Core association with LDs is a crucial step for the recruitment of the other viral proteins to assembly
sites [168]. This step was reported to be modulated by different host factors, mostly related to lipid
metabolism and LD. Diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) performs the last step in triacylglycerol
synthesis pathway together with DGAT2 and they are both involved in LD biogenesis. DGAT1 was
shown to interact with core protein facilitating its recruitment to LD. While DGAT1 is involved in HCV
assembly without affecting LD morphology, DGAT2 has no effect on HCV assembly [189]. Thus,
DGAT1 is a host factor with a role in direct recruitment of core to LD.