L’étude des formes familiales de syndrome néphrotique (SN) ou de protéinurie glomérulaire avec lésions histologiques de hyalinose segmentaire et focale (HSF) a permis d’incriminer plus d’une vingtaine de gènes, majoritairement exprimés par le podocyte, cellule principale de la barrière de filtration glomérulaire (BFG). Parmi ces gènes, près d’une dizaine code des régulateurs du cytosquelette d’actine démontrant ainsi le rôle central de la plasticité et de l’architecture du podocyte dans le fonctionnement du filtre glomérulaire. L’ensemble de ces travaux a permis de définir une nouvelle catégorie de maladies nommées podocytopathies héréditaires. Mon projet de thèse a porté sur la caractérisation de plusieurs gènes (TTC21B, WDR73, TRIM3), dont nous avons identifié des mutations dans des cas de podocytopathies héréditaires isolées ou syndromiques. Les résultats du premier volet de ma thèse ont montré que la mutation faux sens p.P209L dans le gène TTC21B induit à l’état homozygote une nouvelle entité clinique associant à la fois une atteinte glomérulaire et une atteinte tubulaire. TTC21B code l’IFT139 (intraflagellar transport protein 139), une protéine impliquée dans le transport protéique antérograde dans le cil primaire, un organite présent à la surface de la plupart des cellules épithéliales. Ces résultats étaient inattendus car l’identification de mutations dans un gène codant une protéine ciliaire n’avait jamais été démontrée auparavant dans des cas de podocytopathies héréditaires, et surtout, il ne semblait pas exister de cil primaire à la surface des podocytes matures. Effectivement, nous avons montré que le cil primaire est présent dans les podocytes humains indifférenciés, mais disparait au cours de la différenciation. Nos résultats ont permis de comprendre l’apparente contradiction entre la survenue d’une pathologie glomérulaire relativement tardive (protéinurie et SN à l’adolescence) et l’absence de cil dans le podocyte mature. En effet, nous avons montré que la mutation p.P209L est une mutation hypomorphe qui induit des défauts mineurs dans la fonction ciliaire, alors qu’elle provoque, dans le podocyte différencié, une déstructuration importante du réseau d’actine et de microtubules du podocyte. Cette étude montre que la protéine ciliaire IFT139, par sa fonction extra-ciliaire, permet de réguler la dynamique des microtubules. Dans le deuxième volet de mon projet, en collaboration avec l’équipe de D Bonneau (Angers), nous avons identifié des mutations tronquantes dans le gène WDR73, dans deux familles non apparentées présentant un syndrome de Galloway-Mowat (SGM), pathologie de transmission autosomique récessive, très hétérogène cliniquement, associant SN et microcéphalie. Ces travaux ont permis d’identifier le premier gène impliqué dans le SGM, dans un sous-groupe de patients présentant un phénotype neurologique très homogène (microcéphalie post-natale, atrophie corticale avec atrophie cérébelleuse majeure, déficience intellectuelle très sévère), alors que l’atteinte glomérulaire est très variable. Ce gène code WDR73, une protéine à motifs WD40. Nos travaux ont montré que la protéine est exprimée dans les neurones du système nerveux central, en particulier dans les cellules de Purkinje du cervelet et dans les podocytes. Des études fonctionnelles nous ont permis de montrer que WDR73 est impliquée dans la survie cellulaire, puisqu’en son absence, une apoptose accrue est observée dans les fibroblastes de patients. De plus, elle est également nécessaire au maintien de la dynamique des microtubules dans les fibroblastes et dans les podocytes différenciés, alors qu’elle ne semble pas avoir de rôle dans la régulation de l’actine. (...) / The genetic study of familial forms of nephrotic syndrome or proteinuria with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis has permitted the identification of 30 causal genes, mainly expressed in the podocyte, which is the principal actor of the glomerular filtration barrier (GFB). Among those genes, approximately ten encode actin cytoskeleton regulators and components, thus highlighting the dramatic role of the podocyte architecture and plasticity in the function of the GFB. During the last decade, all the accumulating results, has made a new category of disease called hereditary podocytopathies. The aim of my thesis project was to characterize the effect of mutations in three candidate genes (TTC21B, WDR73, WDR73), identified by whole exome sequencing in isolated or syndromic podocytopathies. In the first part of my project, we found a homozygous missense mutation (p.P209L) in TTC21B, which encodes a ciliary gene named Intraflagellar transport protein IFT139. This protein ensures the trafficking of components from the tip to the base of the primary cilium, which is an organelle present on most mammalian epithelial cells. These results were unexpected because until now, the existence of the primary cilium was unknown. Our work demonstrates the presence of the primary cilium in the human immature podocyte that disappears once podocytes have differentiated. We also showed that IFT139 localized at the basal body and then relocalized along the complex microtubule network of differenciated cells. We showed that the hypomorphic mutation p.P209L causes minor ciliary defects