Glycerophospholipid synthesis and functions in Pseudomonas

•The high capacity of Pseudomonas to adapt to all ecological niches is partially due to the intricate phospholipid membrane. Fatty acid and glycerophospholipid synthesis is extensively reviewed in Pseudomonads: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, also fluorescent Pseudomonas.•This review combines all informations about recently discovered capacity of P. aeruginosa to incorporate the long chain FAs.•Thanks to phylogenetic study, we demonstrated the distribution of several Fab enzymes upon Pseudomonas genus and find the FabY ortholog sequence in P. fulva genome. This study highlights the alternative mechanisms of fatty acid synthesis in Pseudomonas strains (FabY or FabV enzymes), compared to that of E. coli.•Pseudomonas is able to use the phospholipids of its host. The strategies and mechanisms of pseudomonal lipids–host interactions are revisited in this work.•As several Pseudomonas species are opportunistic human pathogens, the glycerophospholipids are reviewed as a target of current and future technologies of drugs development. The genus Pseudomonas is one of the most heterogeneous groups of eubacteria, presents in all major natural environments and in wide range of associations with plants and animals. The wide distribution of these bacteria is due to the use of specific mechanisms to adapt to environmental modifications. Generally, bacterial adaptation is only considered under the aspect of genes and protein expression, but lipids also play a pivotal role in bacterial functioning and homeostasis. This review resumes the mechanisms and regulations of pseudomonal glycerophospholipid synthesis, and the roles of glycerophospholipids in bacterial metabolism and homeostasis. Recently discovered specific pathways of P. aeruginosa lipid synthesis indicate the lineage dependent mechanisms of fatty acids homeostasis. Pseudomonas glycerophospholipids ensure structure functions and play important roles in bacterial adaptation to environmental modifications. The lipidome of Pseudomonas contains a typical eukaryotic glycerophospholipid – phosphatidylcholine –, which is involved in bacteria–host interactions. The ability of Pseudomonas to exploit eukaryotic lipids shows specific and original strategies developed by these microorganisms to succeed in their infectious process. All compiled data provide the demonstration of the importance of studying the Pseudomonas lipidome to inhibit the infectious potential of these highly versatile germs.