Sequence dependence of self-interacting random chains

Summary, in English

We study the thermodynamic behaviour of the random chain model proposed by Iori, Marinari and Parisi and how this behaviour depends on the actual sequence of interactions along the chain. The properties of randomly chosen sequences are compared to those of designed sequences obtained through a simulated annealing procedure in sequence space. We show that for designed sequences the transition to the folded phase takes place at a smaller strength of the quenched disorder. As a result, folding can be relatively fast for these sequences.