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The proteins of this virus are arranged along the genome in the following order: N terminal-core-envelope (E1)-E2-p7-nonstructural protein 2 (NS2)-NS3-NS4A-NS4B-NS5A-NS5B-C terminal. The mature nonstructural proteins (NS2 to NS5B) generation relies on the activity of viral proteinases.<ref name=>De Francesco R (1999) Molecular virology of the hepatitis C virus. J Hepatol 31 Suppl 1:47-53</ref> The NS2/NS3 junction is cleaved by a metal dependent autocatalytic proteinase encoded within NS2 and the N-terminus of NS3. The remaining cleavages downstream from this site are catalysed by a serine proteinase also contained within the N-terminal region of NS3.
NS3 also contains an RNA helicase domain at its C-terminus and forms a heterodimeric complex with NS4A - a membrane protein that acts as a cofactor of the proteinase. The NS5B protein is the viral RNA dependent RNA polymerase. The p7 protein is dispensable for viral genome replication but plays a critical role in virus morphogenesis. This protein is a 63 amino acid membrane spanning protein which locates itself in the endoplasmic reticulum. Cleavage of p7 is mediated by the endoplasmic reticulum's signal peptidases. Two transmembrane domains of P7 are connected by a cytoplasmic loop and are oriented towards the endoplasmic reticulum's lumen.
==Replication==
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