Excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle is mediated by two calcium channels located in the membranes of the transverse tubule and the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Calcium is released from the terminal cisternae of the sarcoplasmic reticulum via the ryanodine receptor. Abnormal increases in myoplasmic free calcium caused by a defect in the ryanodine receptor have been reported in malignant hyperthermia. Malignant hyperthermia is a life-threatening pharmacogenetic disorder in a variety of species and is triggered by volatile anesthetics and depolarizing muscle relaxants. To study the genomic organization of the porcine skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor gene, we have isolated six genomic fragments spanning approximately 80 kb of chromosomal DNA. In this report, we describe the genomic organization of a 15.5-kb genomic fragment comprising 18 exons coding for region 4624 to 7929 of the porcine skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor gene.