Anti-DDC antibodies are used in the immunodetection of the protein dopa decarboxylase. In humans, the canonical protein has a reported length of 480 amino acid residues and a mass of 53.9 kDa. Up to 4 different isoforms have been reported for this protein. It is notably expressed in many tissues, such as the appendix and cerebellum. A member of the Group II decarboxylase protein family, DDC is known to catalyze the decarboxylation of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) to dopamine and L-5-hydroxytryptophan to serotonin. The DDC gene has been associated with the disease, Aromatic L-amino-acid decarboxylase deficiency. Synonyms for this target antigen include aromatic-L-amino-acid decarboxylase, dopa decarboxylase (aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase), and AADC. DDC gene orthologs have been reported in the mouse, rat, bovine, frog, zebrafish, chimpanzee and chicken species.