A psychrotrophic bacterium producing a cold-active β-galactosidase was isolated from Spitsbergen soil and classified as Arthrobacter sp. S3*. The gene encoding β-galactosidase was isolated from the genomic DNA library, sequenced, cloned, expressed in Escherichia coli, purified by ion exchange chromatography and characterized. The Arthrobaster sp. S3* β-galactosidase is a homotrimeric enzyme composed of 74,4 kDa subunits. It is...