Electric permittivity and dielectric dispersion of low-molecular weight DNA at low ionic strength

The dielectric properties of sonicated calf-thymus DNA (MW approximately 3 X 10(5) g mol-1) have been investigated in a frequency range between a few kHz and 100 MHz. Two samples, sonicated in a different way were used after proper characterization including light-scattering, viscometry and contour length distribution by electron microscopy. Dielectric measurements were performed at several concentrations between 10(-4) and 3 X 10(-3) monomol 1-1 and 22 degrees C. Under all circumstances two separated dispersion regions were observed, the corresponding specific increments of which decreased with increasing concentration. The same was observed with the mean relaxation time of the high frequency dispersion. Both the frequency and concentration dependence was largely analogous to what is observed with other polyelectrolytes. Values of the dielectric parameters extrapolated to infinite dilution could also be interpreted in the same manner as for more simple, charged macromolecules and no specific effects had to be taken into account.