The two ryanodine-binding proteins (RyBPs) have been purified from sarcoplasmic reticulum of bullfrog skeletal muscle by Mono Q column chromatography following solubilization of SR by CHAPS and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. We conclude that the two RyBPs (alpha- and beta-RyBP) are isoforms on the basis (i) that each RyBP is distinguished by a specific polyclonal antibody and (ii) that distinct polypeptides are generated by limited tryptic digestion of the two RyBPs. Monomeric molecular weights for alpha- and beta-RyBP are estimated to be (690 +/- 10) and (570 +/- 10) kDa, respectively, as determined from mobilities on disc SDS-PAGE using the Weber-Osborn buffer system without 6 M urea, which gives an estimate of (590 +/- 10) kDa for RyBP of rabbit skeletal muscle. Similar determination in the presence of 6 M urea gave 630 kDa for alpha-RyBP and unchanged estimates for the other RyBPs. Both RyBPs show [3H]ryanodine-binding activities which are activated by Ca2+, AMPOPCP, and caffeine, and inhibited by ruthenium red, MgCl2, and procaine. beta-RyBP, however, has higher affinity for Ca2+. In the presence of Ca2+ and AMPOPCP, both RyBPs show single homogeneous binding sites for [3H]ryanodine with Kd = 2-5 nM. The values of Bmax for alpha- and beta-RyBP were 320-340 and 320-375 pmol/mg protein, respectively. These results are consistent with the conclusion that a homo-tetramer of each RyBP binds one ryanodine molecule, taking account of the estimated molecular weight.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)