Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP 3 R) 2 are a family of intracellular release channels that play an essential role in evoking Ca 2ϩ signals triggered by the occupation of numerous types of cell-surface receptors that are coupled to enhanced inositol-lipid turnover (1). Three different IP 3 R isoforms have been identified, and most cells appear to express multiple isoforms (2, 3). IP 3 receptors have been shown to be substrates for several different protein kinases in vivo and/or in vitro. These include protein kinase A (4, 5), protein kinase G (6, 7), protein kinase C (8), CaM kinase-II (8), Fyn tyrosine kinase (9, 10) and cdk1/CyB (11). By far the best-characterized of these effects are those of protein kinases A and G. Two serine residues have been identified as potential sites of phosphorylation in the type I IP 3 R isoform (12). Mutagenesis studies in a DT40 IP 3 R expression system suggest that both protein kinases A and G act to enhance IP 3 -mediated Ca 2ϩ release (13). However, the preferred sites of phosphorylation and functional effects on IP 3 R channel function may differ in different cell types and between alternatively spliced variants (6, 13-15). The regulatory role of the other protein kinases phosphorylating IP 3 Rs are poorly understood.The serine/threonine protein kinase Akt/protein kinase B is the cellular homologue of the viral oncogene v-Akt and is activated by various growth factors and cytokines. The membrane translocation and initial activation of the enzyme is dependent on the production of 3-phosphorylated inositol lipids catalyzed by PI 3-kinase. The activated Akt kinase then phosphorylates a number of key substrates involved in the stimulation of intermediary metabolism and promotion of cell survival, proliferation, and growth (reviewed in ). An examination of the sequence of all three IP 3 R isoforms indicates the presence of a consensus RXRXX(S/T) sequence for phosphorylation by Akt kinase (19). In the present study, we have shown for the first time that IP 3 Rs are substrates for activated Akt kinase in vivo and have investigated several possible functional consequences of this phosphorylation on Ca 2ϩ signaling.