An extracellular and cellulase-free xylanase (EX624) was produced by Streptomyces sp. CS624 using an agricultural residue (wheat bran) as a growth substrate. EX624 was purified from culture supernatant using ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. The SDS-PAGE and the zymograrn analysis of the purified xylanase indicated molecular mass of 40 kDa. Biochemical characterization of the purified EX624 revealed its highest activity at a temperature of 60 degrees C and pH 6.0. The xylanase was adequately stable in the pH range 4.5-10.0 and at temperatures <= 50 degrees C. EX624 displayed enhanced activity in the presence of several metal ions including Fe2+, Co2+ and Ca2+. HPLC results showed that EX624 was not only able to hydrolyze commercially available pure beechwood xylan to xylose, xylobiose and xylotriose, but also abundantly available lignocellulosic agricultural residues in nature such as wheat bran to xylooligosaccharides. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.