The anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) protein not only counteracts apoptosis at the mitochondria by scaffolding proapoptotic Bcl-2-family members, but also acts at the endoplasmic reticulum, thereby controlling intracellular Ca 2+ dynamics. Bcl-2 inhibits Ca 2+ release by targeting the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP 3 R). Sequence analysis has revealed that the Bcl-2-binding site on the IP 3 R displays strong similarity with a conserved sequence present in all three ryanodine receptor (RyR) isoforms. We now report that Bcl-2 co-immunoprecipitated with RyRs in ectopic expression systems and in native rat hippocampi, indicating that endogenous RyR-Bcl-2 complexes exist. Purified RyR domains containing the putative Bcl-2-binding site bound fulllength Bcl-2 in pulldown experiments and interacted with the BH4 domain of Bcl-2 in surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments, suggesting a direct interaction. Exogenous expression of fulllength Bcl-2 or electroporation loading of the BH4 domain of Bcl-2 dampened RyR-mediated Ca 2+ release in HEK293 cell models.Finally, introducing the BH4-domain peptide into hippocampal neurons through a patch pipette decreased RyR-mediated Ca 2+ release. In conclusion, this study identifies Bcl-2 as a new inhibitor of RyR-based intracellular Ca 2+ -release channels.