The pathway of methylphosphonate degradation starts with methylphosphonate being degrade by an ATP driven methylphosphonate degradation complex resulting in a alpha-D-ribose-1-methylphosphonate-5-triphosphate. This compound in turn is degraded by a water driven RPnTP hydrolase resulting in the release of a hydrogen ion, a pyrophosphate and a alpha-Dribose-1-methylphosphonate 5-phosphate. The latter compound is then involved with a carbon-phosphorous lyase resulting in the release of a methane and a 5-phospho-alpha-D-ribose 1,2-cyclic phosphate. This compound in turn gets degraded by a water driven 5-phospho-alpha-D-ribosyl 1,2-cyclic phosphate phosphodiesterase resulting in the release of a hydrogen ion and a alpha-D-ribose 1,5-biphosphate.

Methylphosphonate Degradation I References