Abstract: Abstract: U2AF (U2 snRNP auxiliary factor), an essential auxiliary factor for pre-mRNA splicing, is highly conserved across species. Here we report the cloning and expression analysis of the homologous gene (SmU2AF65) encoding the large subunit of U2AF65 in Solanum melongena. Gene specific primers for Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE) are de-signed according to the genomic sequence of eggplant BAC 77N19 and the full length cDNA of tobacco NpU2AF⁶⁵ a and b. The full length cDNA of SmU2AF⁶⁵ (GenBank accession No. EU543263) contains a complete open reading fragment en-coding a 554 amino acid protein, and the deduced protein contains three conserved RNA recognition domains (RRM). RT-PCR assays indicate that SmU2AF⁶⁵ is constitutively expressed in leaf, flower, and root, with a different transcript found in root originated from alternative splicing.