The structure and function of the TRP3 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were analyzed. Subcloning of an original 4.8 kb BamHI DNA fragment, carrying the yeast TRP3 gene, allowed for a localization of the gene on a 2.5 kb ClaI/BamHI fragment. Transcription was found to proceed from the ClaI site towards the BamHI site. Three major transcription start sites were determined at positions -92, -87, and -81 by S1-mapping. The synthesis of the TRP3 gene is regulated by the general control, and was found to take place- at the transcriptional level. The sequence of the 5'-noncoding region up to position -400 and part of the coding region to position 840 were determined. The 5'-noncoding region contains sequences common to most amino acid biosynthetic genes known so far, namely a presumptive ribosome binding site, "Goldberg-Hogness boxes", and a consensus sequence, possibly involved in the general control. For the coding region a single open reading frame was found. The deduced amino acid sequence was aligned with homologous amino acid sequences of Neurospora crassa, Pseudomonas putida and Escherichia coli. The exceptionally high homology (40-60%) between these sequences led us to postulate that the TRP3 gene product is of the structure NH2-glutamine amidotransferase-indole-3-glycerol-phosphate synthase-COOH.