Dynamic frequency-dependent dielectric response of three aqueous biomolecular solutions

A simple two-component Debye-Lorentz model is presented for the frequency dependence of the dielectric permittivity ε(ω) of aqueous solutions of three biomolecules, Glycine, Myoglobin, and Hemoglobin. A local response function for this model is given for the use of workers in wave propagation and biophysical studies. It is necessary to treat the full inertia tensor of the water, I1 ≠ I2 ≠ I3 ≠ I1 to obtain good qualitative agreement with the experimental values of the three biomolecular solutions given. The Hemoglobin solution is shown to exhibit dielectric hysteresis, whereas this effect is absent in Glycine and Myoglobin. The Hemoglobin is found to need a prolate inertial tensor to agree with experiment.