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S Bagrodia

Publications and source records attributed to S Bagrodia.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A tyrosine-phosphorylated protein that binds to an important regulatory region on the cool family of p21-activated kinase-binding proteins.

The p21-activated kinases (Pak) are major targets of the small GTPases Cdc42 and Rac. We, and others, recently identified a family of proteins termed Cool/Pix, which interact with Pak3. In cells, p50(Cool-1) suppresses Pak activation by upstream activators; p85(Cool-1) has a permissive effect on Pak activation, and we now show that the closely related Cool-2 stimulates Pak kinase activity. To understand the differential regulation of Pak by Cool proteins, we screened for Cool-interacting proteins by affinity purification and microsequencing. This has led to the identification of two closely related proteins called Cat (Cool-associated, tyrosine phosphorylated), which contain a zinc finger followed by three ankyrin repeats. Cat-1 is identical to the recently identified binding partner for the beta-adrenergic receptor kinase (betaARK or GRK-2), which was shown to have Arf-GAP activity. Cat-1 and Cat-2 both bind to the COOH-terminal region of p85(Cool-1) and p85(Cool-2) but do not bind to p50(Cool-1). Cat-1 is tyrosine-phosphorylated in growing NIH 3T3 fibroblasts, and its tyrosine phosphorylation is increased following cell spreading on fibronectin, decreased in cells arrested in mitosis, and increased in the ensuing G(1) phase. Cat proteins are tyrosine-phosphorylated when co-expressed in cells with the focal adhesion kinase Fak and Src. These findings suggest that in addition to playing a role in Cool/Pak interactions, Cat proteins may serve as points of convergence between G protein-coupled receptors, integrins, Arf GTPases, cell cycle regulators, and Cdc42/Rac/Pak signaling pathways.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Paxillin LD4 motif binds PAK and PIX through a novel 95-kD ankyrin repeat, ARF-GAP protein: A role in cytoskeletal remodeling.

Paxillin is a focal adhesion adaptor protein involved in the integration of growth factor- and adhesion-mediated signal transduction pathways. Repeats of a leucine-rich sequence named paxillin LD motifs (Brown M.C., M.S. Curtis, and C.E. Turner. 1998. Nature Struct. Biol. 5:677-678) have been implicated in paxillin binding to focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and vinculin. Here we demonstrate that the individual paxillin LD motifs function as discrete and selective protein binding interfaces. A novel scaffolding function is described for paxillin LD4 in the binding of a complex of proteins containing active p21 GTPase-activated kinase (PAK), Nck, and the guanine nucleotide exchange factor, PIX. The association of this complex with paxillin is mediated by a new 95-kD protein, p95PKL (paxillin-kinase linker), which binds directly to paxillin LD4 and PIX. This protein complex also binds to Hic-5, suggesting a conservation of LD function across the paxillin superfamily. Cloning of p95PKL revealed a multidomain protein containing an NH2-terminal ARF-GAP domain, three ankyrin-like repeats, a potential calcium-binding EF hand, calmodulin-binding IQ motifs, a myosin homology domain, and two paxillin-binding subdomains (PBS). Green fluorescent protein- (GFP-) tagged p95PKL localized to focal adhesions/complexes in CHO.K1 cells. Overexpression in neuroblastoma cells of a paxillin LD4 deletion mutant inhibited lamellipodia formation in response to insulin-like growth fac- tor-1. Microinjection of GST-LD4 into NIH3T3 cells significantly decreased cell migration into a wound. These data implicate paxillin as a mediator of p21 GTPase-regulated actin cytoskeletal reorganization through the recruitment to nascent focal adhesion structures of an active PAK/PIX complex potentially via interactions with p95PKL.

ADP-Ribosylation Factors↗

Requirement of p21-activated kinase (PAK) for Salmonella typhimurium-induced nuclear responses.

