Improved glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine production by an engineered Escherichia coli via step-wise regulation of dissolved oxygen level

► E. coli was engineered to produce glucosamine (GlcN) and N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). ► Kinetics of GlcN and GlcNAc production at different dissolved oxygen (DO) levels. ► A step-wise DO control strategy was proposed to enhance GlcN and GlcNAc production. ► Total GlcN and GlcNAc titers were 1.37 times those of the process without DO control.