Paxilline is a toxic, tremorgenic diterpene indole polycyclic alkaloid molecule produced by Penicillium paxilli which was first characterized in 1975.

[1][2] Paxilline is one of a class of tremorigenic mycotoxins, is a potassium channel blocker, and is potentially genotoxic.

[6] It has also been used in mice to induce autism-like behaviors through inhibition of the BK channel.

[8] By expressing six genes known to be necessary for Paxilline synthesis in Aspergillus oryzae, the further steps in the biosynthesis were identified; two epoxidations and two cyclizations yield paspaline, then two oxidation reactions and a demethylation complete the synthesis.

[10] Paxilline has also been found to be mono- or di-prenylated with DMAPP by an atypical prenyltransferase enzyme.