Salmonella typhimurium has sustained a long-standing association with its host and therefore has evolved sophisticated strategies to multiply and survive within this environment. Central to Salmonella pathogenesis is the function of a dedicated type III secretion system that delivers bacterial effector proteins into the host cell cytoplasm. These effectors stimulate nuclear responses and actin cytoskeleton reorganization leading to the production of proinflammatory cytokines and bacterial internalization. The stimulation of these responses requires the function of Cdc42, a member of the Rho family of small molecular weight GTPases, and SopE, a bacterial effector protein that stimulates guanine nucleotide exchange on Rho GTPases. However, nothing is known about the role of Cdc42 effector proteins in S. typhimurium-induced responses. We showed here that S. typhimurium infection of cultured epithelial cells results in the activation of p21-activated kinase (PAK), a serine/threonine kinase that is an effector of Cdc42-dependent responses. Transient expression of a kinase-defective PAK blocked both S. typhimurium- and SopE-induced c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) activation but did not interfere with bacteria-induced actin cytoskeleton rearrangements. Similarly, expression of SH3-binding mutants of PAK did not block actin-mediated S. typhimurium entry into cultured cells. However, expression of an effector loop mutant of Cdc42Hs (Cdc42HsC40) unable to bind PAK and other CRIB (for Cdc42/Rac interacting binding)-containing target proteins resulted in abrogation of both S. typhimurium-induced nuclear and cytoskeletal responses. These results show that PAK kinase activity is required for bacteria-induced nuclear responses but it is not required for cytoskeletal rearrangements, indicating that S. typhimurium stimulates cellular responses through different Cdc42 downstream effector activities. In addition, these results demonstrate that the effector loop of Cdc42 implicated in the binding of PAK and other CRIB-containing target proteins is required for both responses.

Animals↗

The Dbl-related protein, Lfc, localizes to microtubules and mediates the activation of Rac signaling pathways in cells.

The possibility that the Dbl family member Lfc can activate Rac1 in cells is investigated in this study. Previously, we demonstrated that both Lfc and Lsc, like their closest relative Lbc, can act catalytically in stimulating the guanine nucleotide exchange activity of RhoA in vitro. Neither Lfc nor Lsc stimulated the in vitro exchange activity of Cdc42 or Rac1; however, Lfc was capable of forming a tight complex with Rac1 in vitro. We show here that Lfc stimulates c-Jun kinase (JNK) activity in COS-7 cells. This stimulation was blocked by a dominant negative mutant of Rac1 and somewhat less effectively by dominant negative RhoA, but not by dominant negative Cdc42. Overexpression of Lfc in NIH 3T3 cells induced the formation of actin stress fibers and membrane ruffles, consistent with the activation of both RhoA and Rac1 signaling pathways, whereas overexpression of Lsc led exclusively to well developed stress fibers. Using a recently developed assay for measuring the cellular activation of Rac, we did not find that expression of Lfc increased the levels of GTP-bound Rac1. However, an examination of the cellular localization of Lfc showed that it was localized to microtubules, similar to what has been reported for activated Rac1, the mixed lineage kinase (MLK) and JNK. Moreover, we have found that the Pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of Lfc specifically associates with tubulin. Taken together, these findings suggest a model where the PH domain-mediated localization of Lfc to microtubules enables the recruitment of Rac to a site proximal to its signaling targets, resulting in JNK activation and actin cytoskeletal changes.

3T3 Cells↗

Pak to the future.

Members of the Pak family of serine/threonine kinases serve as targets for the small GTP-binding proteins Cdc42 and Rac and have been implicated in a wide range of biological activities. Recently, some exciting developments help elaborate the regulation of Pak activity and identify downstream signalling targets. These include the discovery of the Cool/Pix and Cat proteins, which modulate Pak signalling, and downstream kinases that modulate the organization of the actin cytoskeleton or gene expression. We present these recent findings and consider how these new regulators and targets could explain some of the cellular effects that have been attributed to Pak family members.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

The protein kinase Pak3 positively regulates Raf-1 activity through phosphorylation of serine 338.

