Targeting NAT10 inhibits osteosarcoma progression via ATF4/ASNS-mediated asparagine biosynthesis

Summary: Despite advances in treatment, the prognosis of patients with osteosarcoma remains unsatisfactory, and searching for potential targets is imperative. Here, we identify N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10) as a candidate therapeutic target in osteosarcoma through functional screening. NAT10 overexpression is correlated with a poor prognosis, and NAT10 knockout inhibits osteosarcoma progression. Mechanistically, NAT10 enhances mRNA stability of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) through ac4C modification. ATF4 induces the transcription of asparagine synthetase (ASNS), which catalyzes asparagine (Asn) biosynthesis, facilitating osteosarcoma progression. Utilizing virtual screening, we identify paliperidone and AG-401 as potential NAT10 inhibitors, and both inhibitors are found to bind to NAT10 proteins. Inhibiting NAT10 suppresses osteosarcoma progression in vivo. Combined treatment using paliperidone and AG-401 produces synergistic inhibition for osteosarcoma in patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. Our findings demonstrate that NAT10 facilitates osteosarcoma progression through the ATF4/ASNS/Asn axis, and pharmacological inhibition of NAT10 may be a feasible therapeutic approach for osteosarcoma.