An endoxylanase gene, xynA, was cloned from Bacillus pumilus ARA and expressed in Escherichia coli. The open reading frame of the xynA gene was 687 bp encoding a signal peptide and a mature xylanase with a molecular mass of 23 kDa. The enzyme was categorized as a glycosyl hydrolase family 11 member based on the sequence analysis of the putative catalytic domain. The recombinant XynA (Bpu XynA) was purified to homogeneity by Ni-NTA and ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose FF. The enzyme exhibited highest activity at pH 6.6 and 50A degrees C. The purified Bpu XynA was stable for at least 2 h at 45A degrees C, and retained over 50% residual activity after being incubated at 60A degrees C for 1 h. The activity of the xylanase was not significantly affected by metal ions and EDTA. The K (m) and K (cat) /K (m) of Bpu XynA for oat-spelt xylan were 5.53 mg/ml and 10.14 ml/mg s at 50A degrees C and pH 6.6. The main product of hydrolysis by Bpu XynA was xylooligosaccharide. The results revealed that the consumption of grass xylan by B. pumilus ARA depended on the synergistic reactions of Bpu XynA and Bpu arabinosidase, and that a typical GH11 xylanase e.g. Tla XynA had capability to remove the side chain of xylan. The properties Bpu XynA make it promising for application in the production of Bifidobacterium growth-promoting factors and in feed industry.