NAT10 promotes lung cancer progression by enhancing glutamine metabolism through increasing ac4C modification on NIT2

Glutamine metabolism plays a critical role in lung cancer progression due to its substantial contribution to energy supply. NAT10 is currently the only known ac4C transferase and regulates gene expression and mRNA stability through ac4C modification, thereby influencing tumor progression. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms by which NAT10 mediates glutamine metabolism in lung cancer. The UALCAN database was used to perform pan-cancer analysis and assess NAT10 expression in lung cancer. Cell viability, proliferation, and migration were evaluated to characterize malignant behaviors in lung cancer cells. Glutamine metabolism was assessed by measuring glutamine consumption, as well as α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) and ATP production. NAT10-associated genes were identified from the GSE3141 dataset and subjected to pathway enrichment analysis. The underlying mechanism was explored using methylated RNA immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter assays. The role of NAT10 in lung cancer progression in vivo was assessed using a xenograft model. Results showed that NAT10 was upregulated in lung cancer cells and promoted cell viability, proliferation, migration, and glutamine metabolism in A549 and H460 cells, whereas NAT10 inhibition reversed these effects. Mechanistically, NAT10 enhanced ac4C modification of NIT2 and increased NIT2 mRNA stability. Overexpression of NIT2 restored cell viability, proliferation, migration, and glutamine metabolism that were suppressed by NAT10 knockdown in A549 and H460 cells. Furthermore, inhibition of NAT10 reduced tumor growth and glutamine metabolism in nude mice. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that NAT10 promotes glutamine metabolism in lung cancer by enhancing ac4C modification of NIT2, providing new insights into the mechanisms underlying lung cancer progression.