Damage to Bacterial Cell Membranes by UV Radiation in Sunlight.

The article presents information on the damage caused to bacterial cell membranes by ultraviolet (UV) radiation in sunlight. It is stated that the ozone layer present in the Earth's atmosphere provides an effective absorption barrier from short-wavelength, high-energy, UV radiation. It is mentioned that recently, several actions of near-ultraviolet radiation have been shown, including damage to enzymes involved in the repair of DNA, effects on membrane transport and metabolic systems, induction of growth delay, and damage to cell membranes. Near-ultraviolet radiation-induced membrane damage was implicated by observing an increase in radiation sensitivity of Escherichia coli cells.