The complete amino acid sequence of bovine adrenal gland cellular retinoic acid-binding protein (CRABP) has been determined. The primary structure was established by analyses of cyanogen bromide fragments and peptides obtained by trypsin and Staphylococcus aureus protease digestions. The polypeptide chain of bovine CRABP comprises 136 amino acid residues. From partial sequence information, CRABP has been shown to be homologous to cellular retinol-binding protein, myelin protein P2, and the fatty acid-binding Z-protein. A comparison of the complete amino acid sequences of the members of this protein family, which also includes the rat intestinal fatty acid-binding protein, shows that CRABP is more similar to cellular retinol-binding protein and protein P2 than to the fatty acid-binding proteins. All five proteins are very similar in their NH2-terminal regions, suggesting that this part is important for a property common to the members of this protein family. This is the first report of a complete amino acid sequence of a CRABP.