Rabbit serum amyloid A (SAA) protein was isolated from acute-phase serum by ultracentrifugation, molecular seive chromatography, and ion-exchange chromatography. The complete amino acid sequence of the protein was established by sequence analysis of peptides derived from trypsin and Staphylococcus proteinase digestion of the protein. The molecule consisted of 104 amino acids and had an amino terminus that was blocked by pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid. Heterogeneity was not observed at any residue, which suggests that the material sequenced consisted of a single serum amyloid A species. The protein is highly homologous to serum amyloid A from humans and other animals, particularly in the middle portion of the molecule (positions 33 to 63), which suggests that this region may be important in its function. This highly conserved region may also contain the determinants for amyloid formation.