A biosynthetic method for producing glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine is
disclosed. Such a method includes the fermentation of a genetically
modified microorganism to produce glucosamine and/or N-acetylglucosamine.
Also disclosed are genetically modified microorganisms that are useful
for producing glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine. In addition, methods
of recovering N-acetylglucosamine that has been produced by a
fermentation process, including methods that result in
N-acetylglucosamine of high purity, are described. Also disclosed is a
method to produce glucosamine from N-acetylglucosamine.