Catalyzes the specific attachment of an amino acid to its cognate tRNA in a 2 step reaction: the amino acid (AA) is first activated by ATP to form AA-AMP and then transferred to the acceptor end of the tRNA.
Subcellular locations: Cytoplasm, Cytosol
Expression in the developing and adult brain shows similar patterns. Highly expressed in the ventricular and subventricular zones, including hippocampal subfields, the midlateral temporal cortex and the frontal polar cortex. The cerebellum, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and lateral ventricle show preferential neuronal expression. Expression in the peripheral neurons is evident in the colon.