克隆与表达分析

【目的】克隆南亚实蝇Zeugodacus tau鞣化激素基因,分析其分子特征及时空表达模式,为探索其生理功能奠定基础。【方法】利用同源克隆和RACE技术从南亚实蝇刚羽化成虫中克隆鞣化激素基因bursicon-α和bursicon-β的全长cDNA序列,并用邻接法(neighbor-joining method)与其他昆虫同源序列构建系统发育进化树。利用荧光定量PCR技术检测这两个基因在南亚实蝇不同发育阶段(卵、1-3龄幼虫、预蛹、蛹和刚羽化成虫)的表达特性。【结果】克隆获得南亚实蝇鞣化激素基因bursicon-α(GenBank登录号:MH421861)和bursicon-β(GenBank登录号:MH421862)。bursicon-α基因开放阅读框为551 bp,编码183个氨基酸;bursicon-β基因开放阅读框为467 bp,编码156个氨基酸。基于两个鞣化激素基因的氨基酸序列的系统发育树分析显示,南亚实蝇Bursicon-α与Bursicon-β均与瓜实蝇Zeugodacus cucurbitae的同源蛋白亲缘关系最近,且与其他双翅目昆虫的同源蛋白聚为一类,形成独立的分支。荧光定量PCR结果表明,两个基因在南亚实蝇各龄期均有表达,均在第5天蛹和刚羽化成虫翅伸展时期表达量最高。【结论】bursicon-α和bursicon-β基因在南亚实蝇不同发育阶段表达量不同,推测其在南亚实蝇成虫表皮鞣化和翅的形成中发挥着重要作用。本研究为进一步探索鞣化激素在南亚实蝇生长过程中表皮的骨化、翅的重建等方面的功能机制奠定了基础。     

意大利蝗卵发育过程保幼激素和蜕皮激素含量的变化及其代谢相关基因的表达谱

【目的】鉴于保幼激素(juvenile hormone, JH)与蜕皮激素(ecdysone, Ecd)在昆虫生长发育中的重要作用,本研究旨在明确这两种激素及其代谢相关基因对意大利蝗Calliptamus italicus卵发育过程的调控机制。【方法】采用ELISA技术检测意大利蝗卵发育过程中JH与Ecd含量的变化;采用qRT-PCR技术检测JH与Ecd代谢通路的重要基因(JHE,JHEH,DIB和EcR)在意大利蝗卵发育过程的表达模式。【结果】意大利蝗卵滞育阶段(阶段Ⅳ-Ⅵ)的JH含量显著高于早期发育阶段(阶段Ⅰ-Ⅲ)的,滞育后发育阶段(阶段Ⅶ-Ⅸ) JH含量显著下降;Ecd含量于滞育早期(阶段Ⅳ)显著上升,而后显著下降,滞育后发育阶段再次上升。JHE的表达量在意大利蝗卵早期发育阶段和滞育后发育阶段均呈先升后降的趋势,滞育阶段JHE的表达量较低;JHEH表达量在意大利蝗卵早期发育阶段也先升后降,滞育阶段变化不显著,滞育后发育阶段显著升高;DIB表达量在意大利蝗卵滞育阶段高于早期发育阶段的,在滞育后发育阶段下降;EcR表达量在意大利蝗卵早期发育阶段及滞育阶段均无显著变化,滞育后发育阶段...     

苜蓿夜蛾丝氨酸蛋白酶基因cDNA序列的克隆与原核表达研究

【目的】丝氨酸蛋白酶(Serine protease,SP)是以丝氨酸为活性中心的重要的蛋白水解酶。在昆虫中,丝氨酸蛋白酶参与消化、发育、先天免疫反应和组织重建等重要的生理过程。本试验以苜蓿夜蛾Heliothis viriplaca为材料,克隆其丝氨酸蛋白酶基因的cDNA序列,再对该基因进行原核表达并对表达产物进行活性测定研究。【方法】从苜蓿夜蛾中肠中提取总RNA,通过RT-PCR和RACE技术,扩增获得丝氨酸蛋白酶基因cDNA全长序列,用大肠杆菌E.coli表达系统进行表达;再对表达的重组蛋白进行变性、纯化与复性,并以BTEE为底物进行活性测定。【结果】克隆得到的苜蓿夜蛾中肠丝氨酸蛋白酶基因命名为Hv SP,该基因已登录Gen Bank,登录号为KT907053。该基因全长1 017 bp,开放阅读框为886 bp,编码295个氨基酸,分子量约为30.8 ku,等电点为8.27,推导的氨基酸序列与其他昆虫丝氨酸蛋白酶氨基酸序列相似性在46%~92%之间。在Tris-HCl缓冲液中,p H为8.5时,复性的重组蛋白活性最高,为28.7 U/m L。荧光定量PCR结果表明,Hv SP基因的m RNA在苜蓿夜蛾的多个组织中特异性表达,且在中肠中表达量最高,但在唾腺中未检测到Hv SP的m RNA表达。【结论】该研究克隆了一个新的苜蓿夜蛾丝氨酸蛋白酶基因的cDNA序列,且原核表达后的重组蛋白经过变性、纯化及复性后具有活性,为进一步探索丝氨酸蛋白酶在昆虫体内的生理生化功能奠定了基础。     

