"Life on Earth depends on photosynthesis, the conversion of light energy into chemical energy. Light is collected by pigment binding multisubunit proteins, called light harvesting antenna complexes (LHC). The light harvesting proteins of higher plants belong to a large family; these polypeptides comprise up to 75% of the chloroplast grana membrane proteins. Their expression is regulated by the quality and quantity of light. There are a number of proteins in the photosynthetic membranes which show sequence similarity to the light harvesting proteins. These LHC-related proteins are encoded by the so-called Lil (light harvesting like) genes. They include early light induced proteins (ELIPs), one-helix proteins (OHP) and stress-enhanced proteins (SEP). These are short-lived polypeptides which accumulate in the thylakoid membrane during light stress. Unlike LHC complexes their primary function is not light harvesting but rather protection against light stress. There are mutant Arabidopsis lines available lacking these LHC-related proteins. The aim of the project is the detailed characterisation of these mutants including studies of their photosynthetic performances, biochemical and metabolomic characterisations and fitness studies in field conditions. The project will also focus on the investigation of the location and interacting partners of the Lil proteins, which knowledge is necessary for the understanding of their mode of action. The targets of this project will allow a better understanding of the fine-tuned balance of light harvesting and photoprotection, and the responses of plants to light stress, which knowledge will be beneficial to agriculture as well by helping the improvement of crop plants to withstand stress conditions, such as high light exposure."