Amidases have received increasing attention for their significant potential in the production of valuable carboxylic acids. In this study, two amidases belonging to amidase signature family (BeAmi2 and BeAmi4) were identified and mined from genomic DNA of Brevibacterium epidermidis ZJB-07021 by an efficient strategy combining comparative analysis of genomes and identification of unknown region by high-efficiency thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR (HiTAIL-PCR). The deduced amino acid sequences of BeAmi2 and BeAmi4 showed low identity (< 40%) with other reported amidases. The two amidases displayed optimum activity toward a wide spectrum of substrates at a mild alkaline pH and 45 degrees C. Both of them were remarkably inactivated by serine-directed inhibitor and sulfhydryl-reducing agent. Kinetic analysis revealed that nicotinamide was the preferable substrate for both amidases and the chlorine substitutions on the pyridine ring had a negative effect on activity. The bioprocesses for hydrolysis of 100 mM nicotinamide, isonicotinamide, 2-chloronicotinamide and 5-chloronicotinamide with purified BeAmi2 (6 U mL(-1)) were complete in 60 min with full conversion except 2-chloronicotinamide. These results indicated BeAmi2 was an effective catalyst for hydrolysis of several nicotinamide derivatives. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.