棉铃虫Polycalin基因的克隆及其表达分析

【目的】通过对棉铃虫Polycalin基因的克隆及其表达谱分析,进一步明确Polycalin基因在抗性中发挥的作用,为棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera的抗性治理提供理论依据。【方法】通过RACE结合PCR技术克隆获得了棉铃虫Polycalin基因的全长序列,利用实时荧光定量PCR技术测定了在棉铃虫不同发育时期、幼虫肠道不同部位的Polycalin基因表达量,比较了棉铃虫取食含Cry1Ac蛋白的饲料后,Polycalin基因表达量的变化。【结果】该基因全长序列为2 955 bp,开放阅读框为2 781 bp,编码926个氨基酸(Gen Bank登录号为KP100652);预测蛋白的分子量为101.68 ku,等电点为4.57。推导的氨基酸序列中,N末端含有20个氨基酸组成的信号肽,含有8个O-糖基化位点,3个N-糖基化位点,C末端存在2个GPI结合位点。Polycalin在棉铃虫所有发育阶段都可以表达,幼虫期表达量较高,尤其在1~3龄幼虫体内表达量最高,在卵、成虫和蛹中的表达量较低。棉铃虫4龄幼虫取食含活化Cry1Ac蛋白的人工饲料后,Polycalin基因的表达受到抑制。【结论】研究结果可以为进一步揭示Polycalin基因的功能及其在Bt杀虫机制中的作用奠定基础。     

Conformational analysis of the tetranucleotides m6(2)A-m6(2)A-U-m6(2)A(m6(2)A = N6-dimethyladenosine) and U-m6(2)A-U-m6(2)A and of the hybrid dA-r(U-A). A one- and two-dimensional NMR study

A 1H-NMR investigation was carried out on the tetranucleotides U-m6(2)A-U-m6(2)A and m6(2)A-m6(2)A-U-m6(2)A (m6(2) = N6-dimethyladenosine) as well as on the hybrid trinucleotide dA-r(U-A). An extensive comparison with m6(2)A-U-m6(2)A and other relevant compounds is made. Previous proton NMR studies on trinucleotides have shown that purine-pyrimidine-purine sequences prefer to adopt a mixture of states which have as a common feature that the interior pyrimidine residue bulges out, whereas the flanking purine residues stack upon each other. A stacking interaction on the 3' side of the bulge is known to have no measurable effect on the bulge population. Chemical-shift data, ribose ring conformational analysis and information from NOE experiments now show unambiguously that the moderate U(1)-m6(2)A(2) stack in U-m6(2)A-U-m6(2)A diminishes the population of bulged-out structures in favour of a regular stack. This tendency towards conformational transmission in the downstream 5'----3' direction is fully confirmed by the fact that the strong m6(2)A(1)-m6(2)A(2) stack in the tetranucleotide m6(2)A-m6(2)A-U-m6(2)A virtually precludes the formation of bulged-out structures. The conformational characteristics of dA-r(U-A) appear comparable with those of m6(2)A-U-m6(2)A, which indicates that the presence of a 2'-hydroxyl group in the first purine residue is not a necessary prerequisite for the formation of a bulge.     

Effects of CO(2) and O(2) on the Photosynthetic O(2) Evolution of Spirodela polyrrhiza Turions

Net photosynthetic rates of Spirodela polyrrhiza turions, at low O₂ levels, were 6.2 and 38.8 micromoles O₂ per gram fresh weight per hour at 1 millimolar HCO₃⁻ and CO₂ saturation, respectively, and much lower in a regular low-pH growth solution. Air equilibration O₂ concentrations decreased rates considerably, except at CO₂ saturation. The surfacing rate of turions in various inorganic carbon surroundings correlated positively with their photosynthetic rates, but were the same at high and low O₂ levels. The relevance of these findings in relation to environmental conditions conductive to germination of autotrophically growing turions is discussed.     

