High levels of endoglucanase activity detected on acid-swollen cellulose, ball-milled cellulose, and carboxymethyl cellulose; moderate levels detected on filter paper, phosphoric acid-swollen cellulose, lichenan, and xylan. Endohydrolysis of (1->4)-beta-D-glucosidic linkages in cellulose, lichenin and cereal beta-D-glucans. Optimum pH is 5.0. Optimum temperature is 37-39 degrees Celsius. Monomer. 80% periplasmic, 16% extracellular upon overexpression in E.coli. Belongs to the glycosyl hydrolase 9 (cellulase E) family. Expression of endA requires a ribosomal frameshift to allow contiguous translation of a 453 amino acid protein; this is suggested to take place at position 127 but could in fact occur anywhere between positions 82 and 127. On the basis of sequence similarities the C-terminal part of this sequence seems to be incorrect.