A cDNA encoding eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A (eIF4A) was isolated from a cDNA library of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Based on this DNA sequence, a 414-amino acid protein exhibiting 67, 64 and 59% homology to the mouse, Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Saccharomyces cerevisiae eIF4A, respectively, was predicted. The deduced amino acid sequence contains the characteristic motifs shared by the DEAD box supergene family. Another cDNA of rice eIF4A was reported previously. Comparison of the coding sequences of the two rice eIF4As showed 85% homology in the nucleotide sequence and 90% homology in the amino acid sequence. The genomic clones corresponding to the two rice eIF4A cDNAs were also isolated from a genomic library of rice (Oryza sativa L.). It was found that the two genes have common patterns of exon-intron boundaries. Their coding regions are split into four exons, and there is an additional exon in the 5'-non coding region.