Adaptive response to H(2)O(2) protects against SnCl(2) damage: the OxyR system involvement

The stannous ion, mainly the stannous chloride (SnCl(2)) salt form, is widely used as a reducing agent to label radiotracers with technetium-99m ((99m)Tc). These radiotracers can be employed as radiopharmaceuticals in nuclear medicine procedures. In this case, there is no doubt about absorption of this complex, because it is intravenously administered in humans, although biological effects of these agents have not been fully understood. In this work we used a bacterial system to study the cytotoxic potential of stannous chloride. It is known that SnCl(2) induces lesions that could be mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). We, thus, investigated the existence of cross-adaptive response between hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and SnCl(2) and the role of the OxyR system known to promote cellular protection against oxidative damages. Here we describe the results obtained with prior treatment of different Escherichia coli strains with sub-lethal doses of H(2)O(2), followed by incubation with SnCl(2). Our data show that H(2)O(2) is capable of inducing cross-adaptive response against the lethality promoted by SnCl(2), suggesting the OxyR system participation through catalase, alkyl hydroperoxide reductase and superoxide dismutase enzymes     

Conformational preferences of modified nucleoside N(2)-methylguanosine (m(2)G) and its derivative N(2), N(2)-dimethylguanosine (m(2)(2)G) occur at 26th position (hinge region) in tRNA

Conformational preferences of the modified nucleosides N²-methylguanosine (m²G) and N², N²-dimethylguanosine (m₂²G) have been studied theoretically by using quantum chemical perturbative configuration interaction with localized orbitals (PCILO) method. Automated complete geometry optimization using semiempirical quantum chemical RM1, along with ab initio molecular orbital Hartree–Fock (HF-SCF), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations has also been made to compare the salient features. Single-point energy calculation studies have been made on various models of m²G26:C/A/U44 and m₂²G26:C/A/U44. The glycosyl torsion angle prefers “syn” (χ = 286°) conformation for m²G and m₂²G molecules. These conformations are stabilized by N(3)–HC2′ and N(3)–HC3′ by replacing weak interaction between O5′–HC(8). The N²-methyl substituent of (m²G26) prefers “proximal” or s-trans conformation. It may also prefer “distal” or s-cis conformation that allows base pairing with A/U44 instead of C at the hinge region. Thus, N²-methyl group of m²G may have energetically two stable s-trans m²G:C/A/U or s-cis m²G:A/U rotamers. This could be because of free rotations around C–N bond. Similarly, N², N²-dimethyl substituent of (m₂²G) prefers “distal” conformation that may allow base pairing with A/U instead of C at 44th position. Such orientations of m²G and m₂²G could play an important role in base-stacking interactions at the hinge region of tRNA during protein biosynthesis process.     

Structural characterization of the head-to-head isomers of the [Pd2(Ph2Ppy)2Cl2] and [PtPd(Ph2Ppy)2I2] complexes (Ph2Ppy = 2-(diphenylphosphino)pyridine)

The molecular structures of the thermodynamically unstable head-to-head isomers, HH-[Pd₂(Ph₂Ppy)₂Cl₂] and HH-[PtPd(Ph₂Ppy)₂I₂], have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The two complexes have proved to be isostructural. The severe distortions of the bond angles from the ideal square planar geometry around the metal centers ligating the trans phosphorus donor atoms are indicative of a more pronounced internal strain in the HH isomers as compared to the HT counterparts. The enhanced internal strain is thought to be the major driving force responsible for the spontaneous conversion of the head-to-head isomers to their head-to-tail congeners. ¹³C NMR spectra in solution phase as well as solid-state ³¹P MAS NMR spectra have proved to be informative regarding the orientation of the asymmetric Ph₂Ppy ligands.     

