Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1: transforming the choice of model organism

For more than 25 years, Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 has been used in molecular biology studies that address a broad range of questions. Recently, the rapid accumulation of data from DNA sequencing, gene expression, protein structure, and other high-throughput methodology has increased the ability to tackle complex topics using sophisticated approaches to metabolic and genetic engineering. While the genetic malleability of ADP1 makes it an ideal organism for such investigations, A. baylyi ADP1 has yet to become a common choice for bacterial studies. This review describes examples of ADP1-based studies that exploit its highly efficient system for natural transformation and chromosomal incorporation of exogenous DNA. These studies focus on a wide array of problems, including gene duplication and amplification, horizontal gene transfer, bioreporters, and metabolic reconstruction. Interesting results in these diverse areas highlight the utility of using A. baylyi in laboratory and industrial settings.