Influence of sequence correlations on the adsorption of random heteropolymers onto homogeneous planar surfaces

Abstract

Using a reference system approach, we develop an analytical theory for the adsorption of random heteropolymers with exponentially decaying and/or oscillating sequence correlations on planar homogeneous surfaces. We obtain a simple equation for the adsorption--desorption transition line. This result as well as the validity of the reference system approach is tested by a comparison with numerical lattice calculations.

Polymer adsorption onto random planar surfaces: Interplay of polymer and surface correlations

“…The next steps are very much similar to those already described in our earlier publication 29 for the case of heteropolymer chain adsorption on a homogeneous planar sur-face, and shall be only sketched here very briefly. We begin with recasting the quantity ͗Z m ͘ from Eq.…”

“…29. If at least one of the partners is homogeneous, the matrix K becomes unity, K(n 1 ,n 2 )ϭ␦(n 1 Ϫn 2 ), and det Kϭ1.…”

“…In a previous publication, 29 we have considered the adsorption/desorption transition of an ideal ͑non-self-interacting͒ RHP with sequence correlations on an impenetrable planar homogeneous surface. We have compared two different approaches: First, we have calculated numerically the partition function of a random sample of lattice RHPs.…”

“…29. The free energy calculation based on the reference system approach is explained and carried out in Sec.…”

Molecular Recognition in a Lattice Model: An Enumeration Study

“…Selectivity is a genuinely cooperative effect. The question of how it emerges in a complex system is therefore very interesting from the point of view of statistical physics, and the study of idealized models can provide insight into general principles [6][7][8][9].Previous theoretical studies have mostly considered heteropolymer adsorption in either regular [10] or random [6,8,11,12] systems. The interplay of cluster sizes on random heteropolymers and random surfaces and its influence on the adsorption thermodynamics and kinetics was studied analytically and with computer simulations [8,12,13].…”