Regulation of plant light harvesting by thermal dissipation of excess energy

Elucidating the molecular details of qE induction in higher plants has proven to be a major challenge. Identification of qE mutants provided initial information on functional elements involved in the energy quenching mechanism; furthermore, investigations on isolated pigment-protein complexes and the analysis in vivo and in vitro by sophisticated spectroscopic methods, have been used for elucidation of mechanisms involved. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on the phenotype of npq knockout mutants, the role of gene products involved in the energy quenching process and compare the molecular models proposed for this process.