Electrical properties of proteins as a function of hydration and NaCl content

Abstract

Steady-state conductivity and dielectric measurements in the range of 10−5 Hz to 33 GHz are reported for bovine serum albumin and lysozyme as a function of hydration and NaCl content. The electrical properties are understandable in terms of the existence of charge carriers whose hopping-type transport process is directly influenced by the nature of the protein-water interaction. These mobile charges are considered to be protons originating from ionizable carboxylic groups.