It has been considered that Ca 2؉ release is the causal trigger for Ca 2؉ entry after receptor activation. In DT40 B cells devoid of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3R), the lack of Ca 2؉ entry in response to receptor activation is attributed to the absence of Ca 2؉ release. We reveal in this article that IP 3 R recognition of IP 3 determines agonist-induced Ca 2؉ entry (ACE), independent of its Ca 2؉ release activity. In DT40 IP3R ؊/؊ cells, endogenous ACE can be rescued with type 1 IP3R mutants (both a ⌬C-terminal truncation mutant and a D2550A pore mutant), which are defective in Ca 2؉ release channel activity. Thus, in response to B cell receptor activation, ACE is restored in an IP3R-dependent manner without Ca 2؉ store release. Conversely, ACE cannot be rescued with mutant IP3Rs lacking IP3 binding (both the ⌬90 -110 and R265Q IP3-binding site mutants). We conclude that an IP3-dependent conformational change in the IP3R, not endoplasmic reticulum Ca 2؉ pool release, triggers ACE.C a 2ϩ transients elicited in response to cell surface receptor activation by neurotransmitters, hormones, and other molecular messengers are major messengers of intracellular communication (1). Stimulation of G protein-coupled receptors, tyrosine kinase receptors, and nonreceptor tyrosine kinases activate phospholipase C (PLC), catalyzing the breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP 2 ) into the secondmessenger molecules: inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP 3 ) and diacylglycerol (DAG). IP 3 mediates rapid Ca 2ϩ store release by activating IP 3 receptors (IP 3 Rs) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), whereas DAG activates protein kinase C (PKC) (2). After this initial Ca 2ϩ release phase, external Ca 2ϩ enters through plasma membrane channels, providing a secondary and more prolonged Ca 2ϩ signal (1), a phenomenon designated here as agonist-induced Ca 2ϩ entry (ACE) (3).To date, the molecular identity of these Ca 2ϩ entry channels as well as their coupling mechanism remain unknown, although several mechanisms have been proposed. Intracellular Ca 2ϩ release through the IP 3 R could trigger ACE by means of capacitative Ca 2ϩ entry (CCE) (4), which can be activated in a PLC-independent manner (3) by the ER Ca 2ϩ pump blocker thapsigargin or the Ca 2ϩ ionophore ionomycin (4, 5). In this scheme, the luminal drop in ER Ca 2ϩ activates ''store-operated'' Ca 2ϩ channels in the plasma membrane, although the basis for this coupling mechanism is entirely unknown. Although the release activity of IP 3 Rs may mediate Ca 2ϩ entry, others have suggested that IP 3 Rs play a conformational role in the coupling process (6, 7). Also, DAG may directly initiate ACE, because DAG can activate overexpressed ''canonical'' transient receptor potential Ca 2ϩ entry channels (TRPC) (8).We recently demonstrated a functional distinction between ACE and CCE based on the requirement of the former for PLC-␥, in a lipase-independent manner (3). However, it is unclear whether endogenous ACE is an integrated process accounting for both receptor an...