in undifferentiated cells that are not responsible for the glomerular phenotype. Indeed, the glomerular lesions are rather due to drastic damage in actin and, microtubular dysregulation, found in differentiated podocytes. The second part of my thesis aimed to characterize the effects of truncating mutations identified in the WDR73 gene, found in two families. WDR73 is the first gene identified in Galloway Mowat syndrome by whole exome sequencing combined with homozygous mapping. This rare disease is defined by the association of microcephaly with nephrotic syndrome. In this study, the phenotypes of patients with WDR73 mutations are homogenous concerning neurological features, and are heterogeneous with regards to the renal defects. Thus, WDR73 mutations are responsible for a subset of particular patients affected with Galloway-Mowat syndrome. The WDR73 gene encodes WDR73, a WD-40 containing protein of unknown function. Our studies demonstrated that this protein is expressed in both neurons and podocytes in human tissues. We demonstrated that in undifferentiated cells, WDR73 is weakly expressed in the cytosol, while strong expression and relocalization to the spindle pole, microtubule asters and in the cleavage furrow occur during mitosis. Patient fibroblasts and WDR73-depleted podocytes displayed defects in nuclear morphology, which was associated with a decrease in cell survival in patient fibroblasts. Furthermore, we showed that patient fibroblasts and differentiated WDR73-depleted podocytes harbored an atypical morphology associated with a disorganized microtubule network, suggesting microtubule polymerization defects. Our functional studies demonstrated that WDR73 is crucial in both cell survival and microtubule polymerization in neurons and podocytes. The final part of my PhD work focused on the characterization of a missense mutation in the TRIM3 gene R28W identified by whole exome sequencing in a non consanguineous family with autosomal dominant focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. TRIM3 encodes TRIM3, an E3 ubiquitin-ligase that plays a role in transferrin endosomal recycling, and in microtubule trafficking via KIF21B, one of its known partners. Interestingly, the polymorphism V801M in ACTN4 co-segrates with the disease. Furthermore, mutations in this gene were already incriminated in autosomal dominant cases of HSF. (...)

As doenças neuromusculares incluem um grupo muito heterogêneo de patologias que atingem 1 em cada 1.000 indivíduos nascidos vivos. Dentre as doenças neuromusculares destacam-se as paraplegias espásticas hereditárias que acometem, aproximadamente, cerca de 1 em cada 10.000. As paraplegias espásticas hereditárias (PEH) são caracterizadas pela espasticidade e fraqueza muscular dos membros inferiores. São muito heterogêneas tanto em clínica como geneticamente. Diversas formas já foram descritas e a mais comum delas, acometendo por volta de 40% dos casos autossômicos dominantes, causada por mutações no gene SPAST (PEH do tipo 4 ou SPG4). Estudos de correlação genótipo: fenótipo têm mostrado que indivíduos da mesma família carregando a mesma mutação patogênica, podem ter quadro clínico muito distinto. A explicação para esta questão pode estar na procura por genes modificadores, no padrão de expressão, na análise proteômica (seja por ligantes a proteínas ou no dobramento das mesmas), ou em mecanismos epigenéticos. Além disso, em algumas formas observa-se uma diferença na porcentagem de pessoas afetadas de acordo com o sexo. Essa desproporção foi observada numa grande família de com PEH na qual existe um predomínio de afetados do sexo masculino. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi a análise de pacientes discordantes, ou seja, que possuam a mesma mutação, porém com quadro clínico discordante de uma grande família brasileira com SGP4. Para isso foi feito um estudo da abundância de transcritos (mRNA) e de genótipo (polimorfismos de base única) em relação a um fenótipo (sintomático ou assintomático). Os resultados sugerem que o principal sistema envolvido, que poderia explicar as diferenças entre os pacientes discordantes, é o sistema imune, com a principal atuação dos genes C2, HLA-DRB1 e LY6G6C. Esses genes podem ter papel protetor ou tóxico no desenvolvimento do quadro clínico dos pacientes analisados / The hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is characterized by muscle weakness and lower limb spasticity. They are very heterogeneous both clinically and genetically. Several forms have been described and the most common one, affecting around 40% of autosomal dominant cases, is caused by mutations in the SPAST gene (HSP type 4 or SPG4). Genotype: phenotype correlation studies have shown that affected individuals from the same family, who carry the same pathogenic mutation, can have very distinct phenotypes. The underlying explanation behind this clinical heterogeneity may be found in the search for modifier genes, in expression patterns observed proteomic analyses (either by protein binding or folding), or epigenetic mechanisms. As is observed in other motor neurodisease, there is a disproportion between the number of affected males and females, with males being the predominantly affected. The objective of this study was to analyze discordant patients, i.e., those that possess the same mutation, but show discordant phenotypes, from a large Brazilian family with SGP4. For this study, the abundance of transcripts (mRNA) and genotype (single nucleotide polymorphisms) relative to a phenotype (symptomatic or asymptomatic) were analyzed. The results suggest that the main system involved, which could explain the differences between discordant patients, is the immune system, with the main activity of C2, LY6G6C and HLA-DRB1 genes. These genes may have a protective or toxic role in the development of the analyzed patients\' clinical features

