In muscle, Calsequestrin (CASQ), the major Ca2+-binding protein of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) terminal cisternae, is expressed as two different isoforms. CASQ1 is the only isoform present in adult fast-twitch fibers. On the other hand, CASQ2 expression, abundant in all fibers before birth, decreases progressively after birth and in the adult is only found in slow twitch fibers, co-expressed with CASQ1. Lack of CASQ1 results in: a) significant structural and functional alterations to the excitation-contraction coupling machinery (Paolini et al., 2007. J Physiol 583:767); b) higher rate of spontaneous mortality in males; and c) malignant hyperthermia (MH)-like phenotype (Dainese et al., 2009. Faseb J 23:1710). However, in CASQ1-null mice CASQ2 is still expressed in slow twitch fibers. We have now generated a mouse lacking both CASQ isoforms (double CASQ-null), by cross-breeding our mice with CASQ2-knockout animals (Knollmann et al., 2006. J Clin Invest 116:2510). Lack of both CASQ isoforms was confirmed by western blot. The double-null mice are viable and breed normally, however the rate of spontaneous mortality of male animals is higher than CASQ1-null animals. Whereas the overall phenotype of mice is similar to that of CASQ1-null mice, significant differences are found in Soleus. From the structural point of view, in Soleus muscle we find many fibers (about 30%) with severe structural damage that were not found in CASQ1-null animals. Functional studies indicate significant prolongation in twitch time parameters, increased twitch tension and impaired tension generation during prolonged tetani both in EDL and Soleus, likely related to abnormal calcium release kinetics. These findings suggest that: a) expression of CASQ2 is essential for the maintenance of a subpopulation of Soleus fibers; and b) lack of both CASQ1 and 2 exacerbates the overall phenotype of CASQ1-null mice.