Other names in common use include: The carboxyl and hydroxide groups (shown in red) attached to the 2,5-cyclohexene ring are eliminated from L-arogenate, leaving as carbon dioxide and water.

The carboxyl and hydroxide groups (in red) attached to the 2,5-cyclohexene ring are removed, leaving phenylpyruvate.

ADT catalyzes a reaction categorized by two major changes in the structure of the substrate, these being a decarboxylation and a dehydration; the enzyme removes a carboxyl group and a water molecule (respectively).

[5] Homologues for ADT have been isolated in Arabidopsis thaliana (rabbit-ear cress),[5] Nicotiana sylvestris (tobacco),[6] Spinacia oleracea (spinach),[6] Petunia hybrida,[7] Sorghum bicolor,[8] Oryza sativa,[9] and Pinus pinaster[10] which are all considered higher-order plants.

Of the plants with ADT homologues, both Arabidopsis thaliana, Petunia hybrida, and Pinus pinaster are known to have paralogues for the gene (six, three, and nine, respectively).