Transgenic expression of a mutant ubiquitin (K6W) that is conjugation competent but proteolytically incompetent in mice leads to cataracts that are associated with an increase in Cx43, a decrease in Cx46 and in intercellular coupling between fiber cells in the lens nucleus, and accumulation of calcium in the lens core (likely as a result of decreased gap junction activity) [91]. Here, GJA3 is linked to cataract.