Abdulbaki Agbas

Abdulbaki Agbas is a Professor of Biosciences in the Department of Basic Sciences, Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences (KCU) in Kansas City, Missouri. He received his undergraduate degree in chemistry and a Master of Science degree in clinical biochemistry from Ataturk University of Erzurum-Turkey, and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Szeged-Hungary.

Dr. Agbas had received extensive training in international laboratories in the field of biochemistry, neurobiology, and cell biology. He was awarded a UNESCO-International Training Fellowship program in modern biology in the Biological Research Center of Hungarian Academy of Sciences. During his fellowship program, how worked on opioid receptor characterizations in the human placenta under the mentorship of Dr. Anna Borsodi. He then continued on the physiology of human placental opioid receptors during his tenure at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri-USA. Dr. Agbas stayed in Kansas City area, worked in area universities, and broadened his training and expertise in the field of cell biology and neurobiology. Dr. Agbas was a contributing scientist in an NIH-Program Project on “reactive oxygen species (ROS) and aging” led by Dr. Elias K. Michaelis for more than a decade.

Since 2010, Dr. Agbas established his own laboratory and research team to work on developing blood-based biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He has passion on mitochondria biology and developed an interest how mitochondria respiration profile can be used as an “organelle based biomarker” in disease states. He is a founding member of the “Heartland Center for Mitochondria Medicine”. Dr. Agbas also teaches various biochemistry subjects for medical and graduate students at KCU.

PUBLICATIONS

1. Platelet proteolytic machinery assessment in Alzheimer’s Disease

Muriu RG et al, bioRxiv 2019, doi: https://doi.org/10.101760116

2. Mitochondrial Electron Transfer Cascade Enzyme Activity Assessment in Cultured Neurons and Select Brain Regions

Agbas A, et al. Curr Protoc Toxicol 2019. PMID 30951613 Free PMC article.

3. Rasagiline for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A randomized, controlled trial

Statland JM, et al. Muscle Nerve 2019 - Clinical Trial. Among authors: Agbas A. PMID 30192007 Free PMC article.

4. Impaired Cu-Zn Superoxide Dismutase (SOD1) and Calcineurin (Cn) Interaction in ALS: A Presumed Consequence for TDP-43 and Zinc Aggregation in Tg SOD1G93A Rodent Spinal Cord Tissue

Kim JM, et al. Neurochem Res 2019. Among authors: Agbas A, Agbas E. PMID 29299811 Free PMC article.

5. Platelet phosphorylated TDP-43: an exploratory study for a peripheral surrogate biomarker development for Alzheimer's disease

Wilhite R, et al. Future Sci OA 2017. Among authors: Agbas A. PMID 29134122 Free PMC article

6. Neuronal Glud1 (glutamate dehydrogenase 1) over-expressing mice: increased glutamate formation and synaptic release, loss of synaptic activity, and adaptive changes in genomic expression

Michaelis EK, et al. Neurochem Int 2011. PMID 21397652 Free PMC article.

7. Transcriptomic responses in mouse brain exposed to chronic excess of the neurotransmitter glutamate

Wang X, et al. BMC Genomics 2010. PMID 20529287 Free PMC article.

8. Transgenic expression of Glud1 (glutamate dehydrogenase 1) in neurons: in vivo model of enhanced glutamate release, altered synaptic plasticity, and selective neuronal vulnerability

Bao X, et al. J Neurosci 2009. PMID 19890003 Free PMC article.

9. The Role of Methionine Oxidation/Reduction in the Regulation of Immune Response

Agbas A and Moskovitz J. Curr Signal Transduct Ther 2009. PMID 19823697 Free PMC article.

10. A rat brain bicistronic gene with an internal ribosome entry site codes for a phencyclidine-binding protein with cytotoxic activity

Hui D, et al. J Biol Chem 2009. PMID 19028684 Free PMC article.

11. Activation of brain calcineurin (Cn) by Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) depends on direct SOD1-Cn protein interactions occurring in vitro and in vivo

Agbas A, et al. Biochem J 2007. PMID 17324120 Free PMC article.

Decreased activity and increased aggregation of brain calcineurin during aging

Agbas A, et al. Brain Res 2005. PMID 16150427

12. Selective dendrite-targeting of mRNAs of NR1 splice variants without exon 5: identification of a cis-acting sequence and isolation of sequence-binding proteins

Pal R, et al. Brain Res 2003. PMID 14642443

13. Structure and function of an early divergent form of laminin in hydra: a structurally conserved ECM component that is essential for epithelial morphogenesis

Zhang X, et al. Dev Genes Evol 2002. PMID 12012231

14. Superoxide modification and inactivation of a neuronal receptor-like complex

Agbas A, et al. Free Radic Biol Med 2002. PMID 11958952

15. MUCLIN expression in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator knockout mouse

De Lisle RC, et al. Gastroenterology 1997. Among authors: Agbas A. PMID 9247472

Dynorphin A(1-8) in human placenta: amino acid sequence determined by tandem mass spectrometry

Agbas A, et al. Peptides 1995. PMID 7479294

16. Cloning and biological function of laminin in Hydra vulgaris

Sarras MP, et al. Dev Biol 1994. Among authors: Agbas A. PMID 8026633

17. Evidence for cell surface extracellular matrix binding proteins in Hydra vulgaris

Ağbaş A and Sarras MP. Cell Adhes Commun 1994. Among authors: Agbas A. PMID 7982034

18. Effects of methadone use during pregnancy on human placental opioid receptors

Ahmed MS, et al. Membr Biochem 1993. Among authors: Agbas A. PMID 8395641

19. Properties and functions of human placental opioid system

Ahmed MS, et al. Life Sci 1992 - Review. Among authors: Agbas A. PMID 1309934

20. Illicit drug use during pregnancy: effects of opiates and cocaine on human placenta

Ahmed MS, et al. NIDA Res Monogr 1990. Among authors: Agbas A. PMID 1876008

21. Opioids regulate the release of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone from trophoblast tissue

Cemerikic B, et al. Life Sci 1991. Among authors: Agbas A. PMID 1652048

22. Characterization of human placental opioid receptors by 3H-ethylketocyclazocine and 3H-naloxone binding

Agbas A, et al. Neuropeptides 1988. PMID 290737

23. Congenital erythropoietic porphyria

Kürkçüoğlu M, et al. Turk J Pediatr 1985. Among authors: Agbas A. PMID 3984055