Bacterial scission of ether bonds

Substances containing the ether linkage are somewhat resistant to biodegradation but are still degraded by microorganisms. Studies of microbial degradation of ether linkages has shown eight systems used by microorganisms: oxygenases, cytochromes P-450, hydroxyl shift, hydrolysis, anaerobic cleavage of methyl-aryl ethers, oxidative mechanisms, reductive mechanisms and carbon-oxygen lyases.