Production of chitosan-and chitin-like exopolymers

Cellulose, (1-4)-linked- -D-glucan, is a major structural component of the cell walls of higher plants (Delmer, D. P., and Amor, Y., 7:987-1000 (1995)). Some microorganisms also produce unbranched (1-4)-linked- -D-glucan, named microbial cellulose (MC) (Schramm, M. and Hestrin, S., ., 56:163-166 (1954); Carr, J. G., (London), 182:265-266 (1958) and Canale-Parola, E. and Wolfe, R. S., . 82:403-405 (1964)). Cellulose is important industrially, for example, in the production of paper. Cellulose can be chemically detergents, varnishes, adhesives and for gelling or thickening of food stuffs or pharmaceuticals, depending on the extent of etherification. A method of producing biosynthetic copolymers comprising glucose and glucose analogs is provided. Glucose:glucose analog copolymers such as glucose:glucosamine, glucose:N-acetylglucosamine and glucose:glucosamine:N-acetylglucosamine are also provided.