Xylanase III from Fusarium oxysporum F3 was purified to homogeneity by ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The enzyme has a molecular mass of 38 kDa, an isoelectric point of 9.5, and is maximally active on oat spelt xylan at pH 7 and 45 degrees C with a Km of 0.8 mg/mL. The xylanase displays remarkable stability at pH 9.0. It is not active on xylotriose but hydrolyzes the 4-methylumbelliferyl glycosides of beta-xylobiose and beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-xylopyranose, and to a lower extent 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-cellobioside. When acted on xylooligosaccharides and xylan, analysis of reaction mixtures by high-pressure liquid chromatography shows preferred internal glycoside cleavage. Thus the purified enzyme appears to be a true endo-beta-1,4-xylanase. Partial amino acid analysis of xylanase III shows high sequence homology with xylanases of family F/10.