The pathway involving the signalling protein p21Ras propagates a range of extracellular signals from receptors on the cell membrane to the cytoplasm and nucleus. The Ras proteins regulate many effectors, including members of the Raf family of protein kinases. Ras-dependent activation of Raf-1 at the plasma membrane involves phosphorylation events, protein-protein interactions and structural changes. Phosphorylation of serine residues 338 or 339 in the catalytic domain of Raf-1 regulates its activation in response to Ras, Src and epidermal growth factor. Here we show that the p21-activated protein kinase Pak3 phosphorylates Raf-1 on serine 338 in vitro and in vivo. The p21-activated protein kinases are regulated by the Rho-family GTPases Rac and Cdc42. Our results indicate that signal transduction through Raf-1 depends on both Ras and the activation of the Pak pathway. As guanine-nucleotide-exchange activity on Rac can be stimulated by a Ras-dependent phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase, a mechanism could exist through which one Ras effector pathway can be influenced by another.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A novel regulator of p21-activated kinases.

Proteins of the p21-activated kinase (Pak) family have been implicated in the regulation of gene expression, cytoskeletal architecture, and apoptosis. Although the ability of Cdc42 and Rac GTPases to activate Pak is well established, relatively little else is known about Pak regulation or the identity of Pak cellular targets. Here we report the identification of two closely related Pak3-binding proteins, possibly arising from alternative splicing, designated p50 and p85(Cool-1) (cloned out of library). Both isoforms of Cool contain a Src homology 3 domain that directly mediates interaction with Pak3 and tandem Dbl homology and pleckstrin homology domains. Despite the presence of the Dbl homology-pleckstrin homology motif, a characteristic of Rho family activators, activation of Cdc42 or Rac by Cool is not detectable. Instead binding of p50(Cool-1), but not p85(Cool-1), to Pak3 represses its activation by upstream activators such as the Dbl oncoprotein, indicating a novel mechanism of regulation of Pak signaling.

Alternative Splicing↗

PAK3 mutation in nonsyndromic X-linked mental retardation.

Nonsyndromic X-linked mental retardation (MRX) syndromes are clinically homogeneous but genetically heterogeneous disorders, whose genetic bases are largely unknown. Affected individuals in a multiplex pedigree with MRX (MRX30), previously mapped to Xq22, show a point mutation in the PAK3 (p21-activated kinase) gene, which encodes a serine-threonine kinase. PAK proteins are crucial effectors linking Rho GTPases to cytoskeletal reorganization and to nuclear signalling. The mutation produces premature termination, disrupting kinase function. MRI analysis showed no gross defects in brain development. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that PAK3 protein is highly expressed in postmitotic neurons of the developing and postnatal cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Signal transduction through Rho GTPases and PAK3 may be critical for human cognitive function.

Animals↗

Cytoskeletal reorganization by G protein-coupled receptors is dependent on phosphoinositide 3-kinase gamma, a Rac guanosine exchange factor, and Rac.

Reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton is an early cellular response to a variety of extracellular signals. Dissection of pathways leading to actin rearrangement has focused largely on those initiated by growth factor receptors or integrins, although stimulation of G protein-coupled receptors also leads to cytoskeletal changes. In transfected Cos-7SH cells, activation of the chemoattractant formyl peptide receptor induces cortical actin polymerization and a decrease in the number of central actin bundles. In this report, we show that cytoskeletal reorganization can be transduced by G protein betagamma heterodimers (Gbetagamma), phosphoinositide 3-kinase gamma (PI3-Kgamma), a guanosine exchange factor (GEF) for Rac, and Rac. Expression of inactive variants of either PI3-Kgamma, the Rac GEF Vav, or Rac blocked the actin rearrangement. Neither wortmannin nor LY294002, pharmacologic inhibitors of PI3-K, could inhibit the actin rearrangement induced by a constitutively active Rac. The inhibition of cytoskeletal reorganization by the dominant negative Vav variants could be rescued by coexpression of a constitutively active form of Rac. In contrast, a Vav variant with its pleckstrin homology (PH) domain missing constitutively induced JNK activation and led to cytoskeletal reorganization, even without stimulation by PI3-Kgamma. This suggests that the PH domain of Vav controls the guanosine exchange activity of Vav, perhaps by a mechanism regulated by D3 phosphoinositides generated by PI3-K. Taken together, these findings delineate a pathway leading from activation of a G protein-coupled receptor to actin reorganization which sequentially involves Gbetagamma, PI3-Kgamma, a Rac GEF, and Rac.