Molecular-Mechanical studies of the mismatched base analogs of d(CGCGAATTCGCG)2:d(CGTGAATTCGCG)2, d(CGAGAATTCGCG)2, d(CGCGAATTCACG)2, d(CGCGAATTCTCG)2, and d(CGCAGAATTCGCG)·d(CGCGAATTCGCG)

Molecular-mechanical simulations have been carried out on “mismatched base” analogs of the DNA double-helical structure d(CGCGAATTCGCG)₂, in which the base pairs CG at the 3 and 10 positions have been replaced by CA, AG, TC, and TG base pairs, as well as an insertion analog in which an extra adenine has been incorporated into one strand of the above structure between bases 3 and 4. The results of these simulations (calculated relative stabilities, structures, and nmr ring-current shifts) have been compared with calorimetric and nmr data. The calculated relative stabilities of the double-helical parent dodecamer and the various “wobble” base pairs qualitatively correlate with the experimental melting temperatures. The base-pairing structure for the GT wobble pair is in agreement with that previously determined from nmr experiments. For the GA base pair, the structure with both bases anti has a slightly more favorable energy from base pairing and stacking than a structure with non-Watson-Crick H-bonding with adenine syn, in agreement with nmr experiments. The CA wobble base is calculated to favor an adenine 6NH₂ …? cytosine N3 H-bond over cytosine 4NH₂ …? adenine N1, again, in agreement with nmr experiments. There is no definitive experimental data on the TC base pair, but the existence of (somewhat long and weak) H-bonds involving cytosine 4NH₂ …? thymine 4CO and cytosine N3 …? thymine HN3 seems reasonable. We find a structure in which the extra adenine base of the insertion analogs sits “inside” the double helix.     

H(2)O(2) opens BK(Ca) channels via the PLA(2)-arachidonic acid signaling cascade in coronary artery smooth muscle

H(2)O(2) is a reactive oxygen species that contracts or relaxes vascular smooth muscle, but the molecular basis of these effects remains obscure. We previously demonstrated that H(2)O(2) opens the large-conductance, calcium- and voltage-activated (BK(Ca)) potassium channel of coronary myocytes (2) and now report physiological and biochemical evidence that the effect of H(2)O(2) on coronary smooth muscle involves the phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2))/arachidonic acid (AA) signaling cascades. H(2)O(2) stimulation of BK(Ca) channel activity was inhibited by arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone, an inhibitor of cytosolic PLA(2). Furthermore, H(2)O(2) stimulated release of [(3)H]AA from coronary myocytes, and exogenous AA mimicked the effect of H(2)O(2) on BK(Ca) channels. Inhibitors of protein kinase C activity attenuated the effect of H(2)O(2) on BK(Ca) channels, [(3)H]AA release, or intact coronary arteries. In addition, the effect of H(2)O(2) or AA on BK(Ca) channels was inhibited by blockers of lipoxygenase metabolism. In contrast, inhibitors of cyclooxygenase or cytochrome P-450 had no effect. We propose that H(2)O(2) relaxes coronary arteries by stimulating BK(Ca) channels via the PLA(2)/AA signaling cascade and that lipoxygenase metabolites mediate this response.     

Inhibitory and enhancing effects of NO on H(2)O(2) toxicity: dependence on the concentrations of NO and H(2)O(2)

Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to both enhance hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) toxicity and protect cells against H(2)O(2) toxicity. In order to resolve this apparent contradiction, we here studied the effects of NO on H(2)O(2) toxicity in cultured liver endothelial cells over a wide range of NO and H(2)O(2) concentrations. NO was generated by spermine NONOate (SpNO, 0.001-1 mM), H(2)O(2) was generated continuously by glucose/glucose oxidase (GOD, 20-300 U/l), or added as a bolus (200 microM). SpNO concentrations between 0.01 and 0.1 mM provided protection against H(2)O(2)-induced cell death. SpNO concentrations >0.1 mM were injurious with low H(2)O(2) concentrations, but protective at high H(2)O(2) concentrations. Protection appeared to be mainly due to inhibition of lipid peroxidation, for which SpNO concentrations as low as 0.01 mM were sufficient. SpNO in high concentration (1 mM) consistently raised H(2)O(2) steady-state levels in line with inhibition of H(2)O(2) degradation. Thus, the overall effect of NO on H(2)O(2) toxicity can be switched within the same cellular model, with protection being predominant at low NO and high H(2)O(2) levels and enhancement being predominant with high NO and low H(2)O(2) levels.     

Revealing the nature of intermolecular interaction and configurational preference of the nonpolar molecular dimers (H2)2, (N2)2, and (H2)(N2)

Understanding the nature of noncovalent interactions between nonpolar small molecules is not only theoretically interesting but also important for practical purposes. The interaction mechanism of three prototype dimers (H₂)₂, (N₂)₂, and (H₂)(N₂) are investigated by state-of-the-art quantum chemistry calculations and energy decomposition analysis. It is shown that their configuration preferences are essentially controlled by the electrostatic component rather than the dispersion effect though the monomers have zero dipole moment. These configuration preferences can also be fairly well and conveniently interpreted by visually examining the electrostatic potential map.