Assembling and maintaining the Photosystem II complex in chloroplasts and cyanobacteria

► PSII is assembled in distinct membrane regions, possibly in biogenesis centres. ► PSII assembly is highly conserved in prokaryotes and chloroplasts. ► Conserved auxiliary factors are involved. ► FtsH plays a key role in maintaining the photosynthetic apparatus. ► Mechanism of activation of Deg1 protease involved in chloroplast PSII repair revealed.