Function
Multifunctional protein which is primarily part of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase multienzyme complex, also know as multisynthetase complex, that catalyzes the attachment of the cognate amino acid to the corresponding tRNA in a two-step reaction: the amino acid is first activated by ATP to form a covalent intermediate with AMP and is then transferred to the acceptor end of the cognate tRNA (PubMed:1756734, PubMed:24100331, PubMed:23263184). The phosphorylation of EPRS, induced by interferon-gamma, dissociates the protein from the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase multienzyme complex and recruits it to the GAIT complex that binds to stem loop-containing GAIT elements in the 3'-UTR of diverse inflammatory mRNAs (such as ceruplasmin), suppressing their translation. Interferon-gamma can therefore redirect, in specific cells, the EPRS function from protein synthesis to translation inhibition (PubMed:15479637, PubMed:23071094). Also functions as an effector of the mTORC1 signaling pathway by promoting, through SLC27A1, the uptake of long-chain fatty acid by adipocytes. Thereby, it also plays a role in fat metabolism and more indirectly influences lifespan (PubMed:28178239).