The effect of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKA) on Ca2+ loading, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-induced Ca2+ release, and [3H]IP3 binding of canine cerebellar membrane fractions was investigated. PKA in the presence of cAMP and the catalytic subunit of PKA did not change Ca2+ loading yet increased the extent of IP3-induced Ca2+ release by approximately 35%. Hill plot analysis indicated that the catalytic subunit of PKA increased the apparent Michaelis constant of IP3-induced Ca2+ release twofold, from 0.3 to 0.7 microM IP3. The protein kinase inhibitor reversed these changes. cAMP affected neither Ca2+ loading nor IP3-induced Ca2+ release. The catalytic subunit of PKA did not appreciably affect the maximum binding and dissociation constant of [3H]IP3 binding, as judged by Scatchard analysis. Thus the catalytic subunit of PKA influences the opening of Ca2+ channels by IP3 without interfering with the binding of IP3 to its receptor sites.