In diabetic retinopathy, Rac1 signaling is activated by Tiam1, which, with increase in duration of glucose insult, results in mitochondrial damage-capillary cell apoptosis; a specific inhibitor of Tiam1, NSC23766, inhibits glucose-induced mitochondrial damage and accelerated apoptosis of retinal capillary cells [31]. The gene discussed is RAC1; the disease is diabetic retinopathy.