Different growth phases of Streptomyces rochei A2, a cellulolytic strain isolated from termite gut, were determined in liquid culture. The strain exhibited a multiphasic growth curve typical of streptomycetes. In S. rochei A2, the secreted endoglucanase EglS is coded by a TTA-containing gene, conserved in other Streptomyces. The onset of S. rochei A2 eglS gene expression was determined by RT-PCR using total RNA extracted at different growth phases. The eglS gene was expressed only during transition, second rapid growth and stationary phases, the timing of expression being transcriptionally regulated.