A Bacillus spp. strain SPS-0, isolated from a hot spring in Portugal, produced an extracellular xylanase upon growth on wheat bran arabinoxylan. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation, anion exchange, gel filtration, and affinity chromatography. The optimum temperature and pH for activity was 75 degrees C and 6.0. Xylanase was stable up to 70 degrees C for 4 h at pH 6.0 in the presence of xylane. Xylanase was completely inhibited by the Hg2+ ions. beta-Mercaptoethanol, dithiothreitol, and Mn2+ stimulated the xylanase activity. The products of birchwood xylan hydrolysis were xylose, xylobiose, xylotriose, and xylotetraose. Kinetic experiments at 60 degrees C and pH 6.0 gave V-max and K(m)values of 2420 nkat/mg and 0.7 mg/ml. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.