Scientists have uncovered a previously unknown class of natural compounds hidden within soil-dwelling bacteria.

Scientists have discovered a previously unknown group of molecules in soil bacteria that bind to a human protein associated with several types of cancer. The compounds, known as myxoglucamides, have an unusual chemical structure and could provide a starting point for developing new drugs, although researchers have not demonstrated a strong effect on cancer cell growth.

The discovery emerged from two studies examining how bacteria produce these molecules and how they interact with human cells. Myxoglucamides combine molecular components derived from sugars, lipids, and amino acids in an arrangement unlike previously known natural products. Accessing them required researchers to activate bacterial genes that normally remain silent.