Mechanisms for the interaction between nonstationary electric fields and biological systems I. Linear dielectric theory and its limitations

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Abstract
Our interest in the role of electric interactions in enzyme catalysis and biological free-energy transduction prompts us to examine to what extent dielectric phenomena, experiments, and theory may bear on these issues. In this paper we review linear dielectric theory and show that issues of interest for catalysis and free energy transduction lie outside the scope of linear dielectric theory (even in a somewhat extended form). This is due to the rather strict limitations imposed by the definition of linearity, which we discuss in detail. The review given here will provide a basis for the elaboration of nonlinear dielectric theory able to address the interaction between nonstationary electric fields and enzyme catalysis.