The alpha-galactosidase gene, RmGal36, from Rhizomucor miehei was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The gene has an open reading frame of 2256 bp encoding 751 amino acid residues. RmGal36 was optimally active at pH 4.5 and 60 degrees C. but is stable between pH 4.5 and 10.0 and at a temperature of up to 55 degrees C for 30 min retaining more than 80% of its relative activity. It displayed remarkable resistance to proteases and its activity was not inhibited by galactose concentrations of 100 mM. The relative specificity of RmGal36 towards various substrates is in the order of p-nitrophenyl alpha-galactopyranoside > melibiose > stachyose > raffinose, with a K-m of 0.36, 16.9, 27.6, and 47.9 mM, respectively. The enzyme completely hydrolyzed raffinose and stachyose present in soybeans and kidney beans at 50 degrees C within 60 min. These features make RmGal36 useful in the food and feed industries and in processing of beet-sugar. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.