We have identified the rat homologue (rvps45) of the yeast vps45 protein, a member of the Sec1 family of proteins involved in intracellular vesicle trafficking. Sequence analysis of the full-length rvps45 cDNA obtained from a rat brain library predicts a protein of 570 amino acids which shares 36% identity with the yeast vps45 protein. The sequence shows less homology with other mammalian Sec1 family proteins. Northern blotting identified a 2.3 kb mRNA highly expressed in brain and testis. RT-PCR analysis showed that the rvps45 gene product is expressed throughout the brain. The homology of this protein with the yeast vps45 together with its high expression in brain suggests a role for rvps45 in transport from the Golgi complex to synaptic vesicles.