Catalyzes the attachment of glutamate to tRNA(Glu) in a two-step reaction: glutamate is first activated by ATP to form Glu-AMP and then transferred to the acceptor end of tRNA(Glu). In mitochondria, constitutes the nondiscriminating glutamyl-tRNA synthase that generates the mitochondrial mischarged glutamyl-tRNA(Gln) substrate for the tRNA-dependent amidotransferase (AdT), which generates mitochondrial glutaminyl-tRNA(Gln) by transamidation of glutamyl-tRNA(Gln). ATP + L-glutamate + tRNA(Glu) = AMP + diphosphate + L-glutamyl-tRNA(Glu) Component of a yeast aminoacyl-tRNA synthase (aaRS) complex formed by methionyl-tRNA synthase MES1, glutamyl-tRNA synthase GUS1 and the tRNA aminoacylation cofactor ARC1 in a stoichiometric complex. Interacts (via N-ter) with ARC1 (via N-ter). Can also form a stable binary complex with ARC1 that is functional in terms of aminoacylation. ARC1 increases the affinity for cognate tRNAs due to the presence of a tRNA binding domain in the middle and C-terminal part of ARC1. Largely excluded from the nucleus. Present with 48700 molecules/cell in log phase SD medium. Belongs to the class-I aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase family. Glutamate--tRNA ligase type 2 subfamily. Extended N-terminus. Extended N-terminus. Extended N-terminus. Extended N-terminus.