Molecular recognition in a lattice model: An enumeration study

We investigate the mechanisms underlying selective molecular recognition of single heteropolymers at chemically structured planar surfaces. To this end, we study systems with two-letter (HP) lattice heteropolymers by exact enumeration techniques. Selectivity for a particular surface is defined by an adsorption energy criterium. We analyze the distributions of selective sequences and the role of mutations. A particularly important factor for molecular recognition is the small-scale structure on the polymers.