I-protein, a new regulatory protein from vertebrate skeletal muscle. III. Function.

I-protein inhibited theMg-activated ATPase [EC 3.6.1.3] activity of actinomyosin by approximately 50% at low ionic strength. Concomitantly, the onset of superprecipitation was retarded. I-protein was found to bind to myosin, but not to F-actin. The inhibitory action of I-protein occurred only in the absence of Ca ions in the troponintropomyosin-actin myosin system. Addition of Ca ions abolished the effect. Thus, it is very likely that I-protein prevents unnecessary hydrolysis of ATP in the relaxed state of muscle.