Core

The HCV core is a structural protein that aggregates to form the viral capsid, a spherical structure that surrounds and protects the viral genomic RNA. The core protein is the first protein to be translated from the HCV genome and together with the envelope glycoproteins (E1 and E2) comprise the three structural HCV proteins. As a component of the nucleocapsid structure, the mature core protein has properties that promote binding to the host-derived lipid membrane and HCV RNA. The N-terminal region of the core proteins bind to the HCV genomic RNA.