Assembly

HCV particles assemble near cytosolic lipid droplets (cLDLs) and with the assistance of the host diacylglycerol acetyltransferase-1 (DGAT1) enzyme form the nucleocapsid that consists of core proteins surrounding HCV RNA. During assembly the core proteins use the HCV RNA as a scaffold as the proteins form a protective shell around the HCV RNA. Once the core is formed, the immature HCV particle fuses with a luminal lipid droplet (LuLD) that is loaded with ApoE proteins to create a high-density HCV precursor. Simultaneously, the ER synthesizes pre-very-low-density proteins (pre-VLDLs); the high-density HCV precursor and the pre-VLDL transit to the Golgi where they mature prior to being packaged and released.