KRS is normally located in the cytosol as a component of the multitRNA synthetase complex (MSC) that consists of nine different ARSs and three auxiliary factors named AIMP1, 2 and 3
dissociation of lysyl-tRNA synthetase (KRS) from the multi-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complex in human macrophage-like differentiated THP-1 cells and its subsequent secretion, can be triggered by Shiga toxins
cytosolic tRNAsLys tRK1 is partially targeted into mitochondria. Binding of tRK1 to the precursor of mitochondrial lysyl-tRNA synthetase preMsk1p, IIb class aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, is a prerequisite of import. The hinge region of preMsk1p is essential to provide the import. The N-terminal domain of preMsk1p with the adjacent hinge region not only interacts with aminoacylated tRK1, but is also able to direct tRK1 import even in absence of the C-terminal domain. Enolase 2 participates as a putative RNA chaperone, suggesting that it may induce the import-active conformation in the tRNA
in response to immunological challenge of mast cells, LysRS is phosphorylated on residue Ser207 in a MAPK-dependent manner, released from the multisynthetase complex, and translocated into the nucleus