FOLDING PATHWAY LEADING TO THE MOST STABLE CONFORMATION OF A RANDOM RNA CHAIN

We simulate the exploration in conformation space of zin RNA molecule with random uncorrelated sequence and subject to intrachain Watson-Crick-type interactions. The folding pathway that leads to the equilibrium conformation follows consecutively two relaxation regimes, both rooted in a random-energy model. The first regime is kinetically controlled and, thereafter, detailed balance prevails.