A cDNA encoding wheat translation initiation factor 4A (eIF-4A) was isolated from a wheat cDNA library and sequenced. The deduced wheat eIF-4A amino acid sequence from the cDNA is compared to eIF-4A from Arabidopsis thaliana, tobacco, mouse and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Putative RNA helicase motifs, and putative ATP-binding and hydrolysis sites are identified.