ANO1 (TMEM16A) is a Ca 2+ -activated Clchannel that regulates diverse cellular functions including fluid secretion, neuronal excitability, and smooth muscle contraction. ANO1 is activated by elevation of cytosolic Ca 2+ and modulated by phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2). Here we describe a closely concerted experimental and computational study, including electrophysiology, mutagenesis, functional assays, and extended sampling of lipid-protein interactions with molecular dynamics (MD) to characterize PI(4,5)P2 binding modes and sites on ANO1. ANO1 currents in excised inside-out patches activated by 270 nM Ca 2+ at +100 mV are increased by exogenous PI(4,5)P2with an EC50 = 1.24 µM. The effect of PI(4,5)P2 is dependent on membrane voltage and Ca 2+ and is explained by a stabilization of the ANO1 Ca 2+ -bound open state. Unbiased atomistic MD simulations with 1.4% PI(4,5)P2 in a phosphatidylcholine bilayer identified 8 binding sites with significant probability of binding PI(4,5)P2. Three of these sites captured 85% of all ANO1 -PI(4,5)P2interactions. Mutagenesis of basic amino acids near the membrane-cytosol interface found three regions of ANO1 critical for PI(4,5)P2 regulation that correspond to the same three sites identified by MD. PI(4,5)P2 is stabilized by hydrogen bonding between amino acid sidechains and phosphate/hydroxyl groups on PI(4,5)P2. Binding of PI(4,5)P2 alters the position of the cytoplasmic extension of TM6, which plays a crucial role in ANO1 channel gating, and increases the accessibility of the inner vestibule to Clions. We propose a model consisting of a network of three PI(4,5)P2 binding sites at the cytoplasmic face of the membrane allosterically regulating ANO1 channel gating.of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. We also acknowledge computing resources provided by Blue Waters at National Center for Supercomputing Applications, and Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (grant MCA06N060 to ET).