ATP + L-phenylalanine + tRNA(Phe) = AMP + diphosphate + H(+) + L-phenylalanyl-tRNA(Phe) Inhibited by bicyclic azetidine BRD1389, which competes for L-phenylalanine. Heterotetramer; dimer of two heterodimers formed by alpha and beta subunits. The identification of residues that recognize the inhibitor lays a foundation for the development of drugs against Plasmodium species as well as related apicomplexan parasites that infect humans since they are conserved among apicomplexan alpha subunits. Belongs to the class-II aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase family. Phe-tRNA synthetase alpha subunit type 2 subfamily.