A putative d-lyxose isomerase from Dictyoglomus turgidum was purified with a specific activity of 19 U/mg for d-lyxose isomerization by heat treatment and affinity chromatography. The native enzyme was estimated as a 42 kDa dimer by gel-filtration chromatography. The activity of the enzyme was highest for d-lyxose, suggesting that it is a d-lyxose isomerase. The maximum activity of the enzyme was at pH 7.5 and 75A degrees C in the presence of 0.5 mM Co2+, with a half-life of 108 min, K (m) of 39 mM, and k (cat) of 3,570 1/min. The enzyme is the most thermostable d-lyxose isomerase among those characterized to date. It converted 500 g d-xylulose/l to 380 g d-lyxose/l after 2 h. This is the highest concentration and productivity of d-lyxose reported thus far.