Methanesulfonate monooxygenase (MSAMO) mediates the primary degradation of methanesulfonic acid (MSA) to produce formaldehyd and inorganic sulfite by initial hydroxylation of the carbon atom prior to spontaneous cleavage of the unstable hydroxymethanesulfonic acid. MSAMO has a restricted substrate range that includes only the short-chain aliphatic sulfonates (methane- to butanesulfonate) and excludes all larger molecules, such as arylsulfonates and aromatic sulfonates. All MSAMO components are required for enzyme activity