This protein oxidizes 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate, a tyrosine and phenylalanine catabolite, to homogentisate. Homogentisate can undergo a further non-enzymatic oxidation and polymerization into brown pigments that protect some bacterial species from light. A similar process occurs spontaneously in blood and is hemolytic (see . In some bacterial species, this enzyme has been studied as a hemolysin. [Energy metabolism, Amino acids and amines]
Jiyao W et al.(2023). "The conserved domain database in 2023.",