Bacterial genetic competence for natural transformation is a physiological state that permits uptake and incorporation of naked exogenous DNA. This process, intensively studied in various gram-positive and gram-negative model organisms, is probably the most versatile mechanism of DNA transfer.

Table: Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 annotated genes involved in its competence
ACIAD number (links)	Gene name	Size (aa)	Related species	Identity % (length aa)	AC/ID SWALL	Description
209	smf	383	H. influenzae	41.7 (373)	SMF_HAEIN	Putative protein involved in DNA uptake
242	comM	495	H. influenzae	49.5 (509)	COMM_HAEIN	Magnesium chelatase, competence related protein
360	pilD	286	P. stutzeri	52.3 (289)	LEP4_PSEST	Type 4 prepilin-like proteins leader peptide processing enzyme
361	pilC	408	P. stutzeri	58.9 (405)	Q9ZEL5	Type 4 fimbrial assembly protein
362	pilB	579	P. stutzeri	59.7 (567)	Q9ZEL4	Type 4 fimbrial biogenesis protein
911	pilU	383	P. stutzeri	65.3 (382)	Q9RLD5	Twitching motility protein
912	pilT	344	P. stutzeri	83.4 (344)	Q9RLD6	Twitching motility protein
2639	comA	792	A. baylyi ADP1	100 (792)	Q9EYM1	Competence factor involved in DNA uptake
2898	comL	360	N. gonorhoeae	34.1 (267)	COML_NEIGO	Putative competence protein
3236	comF	213	H. influenzae	30.6 (229)	COMF_HAEIN	Putative DNA transformation protein
3314	comF	144	A. baylyi ADP1	100 (144)	Q9X2M5	Pilin like competence factor
3315	comE	169	A. baylyi ADP1	100 (169)	Q9X2M4	Pilin like competence factor
3316	comC	1450	A. baylyi ADP1	100 (1208)	O31068	Competence factor involved in DNA binding and uptake
3318	comB	322	A. baylyi ADP1	100 (322)	Q9RBI7	Pilin like competence factor
3338	comP	147	A. baylyi ADP1	100 (147)	O30583	Competence factor involved in DNA binding and uptake
3355	comQ	723	A. baylyi ADP1	100 (723)	Q9AM59	Putative outer membrane protein
3356	comL	174	A. baylyi ADP1	100 (174)	Q9AM60	Putative lipoprotein
3357	comO	245	A. baylyi ADP1	100 (245)	Q9AM61	Putative membrane protein
3359	comN	212	A. baylyi ADP1	100 (212)	Q9AM62	Putative membrane protein
3360	comM	341	A. baylyi ADP1	100 (353)	Q9AM63	Putative membrane protein