For the first time, a beta-glucosidase gene from the edible straw mushroom, Volvariella volvacea V1-1, has been over-expressed in E. coli. The gene product was purified by chromatography showing a single band on SDS-PAGE. The recombinant enzyme had a molecular mass of 380 kDa with subunits of 97 kDa. The maximum activity was at pH 6.4 and 50 degrees C over a 5 min assay. The purified enzyme was stable from pH 5.6-8.0, had a half life of 1 h at 45 degrees C. The beta-glucosidase had a K-m of 0.2 mM for p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside.