An in vivo screen identifies NAT10 as a master regulator of brain metastasis

Metastasis is the major cause of cancer-related deaths. Emerging evidence has shown that epigenetic regulation plays a fundamental role in cancer metastasis. To better understand the epigenetic regulation of metastasis, we conducted an in vivo shRNA screen for vulnerabilities of brain metastasis and identified N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10) as a driver of brain metastasis. Knockdown of NAT10 significantly restrains cancer cell proliferation and migration in vitro, and tumor growth and brain metastasis in vivo. Structure-function analysis of NAT10 showed that its poorly characterized RNA helicase domain is critical for breast cancer cell growth in vitro, while its N-acetyltransferase domain is essential for primary tumor growth and brain metastasis in vivo. Integrative transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed key downstream effectors of NAT10, including PHGDH and PSAT1, two catalyzing enzymes for serine biosynthesis implicated in brain metastasis, and HSPA5, known to promote metastasis. We found that distant metastases of breast cancer, especially brain metastases express higher levels of NAT10, PHGDH, PSAT1, and HSPA5. Silencing PHGDH/PSAT1 or HSPA5 in metastatic breast cancer cells inhibits their ability to grow in the serine/glycine-limited condition or migrate, respectively, phenocopying the effects of NAT10 depletion. Moreover, NAT10 promotes the expression of PHGDH, PSAT1, and HSPA5 in its RNA helicase-dependent manner. These findings establish NAT10 as a master regulator of brain metastasis and shed light on the biological functions of its RNA helicase domain, nominating NAT10 as a target for treating metastatic diseases.