A 189-bp sequence was isolated from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus chitonophagus and was found to present strong homology with a large number of chitinase genes from a variety of organisms and particularly with the chitinaseA gene from Pyrococcus kodakaraensis (Pk-chiA). This fragment was subcloned to an expression vector and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The E coli BLR21(DE3)pLysS transformant, harbouring the gene on the pET-31b plasmid vector, was found to overproduce the target protein at high levels. The 63 aminoacid-long peptide was efficiently purified to homogeneity, with a one-step, semi-denaturing affinity chromatography, on a metal chelation resin and was used for the production of a specific, polyclonal antibody from rabbits. The produced antibody was demonstrated to display strong and specific affinity for the chitinase A from Serratia marcescens (Sm-chiA), as well as the membrane-bound chitinase70 from Thermococcus chitonophagus (Tc-Chi70). The strong sequence homology, in combination with the demonstrated specific immunochemical affinity, indicates that the isolated peptide is part of a chitinolytic enzyme of T chitonophagus. In particular, it could belong to the membrane-bound chi70, or to a distinct chitinase, coded by a different gene, or even by the same gene, following post-transcriptional or post-translational modifications. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.