Chitosanases are enzymes that catalyse the hydrolysis of the beta-1,4 glycosidic bond of chitosan. One of the most promising applications of this enzyme is for the bioconversion of chitosan into value-added chitosan-oligosaccharides (COS). GH46 chitosanase (Csn) from Bacillus subtilis 168 was expressed in Escherichia coil by fusing the gene encoding mature Csn to the E. coli OmpA signal peptide sequence. The recombinant enzyme was secreted into the culture supernatant. The recombinant Csn showed high specific activity and stability over a wide range of pH. The enzyme was > 100 times more thermostable in the presence of the substrate, with a half-life time of activity (tau(1/2)) of approximately 20 h at 50 degrees C and pH 5.5. Efficient bioconversion of chitosan into different mixtures of COS, using crude culture supernatant containing secreted enzyme was demonstrated. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.