Ins(1 ,4,5)P3 5-phosphatase catalyses the dephosphorylation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 in the 5 position. At 1 pM Ins(1,4,5)P3, 10-15% of total activity of a bovine brain homogenate was measured in the soluble fraction, whereas 85 -90% was in the particulate fraction. Particulate activity could be solubilized by cholate or, to a lower extent, by 2 M KCI. Two soluble enzymes (type I and type 11) could be fractionated by DEAE-Sephacel chromatography. Soluble activities have been further purified by blue-Sepharose, Sephacryl S-200 and phosphocellulose chromatography. Specific activities reached 10-30 pmol . min-' mg protein-' for type I and were 10-20 times lower for type 11. Type I and type 11 Ins(1,4,5)P3 5-phosphatase displayed different K,,, values and molecular masses, as estimated by gel filtration. Type I dephosphorylated both Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1 ,3,4,5)P4; in contrast, type I1 specifically dephosphorylated Ins(1 ,4,5)P3 but not Ins(1,3,4,5)P4. Type 1 lns(1,4,5)P3 5-phosphatase eluted as a single peak of activity with an apparent molecular mass of 51 kDa when gel filtration was performed in the presence of cholate. This molecular mass is identical to the molecular mass estimated for the particulate Ins(1 ,4,5)P3 5-phosphatase that was solubilized by cholate. K , values for Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1 ,3,4,5)P4 obtained with type I Ins(1,4,5)P3 5-phosphatase were 11 pM and 1 pM, respectively. Similar values were obtained with particulate Ins(1 ,4,5)P3 5-phosphatase. In conclusion, the catalytic domains of type I and particulate Ins(1 ,4,5)P3 5-phosphatase activity may be very similar, if not identical, but different from type I1 phosphatase.Agonist-stimulated hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,s-bisphosphate produces two signal molecules, Ins(1 ,4,5)P3 and diacylglycerol. Ins( 1 ,4,5)P3, a second messenger for mobilizing intracellular calcium [l, 21, has been shown to be metabolized to Ins(1,4)P2 or phosphorylated to Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 [3]. These reactions are catalyzed by an Ins(1,4,5)P3 5-phosphomonoesterase or phosphatase and an Ins(1 ,4,5)P3 3-kinase, respectively. These two enzymes represent potential control points at which both Ins(1 ,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 concentrations could be regulated.Ins(1,4,5)P3 5-phosphatase was originally described in human erythrocyte membranes, where its activity is M g Z fdependent and inhibited by 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate [4]. The product of dephosphorylation is Ins(1 ,4)P2. The same enzyme specifically removes the 5 phosphate from Ins( 1,3,4,5)P4 to form lns(1,3,4)P3, the most abundant InsP3 isomer in many cells [S]. The Ins(1,4,5)P3 5-phosphatase is found in the soluble fractions of most tissues, although the membrane-bound activity is often quantitatively more important 16-91. A single enzyme form was purified from the soluble fraction of human platelets by the group of Majerus [lo]. Its apparent molecular mass was 38 kDa as determined by gel filtration. Both Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 appeared to be substrates for the platelet Ins(1 ,4,5)P3 5-phosphatase [I I]. In platelets, ...