The contribution of proteomics to the unveiling of the survival strategies used by Pseudomonas putida in changing and hostile environments.

Pseudomonas putida is a ubiquitous, metabolically very versatile, Gram-negative bacterium adapted to habitats as diverse as soil, water and the rhizosphere. Most strains are nonpathogenic, many are used as experimental models, and many others have biotechnological applications in the areas of agriculture, bioremediation, biocatalysis, and the production of bioplastics. This review summarizes the contribution of proteomic technologies to our understanding of how P. putida responds to different carbon sources, how it adapts to living at suboptimal temperatures or attached to surfaces, and how it responds to the presence of toxic compounds such as aromatic molecules and heavy metals. The examples described illustrate the value of proteomics in furthering our knowledge of the physiology and behavior of bacteria, knowledge that is important for understanding how they behave in their natural habitats and for optimizing their behavior in biotechnological applications.