Primary sequences of proteinlike copolymers: Levy-flight-type long-range correlations

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2001 Oct;64(4 Pt 1):040903. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.64.040903. Epub 2001 Sep 25.

Abstract

We consider the statistical properties of primary sequences of two-letter HP copolymers (H for hydrophobic and P for polar) designed to have water soluble globular conformations with H monomers shielded from water inside the shell of P monomers. We show, both by computer simulations and by exact analytical calculation, that for large globules and flexible polymers such sequences exhibit long-range correlations which can be described by Levy-flight statistics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biophysics / methods*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Models, Molecular
  • Models, Statistical
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Monte Carlo Method
  • Poisson Distribution
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Polymers