ABSTRACT
Plants are influenced by various environmental conditions, such as the quantity of light, ambient temperature, and water and nutrient levels in the soil. Although sunlight is essential for photosynthesis, intense light easily causes oxidative damage to photosynthetic functions. Most proteins that participate in the photochemical reactions of photosynthesis are embedded in the thylakoid membranes, and therefore, it is important to consider the mechanisms of photosynthesis in terms of the structure and function of thylakoid membranes. Recently, more information about the structural changes of thylakoid membranes has become available. This chapter describes how structural changes of the thylakoid membranes contribute to regulation of photosynthesis under light stress.
