The primary structure of the gene encoding Bombyx mori glycyl-tRNA synthetase was determined by sequence analysis of one cDNA and two genomic clones. The sequence of the protein deduced from the nucleotide sequence was verified by sequence analysis of eight peptides. The M(r) 77,667 protein is encoded in a single open reading frame of 2061 nucleotides. There are no introns in the gene. The deduced protein sequence has no obvious similarity to Escherichia coli glycyl-tRNA synthetase but contains a sequence in its amino terminus that is similar to a sequence found in the Drosophila melanogaster and human glutamyl-tRNA synthetases, the hamster and human histidyl-tRNA synthetases, bovine tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase, and the mammalian peptide chain release factor. The B. mori glycyl-tRNA synthetase also has sequence similarity with the Saccharomyces cerevisiae (cytoplasmic and mitochondrial), E. coli, and human threonyl-tRNA synthetases. This sequence similarity occurs in a sequence motif that is characteristic of other class II aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Two transcription start sites approximately 100 nucleotides apart were identified by ribonuclease mapping. One of the transcription start sites is used preferentially in the posterior silk gland. The peak in mRNA accumulation occurs 80-100 h prior to the peak in glycyl-tRNA synthetase activity and enzyme protein.