主要发现：Here, we showed that two previously uncharacterized NAC transcription factors: OsCUC1, which is negatively regulated by osa‐miR164c, dimerizes with OsCUC3, and functions partially redundantly in meristem/organ boundary specification in rice (Oryza sativa).

结果1-构建突变体和过表达株系：We produced knockout lines for rice OsCUC1 (the homolog of Arabidopsis CUC1 and CUC2) and OsCUC3 (the homolog of Arabidopsis CUC3), as well as overexpression line for osa‐miR164c to study the molecular mechanism of boundary specification in rice.

结果2-突变体表型鉴定：A single mutation in either OsCUC1 or OsCUC3 leads to defects in the establishment of the meristem/organ boundary resulting in reduced stamen numbers and fusion of leaf/filament, while the defects are greatly enhanced in the double mutant.

结果3-过表达表型鉴定：Transgenic plants overexpressing osa‐miR164c showed a phenotype similar to that of the OsCUC1 knockout line.

结果4-CUC1下游：In addition, knocking out of OsCUC1 leads to multiple defects including a dwarf plant architecture, male sterility and twisted‐rolling leaves. Further study indicated that OsCUC1 physically interacts with a leaf‐rolling related protein CURLED LEAF AND DWARF 1 (CLD1), and stabilizes it in the nucleus to control leaf morphology.

结论：This work demonstrated that the interplay of osa‐miR164c, OsCUC1 and OsCUC3 controls boundary specification in rice.