Chiral sugar derivatives are potential cyclitol surrogates of the Ca 2+ -mobilizing intracellular messenger D-myoinositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P 3 ]. Six novel polyphosphorylated analogues derived from both D-and L-glucose were synthesized. Binding to Ins(1,4,5)P 3 receptors [Ins(1,4,5)P 3 R] and the ability to release Ca 2+ from intracellular stores via type 1 Ins(1,4,5)P 3 Rs were investigated. β-D-Glucopyranosyl 1,3,4-trisphosphate, with similar phosphate regiochemistry and stereochemistry to Ins(1,4,5)P 3 , and α-D-glucopyranosyl 1,3,4-trisphosphate are full agonists, being equipotent and 23-fold less potent than Ins(1,4,5)P 3 , respectively, in Ca 2+ -release assays and similar to Ins(1,4,5)P 3 and 15-fold weaker in binding assays. They can be viewed as truncated analogues of adenophostin A and refine understanding of structure-activity relationships for this Ins(1,4,5)P 3 R agonist. L-Glucose-derived ligands, methyl α-Lglucopyranoside 2,3,6-trisphosphate and methyl α-L-glucopyranoside 2,4,6-trisphosphate, are also active, while their corresponding D-enantiomers, methyl α-D-glucopyranoside 2,3,6-trisphosphate and methyl α-D-glucopyranoside 2,4,6-trisphosphate, are inactive. Interestingly, both L-glucose-derived ligands are partial agonists: they are among the least efficacious agonists of Ins(1,4,5)P 3 R yet identified, providing new leads for antagonist development.