The effects of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3), which has been hypothesized to be a chemical transmitter in excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle, on aldolase bound to isolated triad junctions were investigated. Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase was identified as the major specific binding protein for the Ins(1,4,5)P3 analogue glycolaldehyde (2)-1-phospho-D-myo-inositol 4,5-bisphosphate which can form covalent bonds with protein amino groups by reduction of the Schiff's base intermediate with [3H]NaCNBH3. This analogue, Ins(1,4,5) P3, and the inositol polyphosphates inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate and inositol 1,4-bisphosphate were nearly equipotent in selectively releasing membrane bound aldolase with a K0.5 of about 3 microM. The rank order of the K0.5 values was identical to the KI values for inhibition of aldolase. Aldolase was also released by its substrate fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and by 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate. Ins(1,4,5)P3-induced aldolase release did not disrupt the triad junction; glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, a known junctional constituent, was displaced only at much higher Ins(1,4,5)P3 concentrations. Ins(1,4,5)P3 was as effective as fructose 1,6-bisphosphate in releasing aldolase from myofibrils. A finite number of binding sites for aldolase exist on triads (Bmax = 43-47 pmol of tetrameric aldolase exist on triads (Bmax = 43-47 pmol of tetrameric aldolase/mg of triad protein, KD = 23 nM). The junctional foot protein was implicated as an aldolase binding site by affinity chromatography with the junctional foot protein immobilized on Sepharose 4B. The potential consequences of aldolase being bound in the gap between the terminal cisternae and the transverse tubule to inositol polyphosphate and glycolytic metabolism in that local region are discussed.
