Toxoflavin (PKF 118-310) is an azapteridine antibiotic produced by some species of Pseudomonas, Streptomyces, and Burkholderia gladioli that has antibiotic and anticancer properties. It is also a yellow pigment that acts as a pH indicator changing between yellow and colorless at a pH of 10.5. Toxoflavin is one of two toxins produced when a fermented coconut drink, Tempe bonkrek, is contaminated with P. cocovenenans.
Toxoflavin is toxic because it acts as an electron carrier, resulting in the production of hydrogen peroxide.
Toxoflavin (PKF 118-310) is a potent antagonist of Tcf4/b-catenin signaling, inhibiting the expression of survivin and inducing apoptosis in several tumor cell lines. It also has been shown to inhibit KDM4A and SIRT1/2 which show promise as anticancer targets.
Toxoflavin can be used in potato cell transformation, as a selection agent, with similar efficacy as the hygromycin/hpt selection system.
Toxoflavin is soluble in ethanol, methanol, DMF and DMSO.