<p>Leber´s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), a disease affecting vision, is caused by several point mutations in mitochondrial DNA. Mutations leading to a defect NADH ubiquinone oxidoreductase protein will affect the respiratory chain and cause a disturbed ATP production. It is still unknown why this defect leads to the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells and cells in the opticus nerve as well as demyelination of axons in these areas. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA is an important tool in the diagnosis of the disease. At the present time analysis is based on cleavage by restriction enzymes, which only detects two of the most frequent mutations: m.3460G>A and m.11778G>A. This is far too few considering that more than 30 mutations are known to be associated with LHON. Therefore a new analysis method is requested. Here we describe a method based on the sequencing of the mitochondrial genes MT-ND1, MT-ND4 and MT-ND6, which will detect more than 15 different point mutations associated with the disease. To validate the analysis, DNA from 31 patients with LHON symptoms were sequenced; of these 10 were found to be positive for a LHON mutation. This result indicates that the sequencing analysis will be more effective in diagnosis of LHON than restriction enzymes.</p> / <p>Lebers hereditära optikus neuropati (LHON) är en sjukdom som beror på genetiska förändringar i arvsmassan som leder till att cellens energiomsättning rubbas. Detta gör att nervceller i ögat och synnerven bryts ned vilket leder till en synnedsättning. En patient som drabbas av LHON har inga symptom fram till dess att synen börjar försämras. Sjukdomsförloppet går snabbt och på bara några veckor är patienten ofta helt blind. Diagnostik av LHON idag utgörs av flera undersökningar av öga och synfält. Diagnosen bekräftas av en analys av arvsmassan som finns i mitokondrien, cellens energifabrik. Här beskriver vi en ny förbättrad analysmetod baserad på DNA sekvensering, dvs. bestämning av baserna i mitokondriella arvsmassan. För att utvärdera analysen har vi undersökt 31 patienter med misstänkt LHON - av dessa visade sig 10 bära på en sjuklig förändring. Resultatet visar att sekvensering med fördel kan ersätta den tidigare analysmetoden då fler sjukliga förändringar kan påvisas och utförandet av analysen är mer användarvänligt.</p>

The domestic dog, Canis lupus familiaris, has emerged as a model system for the study of human hereditary diseases. Of the approximately 450 hereditary diseases described in the dog, half have clinical presentations that are quite similar to specific human diseases. Understanding the genetic bases of canine hereditary diseases will not only complement comparative genetics studies but also facilitate selective breeding practices to reduce incidences in the dog. Whole genome screens have great potential to identify the marker(s) that segregate with canine hereditary diseases for which no reasonable candidate genes exist. The Minimal Screening Set-1 (MSS-1) was the first set of microsatellite markers described for linkage analysis in the dog and was, until recently, the best tool for genome screens. The MSS-2 is the most recently described screening set and offers increased density and more polymorphic markers. The first objective of this work was to develop tools to streamline genomic analyses in the study of canine hereditary diseases. This was achieved through the development of 1) multiplexing strategies for the MSS-1, 2) a multiplex of microsatellite markers for use in canine forensics and parentage assays and 3) chromosome-specific multiplex panels for the MSS-2. Multiplexing is the simultaneous amplification and analysis of markers and significantly reduces the expense and time required to collect genotype information. Pancreatic acinar atrophy (PAA) is a disease characterized by the degeneration of acinar cells of the exocrine pancreas and is the most important cause of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) in the German Shepherd Dog (GSD). Although the prognosis for dogs having EPI is typically good with treatment, many dogs are euthanized because the owners are unable to afford the expensive enzyme supplements. The second objective of this work was to determine the mode of transmission of EPI in the GSD and conduct a whole genome screen for linkage. Two extended families of GSDs having PAA were assembled and used to determine the pattern of transmission. The results of this indicate that PAA is an autosomal recessive disease. The multiplexed MSS-1 was used to conduct an initial whole genome screen, although no markers were suggestive of linkage.

