Based on the association between NO and cataracts, we studied the effects of NO donors on Cx46 hemichannels and found that following exposure to S-nitrosoglutathione Cx46 hemichannels expressed in Xenopus oocytes opened at lower positive voltages, displayed a current inactivation evident at voltages above +50 mV, and showed increased tail currents (Retamal et al., 2009). The gene discussed is GJA3; the disease is cataract.