January 23, 2020

Sanjay Shukla
President and Chief Executive Officer
aTyr Pharma, Inc.
3545 John Hopkins Court, Suite 250
San Diego, CA 92121

       Re: aTyr Pharma, Inc.
           Registration Statement on Form S-1
           Filed January 17, 2020
           File No. 333-235951

Dear Mr. Shukla:

       This is to advise you that we have not reviewed and will not review your
registration
statement.

        Please refer to Rules 460 and 461 regarding requests for acceleration.
We remind you
that the company and its management are responsible for the accuracy and
adequacy of their
disclosures, notwithstanding any review, comments, action or absence of action
by the staff.

       Please contact William Mastrianna, Attorney-Adviser, at (202) 551-3778
with any
questions.



                                                            Sincerely,

                                                            Division of
Corporation Finance
                                                            Office of Life
Sciences
cc:    Sean Clayton