Actins↗

A novel Cdc42Hs mutant induces cellular transformation.

Cdc42Hs is a small GTPase of the Rho-subfamily, which regulates signaling pathways that influence cell morphology and polarity, cell-cycle progression and transcription. An essential role for Cdc42Hs in cell growth regulation has been suggested by the finding that the Dbl oncoprotein is an upstream activator-a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF)-for Cdc42Hs, and that activated mutants of the closely related GTPases Rac and Rho are transforming. As we were unable to obtain significant over-expression of GTPase-defective Cdc42Hs mutants, we have generated a mutant, Cdc42Hs(F28L), which can undergo spontaneous GTP-GDP exchange while maintaining full GTPase activity, and thus should exhibit functional activities normally imparted by Dbl. In cultured fibroblasts, Cdc42Hs(F28L) activated the c-Jun kinase (JNK1) and stimulated filopodia formation. Cells stably expressing Cdc42Hs(F28L) also exhibited several hallmarks of transformation-reduced contact inhibition, lower dependence on serum for growth, and anchorage-independent growth. Our findings indicate that Cdc42Hs plays a role in cell proliferation, and is a likely physiological mediator of Dbl-induced transformation.

3T3 Cells↗

Human p21-activated kinase (Pak1) regulates actin organization in mammalian cells.

BACKGROUND: The Rho family GTPases Cdc42, Rac1 and RhoA regulate the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton induced by extracellular signals such as growth factors. In mammalian cells, Cdc42 regulates the formation of filopodia, whereas Rac regulates lamellipodia formation and membrane ruffling, and RhoA regulates the formation of stress fibers. Recently, the serine/threonine protein kinase p65(pak) autophosphorylates, thereby increasing its catalytic activity towards exogenous substrates. This kinase is therefore a candidate effector for the changes in cell shape induced by growth factors. RESULTS: Here, we report that the microinjection of activated Pak1 protein into quiescent Swiss 3T3 cells induces the rapid formation of polarized filopodia and membrane ruffles. The prolonged overexpression of Pak1 amino-terminal mutants that are unable to bind Cdc42 or Rac1 results in the accumulation of filamentous actin in large, polarized membrane ruffles and the formation of vinculin-containing focal complexes within these structures. This phenotype resembles that seen in motile fibroblasts. The amino-terminal Pak1 mutant displays enhanced binding to the adaptor protein Nck, which contains three Src-homology 3 (SH3) domains. Mutation of a proline residue within a conserved SH3-binding region at the amino terminus of Pak1 interferes with SH3-protein binding and alters the effects of Pak1 on the cytoskeleton. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that Pak1, acting through a protein that contains an SH3 domain, regulates the structure of the actin cytoskeleton in mammalian cells, and may serve as an effector for Cdc42 and/or Rac1 in promoting cell motility.

3T3 Cells↗

Use of a fluorescence spectroscopic readout to characterize the interactions of Cdc42Hs with its target/effector, mPAK-3.

The family of p21-activated kinases (PAKs) has been shown to contain a domain that can independently bind to the Ras-like proteins Cdc42Hs and Rac. We have expressed a 72 amino acid recombinant form of this p21-binding domain (PBD) from mPAK-3 in Escherichia Coli for use in structure-function studies. The protein can be purified on a nickel affinity resin due to a hexa-His tag that is incorporated onto the amino terminus of the domain. PBD binds to Cdc42Hs in a guanine nucleotide-dependent manner as demonstrated by a novel fluorescence assay that takes advantage of the spectroscopic properties of N-methylanthraniloyl (Mant)-guanine nucleotides. Ionic strength has little effect on the affinity of PBD for Cdc42Hs, but alkaline pH values tend to weaken the interaction. We have shown that the inhibition of the GTPase activity of Cdc42Hs, as well as a previously undescribed inhibition of guanine nucleotide dissociation, is mediated by the PBD portion of the mPAK-3 molecule. These findings suggest that PBD binding alters the geometry of the guanine nucleotide binding site on Cdc42Hs, perhaps as an outcome of the target/effector molecule binding in close proximity to the nucleotide domain. We therefore tested if mutations in the effector region of Cdc42Hs (32-40), which in Ras are very close to the guanine nucleotide binding site, had any effect on PBD binding. Changing tyrosine 32 to lysine (Y32K) resulted in a small (5-fold) inhibition of PBD binding, but the very conservative mutation D38E yielded at least a 50-fold decrease in affinity. Finally, the catalytic domain of the GTPase activating protein, Cdc42-GAP, was shown to inhibit PBD binding in a competitive manner, indicating that this target molecule and the negative regulator (GAP) bind to overlapping sites on the Cdc42Hs molecule.