Leber´s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), a disease affecting vision, is caused by several point mutations in mitochondrial DNA. Mutations leading to a defect NADH ubiquinone oxidoreductase protein will affect the respiratory chain and cause a disturbed ATP production. It is still unknown why this defect leads to the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells and cells in the opticus nerve as well as demyelination of axons in these areas. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA is an important tool in the diagnosis of the disease. At the present time analysis is based on cleavage by restriction enzymes, which only detects two of the most frequent mutations: m.3460G&gt;A and m.11778G&gt;A. This is far too few considering that more than 30 mutations are known to be associated with LHON. Therefore a new analysis method is requested. Here we describe a method based on the sequencing of the mitochondrial genes MT-ND1, MT-ND4 and MT-ND6, which will detect more than 15 different point mutations associated with the disease. To validate the analysis, DNA from 31 patients with LHON symptoms were sequenced; of these 10 were found to be positive for a LHON mutation. This result indicates that the sequencing analysis will be more effective in diagnosis of LHON than restriction enzymes. / Lebers hereditära optikus neuropati (LHON) är en sjukdom som beror på genetiska förändringar i arvsmassan som leder till att cellens energiomsättning rubbas. Detta gör att nervceller i ögat och synnerven bryts ned vilket leder till en synnedsättning. En patient som drabbas av LHON har inga symptom fram till dess att synen börjar försämras. Sjukdomsförloppet går snabbt och på bara några veckor är patienten ofta helt blind. Diagnostik av LHON idag utgörs av flera undersökningar av öga och synfält. Diagnosen bekräftas av en analys av arvsmassan som finns i mitokondrien, cellens energifabrik. Här beskriver vi en ny förbättrad analysmetod baserad på DNA sekvensering, dvs. bestämning av baserna i mitokondriella arvsmassan. För att utvärdera analysen har vi undersökt 31 patienter med misstänkt LHON - av dessa visade sig 10 bära på en sjuklig förändring. Resultatet visar att sekvensering med fördel kan ersätta den tidigare analysmetoden då fler sjukliga förändringar kan påvisas och utförandet av analysen är mer användarvänligt.

Missense, nonsense, and frameshift mutations in the human anion exchanger 1 (AE1) have been associated with inherited distal renal tubular acidosis and hereditary spherocytosis. These two disorders are almost always mutually exclusive. However, we have recently found an unusual exception, i.e, a patient with complete distal renal tubular acidosis and severe hereditary spherocytosis. DNA sequencing revealed a novel mutation AE1 E522K (Band 3 Kaohsiung) combined with AE1 G701D mutation in this patient. We hypothesize these AE1 mutations cause these two disorders because of trafficking defect. To elucidate this hypothesis, we analyzed protein trafficking and subcellular location of AE1 and these mutants transfected into MDCK cells. Our results showed that they formed homodimers or heterodimers with each other. Homodimers of the wild-type and E522K mutant were localized at the plasma membrane, whereas the G701D mutant largely remained in the cytoplasm. On the other hand, heterodimers of either E522K or G701D and the wild-type AE1 were located in the plasma membrane, whereas E522K/G701D heterodimers remained in the cytoplasm. As for erythroid isoform of anion exchanger 1, analysis of protein trafficking and subcellular localization of the wild-type erythroid isoform of human anion exchanger 1 and these mutants transfected into k562 cells also showed that they can form homodimers or heterodimers with each other. Erythroid AE1 E522K/G701D cell-surface expression was significantly lower compared with WT homodimer expression. This result coincided with that erythroid AE1 of the patient¡¦s red cell membrane can be detected 28% that of normal control in immunoblotting. Our study shows that the compound E522K/G701D mutation of human anion exchanger 1 causes trafficking defects in kidney and red blood cell lines, and these may explain the complete distal renal tubular acidosis and hereditary spherocytosis of the patient.

