3)　　  Structure and function of membrane proteins and protein complexes

♦　  Crystal structure of spinach major light-harvesting complex (LHC-II)

Determined the crystal structure of spinach major light-harvesting complex (LHC-II) to a resolution of 2.72 angstroms (Nature, 2004, 2005). This was the first crystal structure of a membrane protein to be determined by Chinese scientists. Determined the crystal structure of mitochondrial respiratory membrane protein complex II (Cell, 2005), making it one of only a few members of the membrane protein family to have its structure elucidated. This work is a new milestone in research on the mitochondrial respiratory electron transfer chain. 

　　　　

 

 ♦　　 Neurotrophic factor and membrane receptor complex

Neurotrophins (NTs) engage two types of cell-surface receptors, Trks and p75NTR, to pay a wide variety of functions in the mammalian nervous system. Tao Jiang’s group solved the crystal structure of neurotrophin-3 (NT3) complexed to the ectodomain of p75NTR. This provides an important model for NTs-p75NTR recognition and signal generation, as well as new insights into coordination between p75NTR and Trks (Nature, 2008).

 

 

♦　　  Carnitine membrane transporter CaiT and its substrate complex

Solved the crystal structure of CaiT at a resolution of 3.15 Å and provided mechanistic insights into the association between substrate translocation and the conformational changes of CaiT (Nat Struct Mol Biol, 2010).

 

 

♦　　  Higher-plant photosynthetic membrane protein: minor light-harvesting complex CP29 from spinach

Determined the crystal structure of spinach CP29 at 2.80-Å resolution. This was the first in the world that a higher-plant minor light-harvesting complex be solved. This study also provided in-depth analysis of CP29’s light-harvesting, energy transfer and light protection functions (Nat Struct Mol Biol, 2011).