  By means of continuous space Monte Carlo simulation we study conformational
structures formed by star and comb heteropolymers during kinetics of folding
from the coil to the globule, as well as the corresponding equilibrium states
on going from the good to the poor solution. Particular examples of combs with
hydrophobic backbone and hydrophilic side-groups (and vice versa), as well as
stars with flexible and semi-stiff arms are studied. It is interesting to note
that star-like conformations naturally appear for a comb polymer with a
strongly hydrophobic backbone. We emphasise the crucial difference in the
spatial distribution of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers within the
globular states for the above mentioned two types of combs. In case of stars,
the non-equilibrium states during kinetics of the coil-to-globule transition
correspond to formation of localised pearls within flexible arms, whereas
semi-stiff arms prefer to join with each other remaining essentially extended.
These studies present natural extension of our previous works on the
equilibrium and kinetic properties of linear and ring heteropolymers based on
the Gaussian self-consistent method and lattice Monte Carlo technique. However,
in studying polymers with more nontrivial topology continuous space simulation
has some essential advantages.
