The orange carotenoid protein in photoprotection of photosystem II in cyanobacteria

► We describe a photoprotective energy dissipating mechanism in cyanobacteria. ► This mechanism decreases the energy arriving at the reaction centers. ► The orange carotenoid protein is the inducer of energy dissipation. ► Energy dissipation occurs at the level of phycobilisomes. ► The Fluorescence Recovery Protein is essential to decrease energy dissipation.