NAT10-mediated mRNA N4-acetylcytidine reprograms serine metabolism to drive leukaemogenesis and stemness in acute myeloid leukaemia

Menée in vitro et à l'aide de modèles murins de leucémie myéloïde aiguë, cette étude met en évidence un mécanisme par lequel la N4-acétylcytidine et son enzyme catalytique NAT10 favorisent la leucémogenèse et l'auto-renouvellement des cellules souches via la modification du métabolisme de la sérine

Résumé en anglais

RNA modification has emerged as an important epigenetic mechanism that controls abnormal metabolism and growth in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). However, the roles of RNA N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) modification in AML remain elusive. Here, we report that ac4C and its catalytic enzyme NAT10 drive leukaemogenesis and sustain self-renewal of leukaemic stem cells/leukaemia-initiating cells through reprogramming serine metabolism. Mechanistically, NAT10 facilitates exogenous serine uptake and de novo biosynthesis through ac4C-mediated translation enhancement of the serine transporter SLC1A4 and the transcription regulators HOXA9 and MENIN that activate transcription of serine synthesis pathway genes. We further characterize fludarabine as an inhibitor of NAT10 and demonstrate that pharmacological inhibition of NAT10 targets serine metabolic vulnerability, triggering substantial anti-leukaemia effects both in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, our study demonstrates the functional importance of ac4C and NAT10 in metabolism control and leukaemogenesis, providing insights into the potential of targeting NAT10 for AML therapy.