Extracellular endo-1,4-beta-xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) synthesis in the yeast Trichosporon cutaneum SL409 is inducible. The enzyme can be induced in washed glucose-grown cells by xylan or xylose. Methyl beta-D-xylopyranoside, a synthetic analogue of xylobiose, however, was not an inducer of xylanase in Trichosporon cutaneum SL409. The induction of xylanase by xylan lasted longer and the final total activities were significantly higher compared to the induction by xylose. Xylanase induction was subject to glucose repression.