A novel xylanase gene, Kxyn, was cloned from Kocuria sp. Mn22, a bacteria isolated from the deep sea of the east Pacific. Kxyn consists of 1,170 bp and encodes a protein of 390 amino acids that shows the highest identity (63%) with a xylanase from Thermobifida fusca YX. The mature protein with a molecular mass of approximately 40 kDa was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The recombinant Kxyn displayed its maximum activity at 55 degrees and at pH 8.5. The Km, Vmax, and kcat values of Kxyn for birchwood xylan were 5.4 mg/ml, 272 micromol/min.mg, and 185.1/s, respectively. Kxyn hydrolyzed birchwood xylan to produce xylobiose and xylotriose as the predominant products. The activity of Kxyn was not affected by Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, beta- mercaptoethanol, DTT, or SDS, but was strongly inhibited by Hg2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, and Pb2+. It was stable over a wide pH range, retaining more than 80% activity after overnight incubation at pH 7.5-12. Kxyn is a cellulase-free xylanase. Therefore, these properties make it a candidate for various industrial applications.