This enzyme belongs to the family of oxidoreductases, specifically those acting on the CH-OH group of donor with NAD+ or NADP+ as acceptor. The systematic name of this enzyme class is cinnamyl-alcohol:NADP+ oxidoreductase. Other names in common use include cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, and CAD. This enzyme participates in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis.
Structural studies
As of late 2007, 4 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes 1YQD, 1YQX, 2CF5, and 2CF6.