ELAC1 (elaC ribonuclease Z 1) functions as a zinc phosphodiesterase with specialized tRNA 3'-processing endonuclease activity 12. The protein is primarily involved in tRNA repair following ribosome-associated quality control (RQC) processes. Specifically, ELAC1 acts downstream of the RQC pathway by removing 2',3'-cyclic phosphates from tRNAs that have been cleaved by the endonuclease ANKZF1, thereby enabling subsequent CCA re-addition by TRNT1 for tRNA recycling 2. ELAC1 localizes to the cytosol and represents the short form of RNase Z in human cells, distinct from ELAC2 which functions in nuclear and mitochondrial tRNA biogenesis 3. The enzyme's activity is optimized for tRNA recycling rather than de novo tRNA processing, and cells lacking ELAC1 accumulate unrepaired tRNA intermediates when ribosome stalling is induced 2. ELAC1 expression is upregulated by interferons through interferon-stimulated response elements in its promoter, suggesting a role in antiviral responses 4. While genetic variants near ELAC1 have been associated with multiple sclerosis antibody levels, the clinical significance of ELAC1 dysfunction in human disease remains to be fully established 5.