Dr Sane has done significant work in the area of structure and function of the cellular organelle chloroplast involved in photosynthesis. This has been achieved by proposing the most likely locations of certain important enzymes in the thylakoid system. His suggestion of the role of proton translocating proteins in the chloroplast membranes has wide significance in proton movement across the membrane. His studies on light emission from photosynthetic membranes have contributed to the understanding of energy storage during electron transport.