P53: Structural and mechanistic insights into 2-aminoethyl phosphonate degradation by PhnY and PhnA enzymes

We present here the structural and biochemical characterization of two dedicated phosphonate degradation enzymes- PhnY and PhnA, which convert the most widely present phosphonate compound, 2-aminoethylphosphonate into acetate and inorganic phosphate which then be used as carbon and phosphorous sources by bacterial cells. This presents an as yet uncharacterized pathway of phosphonate degradation.