Cloning, expression and applicability of thermo-alkali-stable xylanase of Geobacillus thermoleovorans in generating xylooligosaccharides from agro-residues

► First report on cloning and expression of a thermo-alkali-stable xylanase from an extremely thermophilic bacterium. ► A 27-fold higher production was achieved by cloning and expression. ► The recombinant enzyme was purified and characterized, and compared with the native enzyme. ► The enzyme efficiently hydrolyzes xylan and agro-residues into xylooligosaccharides which have application as prebiotics.