Biochemical characterization of a novel GH43 family β-xylosidase from Bacillus pumilus

•A novel β-xylosidase gene from Bacillus pumilus was cloned and expressed.•Recombinant β-xylosidase was most active at 30 °C and showed 18% activity at 0 °C.•The enzyme exhibited both β-xylosidase and α-l-arabinofuranosidase activities.•The enzyme displayed a relatively strong tolerance towards xylose.•The enzyme can efficiently degrade xylan to xylose with an endo-xylanase at 25 °C.