A mesophilic xylanase from Aspergillus oryzae CICC40186 (abbreviated to AoXyn11A) belongs to glycoside hydrolase family 11. The thermostability of AoXyn11A was significantly improved by substituting its N-terminus with the corresponding region of a hyperthermostable family 11 xylanase, EvXyn11TS. The suitable N-terminus of AoXyn11A to be replaced was selected by the comparison of B-factors between AoXyn11A and EvXyn11TS, which were generated and calculated after a 15ns molecular dynamic (MD) simulation process. Then, the predicted hybrid xylanase (designated AEx11A) was modeled, and subjected to a 2ns MD simulation process for calculating its total energy value. The N-terminus substitution was confirmed by comparing the total energy value of AEx11A with that of AoXyn11A. Based on the in silico design, the AEx11A was constructed and expressed in Pichia pastoris GS115. After 72h of methanol induction, the recombinant AEx11A (reAEx11A) activity reached 82.2U/mL. The apparent temperature optimum of reAEx11A was 80 degrees C, much higher than that of reAoXyn11A. Its half-life was 197-fold longer than that of reAoXyn11A at 70 degrees C. Compared with reAoXyn11A, the reAEx11A displayed a slight alteration in Km but a decrease in Vmax. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 10281038. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.