Two starch-branching enzyme (SBE) in rice, is known to be a key enzyme in amylopectin biosynthesis. The cDNA of two SBE(starch-branching enzyme) genes Sbe1 and Sbc3 encoding SBE Ⅰand SBE Ⅲ(two major isoforms in rice) were cloned by an improved RT-PCR technique, from a template cDNA library derived from the total mRNAs extracted from the immature seeds of a japonica rice Wuyunjing 7. DNA sequence analysis showed that the size of the cloned Sbe1 and Sbe3 cDNAs were 2490 and 2481 bp long, respectively, including their entire coding sequences. Comparison analysis indicated that the nucleotide sequence of Sbe3 was the same as that of sbc3 (Genbank Accession No. D16201) as reported previously. There were only four base-pairs difference, which resulted in changes of two deduced amino acids between the cloned Sbel cDNA and the reported sbe1 (Genbank Accession No. D11082). The cloned Sbe1 and Sbe3 cDNAs make it possible to improve rice starch quality through genetic engineering The two-starch-branching enzyme (SBE) in rice, is known to be a key enzyme in amylopectin biosynthesis. The cDNA of two SBE (starch- branching enzyme) genes Sbe1 and Sbc3 encoding SBE I and SBE III cloned by an improved RT-PCR technique, from a template cDNA library derived from the total mRNAs extracted from the immature seeds of a japonica rice Wuyunjing 7. DNA sequence analysis showed that the size of the cloned Sbe1 and Sbe3 cDNAs were 2490 and 2481 bp long, respectively, including their entire coding sequences. Comparison analysis indicated that the nucleotide sequence of Sbe3 was the same as that of sbc3 (GenBank Accession No. D16201) as reported previously. There were only four base-pairs difference, which resulted in changes of two deduced amino acids between the cloned Sbel cDNA and the reported sbe1 (Genbank Accession No. D11082). The cloned Sbe1 and Sbe3 cDNAs make it possible to improve rice starch quality through genetic engineering