We have constructed a series of deletions in the 5' non-coding sequences of the cloned Neurospora crassa am gene which specifies NADP specific glutamate dehydrogenase. All of the deletions begin at -4.4 kb with respect to the am transcription start site and extend for various distances toward the am gene. Using vectors with a truncated fragment of the am gene, we introduced these deletions into the chromosome upstream of am by transformation. Analysis of glutamate dehydrogenase expression in strains with the deletion mutations confirmed that there are two upstream regulatory sequences (URS) that control the expression of the am gene. The more distal of these elements (URSam beta) has been limited to the 157 bp between -1924 and -2081 with respect to the start of am transcription. The proximal element (URSam alpha) was limited to the 97 bp between -1296 and -1393. The DNA sequence of the entire region was determined. Within the sequences that contain the URS elements several regions of homology with yeast UAS sequences were found. Gel mobility assays with DNA fragments containing the URS elements indicated that sequences in both elements are bound by nuclear proteins from Neurospora. The interaction of these proteins and the DNA fragments was found to be specific.