A cDNA clone encoding glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) was identified that consisted of 34 bp of 5' untranslated sequence, an open reading frame of 432 bp and 115 bp in the 3' untranslated region. The deduced amino acid sequence revealed a 144 amino acid preprohormone consisting of a 43 amino acid N-terminal extension including a signal peptide, a 42 amino acid hormone, and a 59 amino acid C-terminal extension. Rat GIP differs from the human hormone by two amino acid substitutions: arginine for histidine at position 18 and leucine for isoleucine at position 40. A single mRNA from small intestine of approximately 800 bases was identified on Northern blot analysis in equivalent amounts in proximal and distal small intestine.