The enzyme from the bacterium Streptomyces lavendulae is involved in biosynthesis of saframycin A, a potent antitumor antibiotic that belongs to the tetrahydroisoquinoline family.
Characterization of SfmD as a Heme peroxidase that catalyzes the regioselective hydroxylation of 3-methyltyrosine to 3-hydroxy-5-methyltyrosine in saframycin A biosynthesis.