The enzyme alkylmercury lyase (EC 4.99.1.2) catalyzes the reaction
This enzyme belongs to the family of lyases, specifically the "catch-all" class of lyases that do not fit into any other sub-class. The systematic name of this enzyme class is alkylmercury mercury(II)-lyase (alkane-forming). Other names in common use include organomercury lyase, organomercurial lyase, and alkylmercury mercuric-lyase.
The enzyme converts methyl mercury to the much less toxic elemental form of the metal.