[Decrease in the electrical stability of lipid membranes following UV-irradiation]

The influence of UV-irradiation on the electrical stability of black lipid membranes (BLM) prepared from mitochondrial lipids has been studied. The breakdown voltage of BLM is shown to decrease as a result of photoperoxidation of unsaturated fatty acid chains of phospholipids. It appears reasonable to assume that the UV-radiation induces the dielectric breakdown and alteration of functions of cell membranes (i.e. UV-uncoupling of oxidative phorylation in mitochondria).