Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase that catalyzes the specific attachment of leucine to its cognate tRNA (tRNA(Leu)) (PubMed:25051973, PubMed:32232361). It performs tRNA aminoacylation in a two-step reaction: Leu is initially activated by ATP to form a leucyl-adenylate (Leu-AMP) intermediate; then the leucyl moiety is transferred to the acceptor 3′ end of the tRNA to yield leucyl-tRNA (PubMed:25051973). To improve the fidelity of catalytic reactions, it is also able to hydrolyze misactivated aminoacyl-adenylate intermediates (pre-transfer editing) and mischarged aminoacyl-tRNAs (post-transfer editing) (PubMed:25051973).
