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                          September 24, 2020

       Sanjay S. Shukla, M.D., M.S.
       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 September 18,
2020
                                                            File No. 333-248905

       Dear Dr. 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 Alan
Campbell at 202-551-4224 with any questions.




                          Sincerely,


                          Division of Corporation Finance

                          Office of Life Sciences
       cc:                                              Sean M. Clayton