Animals↗

Fission yeast pak1+ encodes a protein kinase that interacts with Cdc42p and is involved in the control of cell polarity and mating.

A STE20/p65pak homolog was isolated from fission yeast by PCR. The pak1+ gene encodes a 72 kDa protein containing a putative p21-binding domain near its amino-terminus and a serine/threonine kinase domain near its carboxyl-terminus. The Pak1 protein autophosphorylates on serine residues and preferentially binds to activated Cdc42p both in vitro and in vivo. This binding is mediated through the p21 binding domain on Pak1p and the effector domain on Cdc42p. Overexpression of an inactive mutant form of pak1 gives rise to cells with markedly abnormal shape with mislocalized actin staining. Pak1 overexpression does not, however, suppress lethality associated with cdc42-null cells or the morphologic defeat caused by overexpression of mutant cdc42 alleles. Gene disruption of pak1+ establishes that, like cdc42+, pak1+ function is required for cell viability. In budding yeast, pak1+ expression restores mating function to STE20-null cells and, in fission yeast, overexpression of an inactive form of Pak inhibits mating. These results indicate that the Pak1 protein is likely to be an effector for Cdc42p or a related GTPase, and suggest that Pak1p is involved in the maintenance of cell polarity and in mating.

Actins↗

Cdc42 and PAK-mediated signaling leads to Jun kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation.

The PAK family of protein kinases has been suggested as a potential target of the Cdc42 and Rac GTPases based on studies in vitro. We show that PAK-3 is activated by Cdc42 in vivo. Both, activated (GTPase-defective) Cdc42 and a constitutively active PAK-3 mutant stimulated the activity of Jun kinase 1 (JNK1) in transfected cells. Activated Cdc42 also stimulated the activity of the related p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase but was a less effective activator of ERK2. The effect of Cdc42 on JNK activity was similar to that of the potent inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1). The observation that a dominant-negative Cdc42 mutant inhibited IL-1 activation of JNK1 indicates a role for Cdc42 in IL-1 signaling. These results suggest that Cdc42 and PAK may mediate the effects of cytokines on transcriptional regulation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Identification of a mouse p21Cdc42/Rac activated kinase.

We have isolated a novel member of the mammalian PAK (p21 activated kinase) and yeast Ste20 serine/threonine kinase family from a mouse fibroblast cDNA library, designated mPAK-3. Expression of mPAK-3 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae partially restores mating function in ste20 null cells. Like other PAKs, mPAK-3 contains a putative Cdc42Hs/Rac binding sequence and when transiently expressed in COS cells, full-length mPAK-3 binds activated (GTP gamma S (guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio-triphosphate)-bound) glutathione S-transferase (GST)-Cdc42Hs and GST-Rac1 but not GST-RhoA. As expected for a putative target molecule, mPAK-3 does not bind to an effector domain mutant of Cdc42Hs. Furthermore, activated His-tagged Cdc42Hs and His-tagged Rac stimulate mPAK-3 autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of myelin basic protein by mPAK-3 in vitro. Interestingly, the amino-terminal region of mPAK-3 contains potential SH3-binding sites and we find that mPAK-3, expressed in vitro and in vivo, shows highly specific binding to the SH3 domain of phospholipase C-gamma and at least one SH3 domain in the adapter protein Nck. These results raise the possibility of an additional level of regulation of the PAK family in vivo.

3T3 Cells↗

Activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase activity by Cdc42Hs binding to p85.

