Cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membrane contains several chloride (Cl-) channels. We have characterized a 116-pS Cl- channel (500 mM cis, 50 mM trans Cl-) in cardiac SR that is activated by protein kinase A-dependent phosphorylation. To understand its function further, we examined the permeation of various anions and adenine nucleotides using the planar lipid bilayer-vesicle fusion technique. This Cl- channel showed a high selectivity to anions and its permeability sequence was Br- > Cl- > I- > NO3- > F-. When all anions were replaced with ATP in the cis solution, channel activity persisted. The conductance was 78 pS with 200 mM ATP and 68 pS with 100 mM ATP. The reversal potentials were +63 mV and +41 mV in 200 mM ATP and in 100 mM ATP, respectively. With 100 mM ADP or AMP in the cis solution, channel activities were also observed. The conductances were 87 pS with 100 mM ADP and 115 pS with 100 mM AMP. The apparent adenine selectivity of this channel was ATP > ADP > AMP, assuming that they exist as divalent anions. These results suggest that the SR Cl- channel in cardiac cells may serve as a transporter for the movement of adenine nucleotides between cytosol and SR lumen.