Abstract: ：As a fuel oxidizing agent，methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is added to gasoline in replacement of tetraethyl lead to enhance octane number. The addition of MTBE also improves the combustion efficiency and therefore decreases the emission of pollutants like CO and O3. On the other hand，because of gasoline spills，mainly due to leaking underground storage tanks，MTBE has become a prevalent contaminant in groundwater. The reason for such widespread contamination is that MTBE is highly soluble in water and recalcitrant to biodegradation. The chemical characteristics of MTBE make it a challenge to treatment in the natural environment. Biological treatment of soil and groundwater is expected to be a cost-effective technique. It was reported that MTBE was able to degrade through co-oxidation or could be used as a carbon and energy source by many microorganisms. In China，the studies on MTBE removal by bioremediation techniques are still at their infancy for both fundamental research and on-site application. Based on previous studies，the reported microorganisms able to degrade MTBE were summarized，and then emphasis was put on the key catabolic enzymes involved in MTBE degradation.