Background: Tyrosine-liganded hemoproteins typically are hydroperoxidases. They do not oxygenate their substrates. Results: In the presence of an oxygen donor, tyrosine-liganded allene oxide synthase stereospecifically oxygenated polyunsaturated fatty acids. Conclusion: A catalase-related enzyme can act as a monooxygenase. Significance: A catalase hemoprotein, with tyrosine as the proximal heme ligand, can exhibit monooxygenase activity, a property usually associated with a cysteinate heme ligand, as in cytochromes P450.