Using the poly-His-tagged-beta-galactosidase from Thermus sp. strain T2 overexpressed in Escherichia coli (MC 1116) as a model enzyme, we have developed a strategy to purify and immobilize proteins in a single step, combining the excellent properties of epoxy groups for enzyme immobilization with the good performance of immobilized metal-chelate affinity chromatography for protein purification. The aforementioned enzyme could not be immobilized onto standard epoxy supports with good yields, and after purification and storage, it exhibited a strong trend to yield very large aggregates as shown by ultracentrifugation experiments. That preparation could not be immobilized in any support, very likely because the pores of the solid became clogged by the large aggregates. These novel epoxy-metal chelate heterofunctional supports contain a low concentration of Co2+ chelated in IDA groups and a high density of epoxy groups. This enabled the selective adsorption of poly-His-tagged enzymes, and as this adsorption step is necessary for the covalent immobilization procedure, the selective covalent immobilization of the target enzyme could take place. This strategy allowed similar maximum loadings of the target enzyme using either pure or crude preparations of the enzyme. The enzyme derivative presented a very high activity at 70 degreesC (over 1000 IU in the hydrolysis of lactose) and very high stability and stabilization when compared to its soluble counterpart (activity remained unaltered after several days of incubation at 50 degreesC). In fact, this preparation was much more stable than when the same enzyme was immobilized onto standard epoxy Sepabeads.