The domestic dog, Canis lupus familiaris, has emerged as a model system for the study of human hereditary diseases. Of the approximately 450 hereditary diseases described in the dog, half have clinical presentations that are quite similar to specific human diseases. Understanding the genetic bases of canine hereditary diseases will not only complement comparative genetics studies but also facilitate selective breeding practices to reduce incidences in the dog. Whole genome screens have great potential to identify the marker(s) that segregate with canine hereditary diseases for which no reasonable candidate genes exist. The Minimal Screening Set-1 (MSS-1) was the first set of microsatellite markers described for linkage analysis in the dog and was, until recently, the best tool for genome screens. The MSS-2 is the most recently described screening set and offers increased density and more polymorphic markers. The first objective of this work was to develop tools to streamline genomic analyses in the study of canine hereditary diseases. This was achieved through the development of 1) multiplexing strategies for the MSS-1, 2) a multiplex of microsatellite markers for use in canine forensics and parentage assays and 3) chromosome-specific multiplex panels for the MSS-2. Multiplexing is the simultaneous amplification and analysis of markers and significantly reduces the expense and time required to collect genotype information. Pancreatic acinar atrophy (PAA) is a disease characterized by the degeneration of acinar cells of the exocrine pancreas and is the most important cause of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) in the German Shepherd Dog (GSD). Although the prognosis for dogs having EPI is typically good with treatment, many dogs are euthanized because the owners are unable to afford the expensive enzyme supplements. The second objective of this work was to determine the mode of transmission of EPI in the GSD and conduct a whole genome screen for linkage. Two extended families of GSDs having PAA were assembled and used to determine the pattern of transmission. The results of this indicate that PAA is an autosomal recessive disease. The multiplexed MSS-1 was used to conduct an initial whole genome screen, although no markers were suggestive of linkage.

Peripheral neuropathy associated with agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACCPN or HMSN/ACC) is a severe polyneuropathy affecting both the peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system. It is transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait and is particularly frequent in the French Canadian population of Quebec (Canada). The disease was linked to chromosome 15 in 1996 by Dr. Rouleau's team. / We genotyped polymorphic markers in the ACCPN candidate region on chromosome 15 in over 67 patients and 200 control individuals. Observation of affected haplotypes confirmed the presence of a founder effect in the French Canadian population. Recombination analysis reduced the candidate interval to approximately 2 cM between markers D15S1040 and ACTC on chromosome 15. Linkage disequilibrium analysis suggested the gene resides nearest marker D15S1232. A physical map of the newly refined candidate region was constructed using YAC, BAC and PAC clones. These clones were used to confirm the position of candidate ESTs and genes as being either within or outside the ACCPN candidate region. / The connexin 36 gene, which was confirmed to reside within the region, was excluded as the gene responsible for ACCPN using SSCP analysis. The SLC12A6 gene was also confirmed to reside within the candidate interval and was tested for mutations using SSCP, dHPLC and sequence analyses. We found a total of four disease-specific mutations in SLC12A6, all of which are expected to truncate the KCC3 protein (the protein produced by the SLC12A6 gene). Two of the four mutations were identified in the French Canadian population; 80 French Canadian ACCPN patients are homozygous for the c.2436delG in exon 18 and one French Canadian patient is a compound heterozygote, having the c.2436delG mutation as well as the 1584_1585delCTinsG mutation in exon 11. Two additional mutations were identified in one Turkish and one Italian family in exons 22 and 15 respectively. The effects of the c.2436delG mutation on KCC3 function was studied in X. laevis oocytes and the truncated protein is not functional. Finally, collaborators at Vanderbilt University disrupted the slc12a6 gene in the mouse and found a phenotype similar to the human disease. / Identification of SLC12A6 as the gene mutated in ACCPN will allow for accurate molecular diagnosis as well as carrier testing in the French Canadian population. It is also the first step in understanding the molecular mechanism leading to the disease.

