Decreases in phosphorylated and overall connexin-43 levels, a major gap junction protein which has been linked with atrial fibrillation, have been shown in a streptozotocin-induced diabetes model (Mitasíková et al., 2009) which may occur through protein kinase Cε-dependent mechanisms (Lin et al., 2006). The gene discussed is GJA1; the disease is diabetes mellitus.