Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetase-interacting Multifunctional Proteins (AIMPs): a Triad for Cellular Homeostasis

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) are highly conserved for efficient and precise translation of genetic codes. In higher eukaryotic systems, several different ARSs including glutamyl-prolyl-, isoelucyl-, leucyl-, methionyl-, glutaminyl-, lysyl-, arginyl-, and aspartyl-tRNA synthetase form a macromolecular protein complex with three nonenzymatic cofactors (AIMP1/p43, AIMP2/p38, and AIMP3/p18). Although the structure and functional implications for this complex formation are not completely understood, rapidly accumulating evidences suggest that this complex would work as a molecular hub linked to the multiple signaling pathways that involve the components of enzymes and cofactors. In this article, the roles of three nonenzymatic components of the multi-tRNA synthetase complex in the assembly of the components and in cell regulation are addressed.