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[Preprint]. 2020 Oct 30:2020.08.13.250217. Originally published 2020 Aug 14. [Version 2] doi: 10.1101/2020.08.13.250217

Fig. 5. Model for HCQ mechanism of action in SARS-CoV-2 infectivity.

Fig. 5.

A representation of the plasma membrane shows nanoscale lipid heterogeneity. Saturated monosialotetrahexosylganglioside1 (GM1) lipid rafts (dark grey) attract ACE2 (yellow oval) in high cholesterol (top). In low or normal cholesterol, ACE2 associates primarily with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ, orange hexagon) disrupts the lipid order and excludes the association of ACE2 from both GM1 rafts and PIP2 domains (right panel). The SARS-CoV-2 virus (white circle with red spike) binds to the ACE2 receptor. The location of the ACE2 receptor dictates the location and efficacy of viral entry.