Specifically, we have shown that inhibition of sialylation using 3Fax-Neu5Ac, a global inhibitor of the ST family (Rillahan et al., 2012), impaired maturation of the α4 chain, greatly reducing the ability of MM cells to interact with VCAM-1 and mucosal vascular addressin cell adhesion molecule 1 (MADCAM-1). The gene discussed is VCAM1; the disease is Miyoshi myopathy.