Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP(3)Rs) and ryanodine receptors are the channels responsible for Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic and sarcoplasmic reticulum. Research in Science Signaling by Alzayady et al. show that all four IP3-binding sites within the tetrameric IP3R must bind IP3 before the channel can open, which has important consequences for the distribution of both IP3 and IP3R activity within cells.