The level of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in the cytoplasm is tightly regulated by two enzymes, the inositol 1,4,5,5-phosphatase and the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase. Two isoforms of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase have been identified, the A form and the B form. The regulatory properties of the two isoforms were compared following overexpression and purification of the proteins from a v-src transformed mammalian cell line. The highly purified, recombinant inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinases were differentially regulated by calcium/calmodulin and via phosphorylation by protein kinase C or the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Both enzymes had similar affinities for inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (K m 2-5 M). Calcium/calmodulin stimulated the activity of isoform A about 2.5-fold, whereas the activity of isoform B was increased 20-fold. The cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylated the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase A to the extent of 0.9 mol/mol and isoform B to 1 mol/mol. Protein kinase C phosphorylated isoform A to the extent of 2 mol/mol and isoform B to 2.7 mol/mol. Phosphorylation of isoform A by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase caused a 2.5-fold increase in its activity when assayed in the absence of calcium/calmodulin, whereas phosphorylation by protein kinase C decreased activity by 72%. The activity of isoform B in the absence of calcium/calmodulin was not affected by phosphorylation using either kinase. When assayed in the presence of calcium/calmodulin, phosphorylation of isoform A by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase increased activity 1.5-fold, whereas phosphorylation of isoform B decreased activity by 45%. Phosphorylation of either isoform A or B by protein kinase C resulted in a 70% reduction of calcium/calmodulin-stimulated activity. Differential expression and regulation of the two inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase isoforms provides multiple mechanisms for regulating the cytosolic level of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in cells.The second messenger inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P 3 ) 1 mediates the biological response of a large number of hormones and neurotransmitters in target cells by regulating calcium release from intracellular stores (1, 2). In keeping with its biological role, the levels of Ins(1,4,5)P 3 are tightly regulated by two mechanisms; dephosphorylation via an Ins(1,4,5)P 3 5-phosphatase to Ins(1,4)P 2 or by phosphorylation with the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase (IP3K) to Ins(1,3,4,5)P 4 . The former enzyme initiates the pathway which recycles the inositol moiety to the plasma membrane as phosphatidylinositols. The latter enzyme produces Ins(1,3,4,5)P 4 (1, 3, 4), which has been suggested to have roles in controlling calcium homeostasis, transferring calcium between intracellular stores, and/or regulating calcium entry across the plasma membrane (5). In addition, Ins(1,3,4,5)P 4 may also play a role in regulating cross-talk between the calcium and other signaling pathways as an Ins(1,3,4,5)P 4 binding protein...