Binding of AG-021541 in the thumb-base allosteric site of the HCV polymerase. The X-ray cocrystal structure of AG-021541 and the 1b-BK NS5BΔ21 quadruple mutant protein (K114R L47Q F101Y V59D) is shown, with protein backbone in a ribbon structure and the key amino acid residues that form the AG-021541-binding site (M423, M426, I482, and V494) highlighted in a space-filling model. The carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen atoms are depicted in green, yellow, blue, and red, respectively.