Ig isotype switching in B lymphocytes is preceded by transcription of the corresponding unrearranged, or germ-line (GL), CH gene. The promoter of mouse GL C gamma 1 transcripts has been shown to be located within a 349-bp KpnI/Bg/II fragment, extending from -147 to +202 bp relative to the first transcription initiation site. By the electrophoretic mobility shift assay, we have analyzed nuclear extracts from three B cell lines and splenic B cells for the presence of proteins binding to this fragment. We show that they give different patterns of DNA binding, implying significant complexity in the regulation of this locus. We focused on the sIgM+ mouse B lymphoma line L10A6.2 that has been shown able to confer responsiveness of the GL gamma 1 promoter to phorbol ester plus IL-4. Activation of this cell line results in altered expression of several nuclear DNA-binding complexes involving two members of the C/enhancer-binding protein (EBP) family of transcription factors, namely C/EBP beta (nuclear factor (NF)-IL-6/LAP) and Ig/EBP-1 (C/EBP gamma). The complexes bind to two C/EBP elements, one at about -115 bp and one near the first RNA start site. In normal B cells stimulated by LPS or IL-4, new complexes appear that bind to C/EBP and NF-IL-4 elements, respectively, located within the -125/-101 region. The -125/-101 segment previously has been shown to be required for transcriptional activation. We discuss these findings in relation to the presence of consensus C/EBP binding sites in other IL-4-regulated promoters.