The Ras-like GTPase Cdc42 is essential for cell polarity and bud site assembly in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by regulating cell cycle-dependent reorganization of cortical cytoskeletal elements. However, its role in mammalian cells is unknown. To identify potential effectors of Cdc42Hs, we incubated lysates from NIH 3T3 fibroblasts or PC12 cells with immobilized glutathione S-transferase (GST)-Cdc42Hs fusion proteins bound to different guanine nucleotides and observed a specific association between the 85-kDa subunit (p85) of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) and GTP gamma S (guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate)-bound GST-Cdc42Hs. Recombinant p85 formed a complex with GTP gamma S-bound GST-Cdc42Hs and with a GTPase-defective GTP-bound GST-Cdc42Hs-Q61L mutant, but not with a GTP gamma S-bound, effector domain GST-Cdc42HsT35A mutant. Both the Rho-GAP homology domain of p85 and the Cdc42Hs-GAP competitively inhibited the binding of recombinant p85 to Cdc42Hs. In addition, PI 3-kinase activity immunoprecipitated from cell lysates with anti-p85 antibody was stimulated 2-4-fold by GST-Cdc42-GTP gamma S. Similar interactions were observed between p85 and GST-Rac1-GTP gamma S but not between p85 and GST-RhoA-GTP gamma S. These findings suggest that PI 3-kinase, through the Rho-GAP homology domain of p85, can couple to the effector domain of Cdc42Hs and that p85 may be a target for the GTP-bound forms of Cdc42Hs and Rac1.

3T3 Cells↗

Accessibility of the c-Src SH2-domain for binding is increased during mitosis.

The Src homology 2 (SH2) region is a noncatalytic domain of Src-family tyrosine kinases and other proteins which participants in inter- and intramolecular interactions of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins. A synthetic peptide modeled on the c-Src carboxyl terminus, which contains phosphotyrosine at position 527, binds recombinant SH2 and the SH2-domain of c-Src which lacks phosphotyrosine 527. Unphosphorylated peptide does not bind detectably. Thus, the phosphorylated peptide is a specific probe for investigating SH2 accessibility. Since Src and other tyrosine kinases may participate in regulating events in mitosis, we used the SH2-binding probe to test the prediction that decreased tyrosine 527 phosphorylation would lead to increased accessibility of the c-Src SH2-domain during mitosis. Probe binding to overexpressed chicken c-Src was enhanced at least 6-fold during mitosis, indicating that the c-Src SH2-domain is more accessible in this part of the cell cycle. This suggests that there may be mitosis-specific interactions of the c-Src SH2-domain with cellular proteins in vivo.

3T3 Cells↗

Tyrosine dephosphorylation of pp60c-src is stimulated by a serine/threonine phosphatase inhibitor.

Incubation of NIH3T3-derived c-src overexpressor cells with okadaic acid, a specific serine/threonine phosphatase inhibitor, stimulates pp60c-src kinase activity about 2-3-fold. Activation is blocked if cells are simultaneously treated with orthovanadate, a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor. Furthermore, okadaic acid treatment induces a small decrease in Tyr 527 phosphorylation of wild-type pp60c-src and a large decrease in Tyr 527 phosphorylation of kinase-defective pp60c-src(Lys 295-->Arg). These results suggest that the activation is mediated by okadaic acid-induced changes in tyrosine phosphorylation of pp60c-src involving 'cross-over' from serine/threonine to tyrosine signal transduction pathways. Stimulation of pp60c-src activity and Tyr 527 dephosphorylation do not require changes in serine/threonine phosphorylation of pp60c-src, suggesting that these changes result from modulation of an upstream Tyr 527 phosphatase or kinase which is itself regulated by altered serine/threonine phosphorylation. Since okadaic acid induces a pseudo-mitotic phenotype in rodent cells (K. Yamashita, H. Yasuda, J. Pines, K. Yasumoto, H. Nishitani, M. Ohtsubo, T. Hunter, T. Sugimura and T. Nishimoto, EMBO J., 9: 4331-4338, 1990), it is possible that these phenomena are induced by a biochemical mechanism similar to that which causes transient tyrosine dephosphorylation of pp60c-src during mitosis.

3T3 Cells↗