The transfer of sialic acids to the non-reducing terminal positions on Sugar chains of glycoconjugates is catalyzed by sialyltransferases (STs). Increased sialylation is correlated with oncogenic transformation and metastatic potential. ST inhibitors may be potentially valuable as anti-cancer and anti-metastatic agents. In this study, we evaluated the effects of soyasaponin I (Ssa 1), a known inhibitor of STs, on tumor inetastasis through studying a highly metastatic cancer cell line B16F10. Ssa I specifically inhibited the expression of alpha 2,3-linked sialic acids without affecting other glycans on the B16F10 cell surface. We also found that Ssa I decreased the migratory ability of cells, enhanced cell adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins. Finally, a pulmonary metastasis assay demonstrated that alteration of glycosylation in this way significantly reduced the ability of tumor cells to distribute to the lungs of mice. Collectively, these findings suggested that alpha 2,3-linked sialic acids may play an important role in metastasis potential of B16F10 cells. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.