Pathway for inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate and 1,4-bisphosphate metabolism

We prepared [3H]inositol-,3-[32P]phosphate-and 4-[32P]phosphate-labeled inositol phosphate substrates to investigate the metabolism of inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate and inositol 1,4-bisphosphate. In crude extracts of calf brain, inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate is first converted to inositol 3,4-bisphosphate, then the inositol 3,4-bisphosphate intermediate is further converted to inositol 3-phosphate. Similarly, inositol 1,4-bisphosphate is converted to inositol 4-phosphate, and no inositol 1-phosphate is formed. We partially purified an enzyme that we tentatively name inositol polyphosphate 1-phosphatase. This cytosolic enzyme converts inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate to inositol 3,4-bisphosphate and also converts inositol 1,4-bisphosphate to inositol 4-phosphate. The enzyme does not utilize inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, or inositol 1-phosphate as substrates. Thus we propose a new scheme for inositol phosphate metabolism. According to this pathway inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and inositol 1,4-bisphosphate are degraded to inositol 4-phosphate. Inositol 1-phosphate, which is the major inositol monophosphate formed in stimulated brain, is derived either from phospholipase C cleavage of phosphatidylinositol or from the degradation of inositol cyclic phosphates.