Glutamate–tRNA ligase

In enzymology, a glutamate–tRNA ligase (EC 6.1.1.17) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

ATP + L-glutamate + tRNA^Glu ${\displaystyle \rightleftharpoons }$ AMP + diphosphate + L-glutamyl-tRNA^Glu

The 3 substrates of this enzyme are ATP, L-glutamate, and tRNA^Glu, whereas its 3 products are AMP, diphosphate, and L-glutamyl-tRNA^Glu.

This enzyme belongs to the family of ligases, to be specific those forming carbon–oxygen bonds in aminoacyl-tRNA and related compounds. The systematic name of this enzyme class is L-glutamate:tRNA^Glu ligase (AMP-forming). Other names in common use include glutamyl-tRNA synthetase, glutamyl-transfer ribonucleate synthetase, glutamyl-transfer RNA synthetase, glutamyl-transfer ribonucleic acid synthetase, glutamate-tRNA synthetase, and glutamic acid translase. This enzyme participates in 3 metabolic pathways: glutamate metabolism, porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism, and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis.