Phytase and gene encoding said phytase

A process for preparing a phytase from a microorganism belonging to the species Aspergillus niger, wherein said microorganism produces a phytase having the following properties:

• a Michaelis constant of 10 to 30 μM when phytic acid used as the substrate;
• molecular weight determined by SDS-PAGE:
• about 60 kDa after treatment with endoglycosidase H;
• optimum pH:
• 5.0 to 6.5;
• optimum temperature:
• 45° C. to 65° C.;
• acting on the substrate:
• phytic acid, p-nitrophenylphosphate, D-glucose 6-phosphate, fructose 6-phosphate, D-myo-inoitol 1,4,5-tris-phosphate, glycerol phosphate, adenosine triphosphate;
• and
• isoelectric focusing:
• pI 4.7 to 5.4,
• wherein said process comprises culturing in a medium said microorganism, producing and accumulating phytase in said medium, and then recovering phytase from said medium.