Phosphonates constitute a class of biogenic and xenobiotic compounds characterized by the presence of a direct carbon-to-phosphorus linkage. The C-P bond is extremely stable and resistant to degradation. Phosphonates are of widespread use these days and much interest has been paid over the past years to their environmental fate and possible eco-toxicity. This review is devoted to the processes of microbial degradation of phosphonates, covering various aspects of metabolic pathways and regulation.
M. Klimek-Ochab, Instytut Chemii Organicznej, Biochemii i Biotechnologii, Politechnika Wroclawska, ul. Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland