Photoprotection is a group of mechanisms that help living organisms cope with molecular damage caused by
sunlight. Plants and other oxygenic phototrophs have developed a suite of photoprotective mechanisms to prevent
photoinhibition and
oxidative stress caused by excess or fluctuating light conditions. Humans and other animals have also developed photoprotective mechanisms to avoid
UV photodamage to the skin, prevent
DNA damage, and minimize the
downstream effects of oxidative stress.