A plasmid expression vector of pEStxl encoding a mature form of the B chain of the Shiga toxin was constructed without a signal peptide under the control of an inducible n promoter. The encoded protein was purified to 90% by simple heat treatment, and then further purified to 95% by Phenyl-Sepharose and DEAE-Sepharose chromatographies, all in a single day. Accordingly, this expression system and heat treatment could facilitate the rapid purification of gram-scale amounts of the Shiga toxin B subunit from recombinant Escherichia coli cells.