Biotechnological domestication of pseudomonads using synthetic biology

• Published in: Nature reviews. Microbiology 2014-05, Vol.12 (5), p.368-379
• Main Authors: Nikel, Pablo I., Martínez-García, Esteban, de Lorenzo, Víctor
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/1647/338/552; 631/326/171; 631/326/252/318; 631/326/2522; 631/326/41/2173; Biotechnology; Circuits; Domestication; Environment; Genetic aspects; Genetic engineering; Genetic Engineering - methods; Genetic Vectors; Genomes; Infectious Diseases; Life Sciences; Medical Microbiology; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Metabolism; Metabolites; Microbiological research; Microbiology; Microorganisms; Organisms, Genetically Modified; Parasitology; Physiology; Pseudomonas; Pseudomonas - genetics; Pseudomonas - isolation & purification; Pseudomonas - metabolism; review-article; Synthetic Biology; Virology
• ISSN: 1740-1526; 1740-1534
• DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro3253

Key Points One of the pillars of contemporary synthetic biology is the use of reliable biological chassis into which users can plug-in and plug-out genetic circuits and new-to-nature properties at will. The microorganisms that are easiest to genetically manipulate in the laboratory are frequently suboptimal for industrial applications owing to physicochemical stress and harsh operation conditions. Hallmark features of pseudomonads as synthetic biology platforms include their pre-endowed metabolic, physiological and stress-endurance traits, which make them adequate for real-life biotechnological needs. The range of molecular tools that are available for the rational manipulation of pseudomonads is continuously increasing in variety and scope. These assets include streamlined plasmid vectors for gene expression and genome editing, as well as a number of in silico tools for the modelling and prediction of metabolic and physiological behaviour of these bacteria. String–weight biological engineering enables the assembly of complex biosystems by combining the physical connectivity of available parts and modules with evolutionary gravitation of input–output transfer functions towards functional optimality. Much of synthetic biology research makes use of model organisms, such as Escherichia coli . Here, Víctor de Lorenzo and colleagues emphasize the need for a wider choice of model organisms and advocate the use of environmental Pseudomonas strains as model organisms that possess the necessary metabolic traits required to meet current and future synthetic biology and biotechnological needs. Much of contemporary synthetic biology research relies on the use of bacterial chassis for plugging-in and plugging-out genetic circuits and new-to-nature functionalities. However, the microorganisms that are the easiest to manipulate in the laboratory are often suboptimal for downstream industrial applications, which can involve physicochemical stress and harsh operating conditions. In this Review, we advocate the use of environmental Pseudomonas strains as model organisms that are pre-endowed with the metabolic, physiological and stress-endurance traits that are demanded by current and future synthetic biology and biotechnological needs.