Metabolic strategies deployed by Pseudomonas fluorescens to combat metal pollutants: Biotechnological prospects

Pseudomonas fluorescens is predominantly a soil microbe that commonly inhabits the vicinity of plant roots. Owing to its nutritional versatility, this bacterium is widely utilized in biotechnological processes and is an important model system to delineate molecular mechanisms that eventually culminate into adaptations to diverse ecological niches. Here, we discuss how P.fluorescens invokes a variety of metabolic stratagems to combat such toxic metals as aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), iron (Fe), and calcium (Ca). While metabolic reprogramming resulting in the production of oxalate helps sequester Al, Fe is essentially immobilized as oxides in association with lipids. The enhanced generation of bicarbonate (HCO3) and an asparate (Asp) – derived chelator, promote the detoxification of Ca and Ga respectively. This intricate modulation of metabolic networks that is central to the survival of P.fluorescens lays the foundation to utilize this microbe and/or its products in metal waste management technologies, CO2-entrapment processes and metal chelation therapy.