In soluble and particulate extracts from muscle D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(l,4,5)P-3] and D-myo-inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate [Ins(1,3,4,5)P-4] are metabolised stepwise to inositol. Ins(1,4,5)P-3 is rapidly dephosphorylated to D-myo-inositol 1,4-bisphosphate then to D-myo-inositol 4-phosphate and finally inositol. In soluble extracts Ins(1,3,4,5)P-4 is dephosphorylated to D-myo-nositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate then sequentially to D-myo-inositol 3,4-bisphosphate, D-myo-inositol 3-phosphate and inositol, while in particulate extracts D-myo-inositol 1,3-bisphosphate is the predominant inositol bisphosphate formed. Dephosphorylation of these inositol polyphosphates is Mg2+ dependent and inhibited by D-2,3-bisphosphoglyceric acid. Ins(1,4,5)P-3 is also phosphorylated to form Ins(1,3,4,5)P-4 in soluble extracts by Ins(1,4,5)P-3 3-kinase. Ins(1,4,5)P-3 3-kinase activity is Mg2+ and ATP dependent and is stimulated by Ca2+ and calmodulin. Particulate (sarcotubular) inositol polyphosphate S-phosphatase (5-phosphatase) is found in membranes which are intimately involved in excitation-contraction coupling and the generation of the primary Ca2+ signal of muscle cells. Particulate 5-phosphatase had the highest specific activity in the transverse-tubule membrane, when compared to the terminal cisternae and longitudinal-tubule membranes of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Particulate Ins(1,3,4,5)P-4-3-phosphatase activity was also detected after fractionation of solubilised sarcotubular membranes by DEAE-Sephacel. Particulate 5-phosphatase activity was purified 25600-fold to a specific activity of 25.6 mu mol Ins(1,4,5)P-3 hydrolysed . min(-1) . mg protein(-1), after DEAE-Sephacel and novel affinity chromatography using D-2,3-bisphosphoglycerate/agarose and Sepharose-4B-immobilised Ins(l,4,5)P-3-analog matrices. Purified particulate 5-phosphatase had apparent K-m of 46.3 mu M and 1.9 mu M and V,, of 115 and 0.046 mu mol substrate hydrolysed min(-1) . mg protein(-1), for Ins(1,4,5)P-3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P-4, respectively. In contrast, purified soluble type I . 5-phosphatase had apparent K, of 8.9 mu M and l.l mu M, and V-max of 3.55 and 0.13 mu mol substrate hydrolysed . min(-1) . mg protein(-)1, for Ins(1,4,5)P-3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P-4, respectively. As in other cells, muscle 5-phosphatases have a lower affinity, but a higher capacity to metabolise Ins(1,4,5)P-3 than Ins(1,3,4,5)P-4. Soluble type I 5-phosphatase may have a functional role in the metabolism of both inositol polyphosphates, while particulate 5-phosphatase may primarily metabolise Ins(1,4,5)P-3. Purified Ins(1,4,5)P-3 3-kinase had an apparent K-m, of 0.42 mu M and a V-max of 4.12 nmol Ins(1,4,5)P-3 phosphorylated . min(-1) . mg protein(-1). The profile of inositol polyphosphate metabolism in muscle is similar to that reported in other tissues. The presence of enzymes involved in the metabolism of Ins(1,4,5)P-3/Ins(1,3,4,5)P-4, is consistent with a role for the phosphoinositol-lipid-signalling pathway in Ca2+ homeostasis of skeletal muscle.