GJA1 and cardiomyopathy: Genetic mutations and aberrant functions of DES, DSP, GJA1, and SMOC2 are implicated in cardiomyopathies through dysregulation of key cellular processes, including tissue remodelling, intercellular communication, and extracellular matrix regulation (Chen et al. 2024; Lee et al. 2023; Palatinus et al. 2023; Rui et al. 2022; Smith et al. 2020; Su et al. 2022; Tu et al. 2024).