Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42276995›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

Cryo-EM structure of the LARS1:IARS1 complex reveals a nutrient-responsive switch controlling mTORC1 signaling.

Youjin Kim, Joo-Chan Kim, Do-Wook Kim, Jinwoo Kim, Jaehun Choi, Seo Young Park, Jimin Lee, Ina Yoon, Sunghoon Kim, Jin Young Kang and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Youjin Kim *Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0678-390X
Joo-Chan Kim *Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8758-4085
Do-Wook KimDepartment of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
Jinwoo KimDepartment of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7205-9170
Jaehun ChoiDepartment of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
Seo Young ParkCollege of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Republic of Korea.
Jimin LeeDepartment of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
Ina YoonCollege of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Republic of Korea.
Sunghoon KimCollege of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Republic of Korea. sunghoonkim@yonsei.ac.kr.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1570-3230
Jin Young KangDepartment of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea. jykang59@kaist.ac.kr.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8493-7890
Hee-Sung ParkDepartment of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea. hspark@kaist.ac.kr.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8645-0405

Funding

National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) 2023R1A2C1005945National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) NRF-2021R1A3B1076605
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) assemble into the multi-tRNA synthetase complex (MSC) to mediate noncanonical functions in cell signaling and stress responses. Among them, human cytosolic leucyl-tRNA synthetase 1 (LARS1) plays a central role in sensing leucine and activating mTORC1, thereby linking nutrient availability to metabolic regulation. Despite recent progress, fundamental questions remain unresolved about the regulatory mechanisms governing LARS1's non-canonical functions, particularly its structural organization within the MSC. Here, we employ an integrated approach combining structural, biochemical, and cellular analyses to investigate the noncanonical roles of LARS1. The cryo-EM structure of the LARS1:isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase 1 (IARS1) complex reveals that LARS1 binds to IARS1, its anchoring partner in the MSC, via its UNE-L domain. Amino acid stimulation induces LARS1 phosphorylation at Ser1070, Ser1077, and Ser1082, which are located at the interface with IARS1. These modifications disrupt the interaction, promote LARS1 dissociation from the MSC, and enable mTORC1 activation. This study highlights phosphorylation as a conserved and critical molecular switch that orchestrates the non-canonical functions of MSC by dynamically modulating the assembly and activity of its components in response to external stimuli.

Indexed as

Isoleucine-tRNA LigaseLeucine-tRNA LigaseMechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1NutrientsCryoelectron MicroscopyHumansModels, MolecularMonomeric GTP-Binding ProteinsPhosphorylationIsoleucine-tRNA LigaseLeucine-tRNA LigaseMechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1Monomeric GTP-Binding ProteinsRRAGD protein, human

Identifiers

PMID42276995
PMCPMC13439101

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.