Comparison of the energy histograms and conformations between different lattice models of copolymers

Abstract Based on large-scale Monte Carlo simulations the energy probability distribution functions are investigated for a large set of primary sequences in distinct lattice models of copolymers at low temperatures below transitions to compacted states. Amphiphilic copolymers with hydrophobic and hydrophilic units are found to produce single or double peak energy distributions corresponding to mono- or multi-meric micellar conformations. However, copolymers with short-ranged random ‘charge’ interactions in some cases are found to produce energy distribution functions with a well pronounced lowest energy state and a gap separating it from the rest of the spectrum. These, however have rather peculiar conformations corresponding to effectively immiscible domains comprised from monomers of likewise species. The relevance of these observations for coarse-grained models for protein folding is discussed.