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Genes encoding an esterase (EstA) and lipase (LipA) from Geobacillus thermoleovorans YN, a strain isolated from Egyptian desert soil, were cloned and the respective proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli and characterized. Whereas LipA was cloned directly by PCR amplification from genomic DNA, a genomic library composed of 3000 clones was screened on tributyrin agar plates to find EstA. An open reading frame of 744 bps encoding a polypeptide of 247 amino acid residues was identified as esterase due to its conserved GXSXG motif and its high similarity toward other carboxyl esterases. LipA (416 aa residues) is encoded by an ORF of 1251 bps and constitutes a pre-protein with a calculated molecular mass of 46 kDa including a signal sequence of 28 aa resulting in a mature lipase of 43 kDa. Both, LipA and EstA were sub-cloned and expressed under control of the temperature-inducible lambda-promoter and purified by IMAC and gel filtration. The molecular mass of the purified EstA was 29 kDa. Both enzymes were most active at pH similar to 9.5 and remarkably stable at pH 5 and 10.5. Temperature optima and stabilities (up to 70 degrees C) of both enzymes as well as their reaction kinetics and substrate spectra were determined. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.