Bacillus stearothermophilus was shown to express multiple xylanolytic enzymes including acetyl xylan esterase. Genomic DNA of the strain partially digested with HindIII was ligated into the HindIII site of pBR322, and expressed in E. coli HB101 cells in order to clone the gene for acetyl xylan esterase. One transformant among 4000 screened formed a clear zone around its colony on the LB agar supplemented with 1.0% tributyrin. The functional clone harbored the recombinant plasmid pKMG5 with an insert of 5.1kb.