Effect of ribose, xylose, aspartic acid, glutamine and nicotinic acid on ethyl (S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate synthesis by recombinant Escherichia coli

► Some precursors of cofactor NADP(H) were added to co-expression system for the replacement of NADP(H). ► Glutamine and xylose were found to have obvious function in enhancing the content of intracellular NADP(H) and the concentration of product. ► Glutamine acts synergistically with xylose in the production of (S)-CHBE.