The Hereditary Spastic Paraplegias (HSP) comprise a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by progressive lower limb spasticity. This disease, with a prevalence ranging from 1 to 20 in 100,000 individuals, is currently untreatable. The neuropathological hallmark is axonal degeneration of motor neurons in the corticospinal tract. However, the mechanisms of pathogenesis underlying this neurodegeneration remain poorly understood. Over the last decade, genetic studies of HSP have identified 33 loci including 14 genes. The main objective of this dissertation was to identify and characterize genes in a large North American HSP cohort. Mutation analysis of the two most common genes implicated in HSP, SPG3 and SPG4, led to the detection of nine novel mutations, including an ancestral SPG4 mutation in five French Canadian families. This screen also allowed for the molecular characterization of the p.del436N mutation in SPG3, which suggests a previously unidentified dominant-negative mechanism. Furthermore, a novel deletion in the VPS9 domain of the ALS2 gene was identified in a family with severe infantile onset HSP. In addition, linkage analysis and whole genome scan efforts resulted in the successful mapping of two novel HSP loci, SPG27 and SAX1. SAX1 represents the first locus for autosomal dominant spastic ataxia, a complicated form of HSP, with a common ancestor in Newfoundland. Finally, a positional candidate gene strategy at the SPG8 locus identified three missense mutations in a novel gene encoding strumpellin. Two mutations failed to rescue an axonal phenotype induced by morpholino knock-down of the SPG8 gene in zebrafish. Our efforts to identify and characterize HSP genes determined the underlying genetic cause in 36% of our cohort. These genetic causes include two novel loci and a novel gene. The findings are a major contribution to the characterization of the pathophysiology of HSP and significantly broaden the knowledge in the field of motor neuron disease. Analysis of the 15 known HSP genes suggests a common disease mechanism involving disrupted axonal membrane protein trafficking. Unraveling this mechanism will elucidate the functional maintenance of neurons in the corticospinal tract and will facilitate the development of therapies for HSP and related diseases.

An estimated 5-10% of breast cancers are hereditary in nature and are due to the presence of a mutation in a breast cancer predisposition gene; approximately half of these cases possess a mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2. Many BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations result in a truncated protein and hence are unequivocally disease-causing. However another class of mutations, the Variants of Unknown Significance (VUS), are more problematic as the effect of these mutations on protein function is unclear. The inability to classify these mutations as disease causing generates significant problems in risk evaluation, counseling and preventive care. Accordingly we sought to determine whether carriers of either a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation could be identified from non-carriers based on the gene expression patterns of non-cancerous cells. EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines established from BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers and normal individuals were obtained through the NIH Breast Cancer Family Registries. Cell lines were mock-irradiated or treated with ionizing radiation (2 Gy). Following a recovery period of 6 hours total RNA was extracted and whole genome gene expression profiling was carried out. Molecular classifiers comparing the baseline expression profiles and the radiation-dependent expression profiles of BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers to control individuals were created using a Support Vector Machine (SVM) coupled with a recursive feature removal (RFR) algorithm. Our results suggest that cell populations derived from BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers display unique expression phenotypes from those of control individuals in both the basal and radiation-induced cases. In the task of classification using baseline expression, the BRCA1-classifier correctly classified 15/18 test samples using feature selection based on the training set only, while feature selection using the entire dataset (AD) improved classification to 16/18 samples. The BRCA2-baseline classifier correctly classified 13/17 and 14/17 (AD) samples, respectively. In the task of radiation-dependent classification, the BRCA1-IR classifier correctly classified 12/18 and 16/18 (AD) test samples respectively while the BRCA2-IR classifier correctly classified 13/17 and 16/17 (AD) test samples respectively. These results suggest the possibility of development of this assay into a novel hereditary breast cancer screening diagnostic able to accurately identify the presence of BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations via a functional assay thereby improving patient outcomes. / Thesis (Master, Pathology & Molecular Medicine) -- Queen's University, 2008-03-27 15:38:19.269 / Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation-Ontario Chapter, Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine Clinical Trust Fund