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. 2021 Sep 1;16(14):1105–1133. doi: 10.2217/fmb-2021-0064

Figure 3. . HCV consists of a ssRNA genome, approximately 9.6 kb in length.

Figure 3. 

The viral genome includes a single ORF codifyng a polyprotein precursor of about 3010 aminoacids in length and 5′- and 3′-UTRs at both ends. Polyprotein cleavage generates mature structural- (core, E1 and E2) and nonstructural (NS1 or p7, NS2, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A, NS5B) proteins. Core (C) protein is involved in the development of viral nucleocapsid structure and by the envelope glycoproteins; E1 and E2 are detectable on cell membrane; NS1or p7 is a short membrane protein; NS2 is a transmembrane protein; NS3 protein has serine protease- and NTPase/helicase activity; NS4A protein has a double function: cofactor for NS3 protein, its binding to NS3 increase its activity with a more efficient process of cleavage; modulation of NS5A phosphorylation; NS5A with unknown function; NS5B is the RdRp.

ORF: Open-reading frame; RdRp: RNA-dependent RNA polymerase; UTR: Untranslated region.