Cellular factors involved in the hepatitis C virus life cycle

Figure 1 Model of hepatitis C virus particles (lipo-viral particles) secreted from cells. A: Most of the lipo-viral particles (LPV)’s membrane is a lipid monolayer. A bilayer-containing region is where the viral envelope proteins (i.e., E1 and E2) are inserted. Viral envelope proteins may also exist in the phospholipid monolayer membrane. Though the precise structure has not yet been determined, LVPs are believed to have multiple copies of Apo-E and less Apo-A1 molecules but only one Apo-B100 molecule (left). Some LPVs may not have Apo-B (right). Within the phospholipid monolayer, there are the core proteins wrapping the viral RNA genome and neutral lipids (e.g., cholesterol esters and triglycerides); B: Serum lipoproteins are possibly associated with hepatitis C virus particles in different ways. HCV: Hepatitis C virus.