  Starting from a microscopic tight-binding model and using second order
perturbation theory, we derive explicit expressions for the intrinsic and
Rashba spin-orbit interaction induced gaps in the Dirac-like low-energy band
structure of an isolated graphene sheet. The Rashba interaction parameter is
first order in the atomic carbon spin-orbit coupling strength $\xi$ and first
order in the external electric field $E$ perpendicular to the graphene plane,
whereas the intrinsic spin-orbit interaction which survives at E=0 is second
order in $\xi$. The spin-orbit terms in the low-energy effective Hamiltonian
have the form proposed recently by Kane and Mele. \textit{Ab initio} electronic
structure calculations were performed as a partial check on the validity of the
tight-binding model.
