Genomics of secondary metabolite production by Pseudomonas spp

Pseudomonas is a diverse genus of Gammaproteobacteria with more than 60 species exhibiting varied life styles in a wide range of environments, including soil, water, plant surfaces, and animals. They are well known for their ubiquity in the natural world, capacity to utilize a striking variety of organic compounds as energy sources, resistance to a wide range of medically-and agriculturally-important antimicrobial compounds, and production of a remarkable array of secondary metabolites. Here, we provide an overview of the astonishing metabolic capacity of the Pseudomonads, summarize the knowledge of secondary metabolite biosynthesis in this group of organisms, and highlight the biological significance of these compounds to the diverse life styles exhibited by Pseudomonas spp. A consistent theme throughout this discussion is the central role of genomics in natural product discovery, characterization of metabolic gene clusters and patterns of their inheritance, and illuminaton of new aspects of Pseudomonas biology.