Prof. Wenrui Chang's group determined the crystal structure of spinach major light-harvesting complex (LHC-II) to a resolution of 2.72 angstroms. (Prof. Tingyun Kuang’s group at the Institute of Botany, CAS, provided the LHC-II sample). This was the first crystal structure of a membrane protein to be determined by Chinese scientists. This achievement improved our knowledge of the process of light harvesting and energy transfer, taking it to the atomic level. Chinese scientists took the lead in accomplishing this highly challenging project, elevating Chinese research on photosynthetic mechanisms and membrane protein structures to a leading level internationally.

This work was published on Nature as a cover paper in 2004 (428(6980):287-292).