UASt regulatory sequences drive expression of an inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate (IP[[3]]) "sponge" which retains the ability to bind IP[[3]] without exerting any physiological activity, thus titrating cellular IP[[3]]. The sponge sequence consists of a 380 amino acid peptide derived from the ligand binding site of the Mmus\Itpr1 gene which has been mutated to carry the amino acid replacement K508A.