[en] Metabolism of the putative messenger molecule D-myo-inositol(1,4,5)trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P₃] in plant cells has been studied using a soluble fraction from pea (pisum sativum) roots as enzyme source and [5-³²P]Ins(1,4,5)P₃ and [2-³H]Ins(1,4,5)P₃ as tracers. Ins(1,4,5)P₃ was rapidly converted into both lower and higher inositol phosphates. The major dephosphorylation product was inositol (4,5) bisphosphate [Ins(4,5)P₂] whereas inositol(1,4)bisphosphate [Ins(1,4)P₂] was only present in very small quantities throughout a 15 minute incubation period. In addition to these compounds, small amounts of nine other metabolites were produced including inositol and inositol(1,4,5,X)P₄. Dephosphorylation of Ins(1,4,5)P₃ to Ins(4,5)P₂ was dependent on Ins(1,4,5)P₃ concentration and was partially inhibited by the phosphohydrolase inhibitors 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, glucose 6-phosphate, and p-nitrophenylphosphate. Conversion of Ins(1,4,5)P₃ to Ins(4,5)P₂ and Ins(1,4,5,X)P₄ was inhibited by 55 micromolar Ca²⁺. This study demonstrates that enzymes are present in plant tissues which are capable of rapidly converting Ins(1,4,5)P₃ and that pathways of inositol phosphate metabolism exist which may prove to be unique to the plant kingdom