Xylanases, genes encoding them, and uses thereof

A nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide having the enzymatic activity of a xylanase, selected from the group consisting of:

• (a) nucleic acid molecules encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence as depicted in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:
• 2), FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:
• 4), or FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:
• 6);
• (b) nucleic acid molecules comprising the coding sequence of the nucleotide sequence as depicted in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:
• 1), FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:
• 3), or FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:
• 5);
• (c) nucleic acid molecules encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence encoded by the DNA insert contained in DSM 11021, DSM 11022 or DSM 11023;
• (d) nucleic acid molecules comprising the coding sequence of the DNA insert contained in DSM 11021, DSM 11022 or DSM 11023;
• (e) nucleic acid molecules the coding sequence of which differs from the coding sequence of a nucleic acid molecule of any one of (a) to (d) due to the degeneracy of the genetic code;
• and
• (f) nucleic acid molecules hybridizing to a molecule of any one of (a)-(d), and encoding a polypeptide having xylanase activity and having an amino acid sequence which shows at least 80% identity to a sequence as depicted in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:
• 2), FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:
• 4), or FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:
• 6).