FIG. 6.

Model for the mechanism of formation of HCV replication complex on lipid raft. After NS3 and NS5B are proteolytically cleaved from the polyprotein, the uncleaved NS4A-4B-5A is recruited to lipid raft by the intrinsic membrane-anchoring character of NS4B. NS3 becomes associated with lipid raft by binding to its cofactor NS4A. NS5B binds to hVAP-33 and moves to lipid raft and form a complex with NS4A-4B-5A via the interaction between NS5B and NS5A. The mechanism of entry of RNA into this complex is not known.