Biotechnological domestication of pseudomonads using synthetic biology

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.