Anthracene is a photodynamic compound in vitro. In the presence of oxygen, it is known to generate singlet oxygen and participate in Type II reactions. In aqueous solution, it also participates in Type I reactions, such as in the photoreduction of cytochrome c, which can be suppressed by superoxide dismutase. In argon, direct photoreduction of cytochrome c also takes place. Anthracene induces the photodynamic hemolysis of human erythrocytes and inactivates Escherichia coli cells photodynamically. By using a series of E. coli strains differing in DNA repair capabilities and catalase proficiency, sensitivity to inactivation by anthracene plus NUV was correlated with catalase deficiency rather than with particular repair deficiencies. The fact that carotenoid genes cloned and expressed in E. coli offered partial protection suggests that the membrane may be one possible target for inactivation by anthracene plus NUV. Anthracene plus NUV inactivated Haemophilus influenzae transforming DNA and led to nicking of supercoiled pBR322 DNA in vitro. In vivo, therefore, anthracene is a phototoxic molecule whose cytotoxicity could be the result of damage to more than one target.