RNA Replication
Several HCV proteins, likely in conjunction with host factors, induce rearrangement of the host cell membranes to form the membranous web—an aggregate of double-membrane vesicles. In the membranous web, the NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase catalyzes the synthesis of a negative-sense RNA intermediate (template) that is used to create numerous copies of positive-sense progeny HCV RNA. These newly synthesized HCV RNAs are either incorporated into nucleocapsid particles or used for RNA translation and replication. The RNA replication process is supported by multiple HCV nonstructural proteins (replication complex).