Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a member of Hepacivirus genus in Flaviviridae family. It has at least six genotypes and more than 100 subtypes that distinguished on phylogenetic tree. HCV genom consist of positive single stranded RNA, sized 9.6 kb. Viral RNA encode polyprotein precursor with approximately 3.000 aa in size, which was cut by co-translational and post-translational process to generate structural (C, E1, E2) and non-structural protein C protein multimerize and form a capsid to protect its RNA on cytoplasmic surface of endoplasmic reticulum that would interact with envelope 1 protein (E1).

Encoded gene of C, E1, E2 protein is constructed to obtain HCV structural protein. Synthetic gene is acquired from multiple alignment of amino acid sequences that were retrieved from several web site, Then, a dominant motive sequence was analyzed for its HCV homology. The sequence was analyzed to search for its epitope, signal sequence and its codon preference to chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell. Synthetic gene is analyzed for its probability to establish a VLP by examining of its signal peptide, glucosylation site, disulfide bond, and host cell factors supporting VLP formation. Gene that was obtained from IDT DNA was ligated into pVAX1 expression vector. pVAX1 recombinant plasmid were transformed into E. coli. After it was verified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), migration analysis, sequencing and homology analysis, positive recombinant vector were transformed into CHO cell to produce HCV structural protein. Expression of HCV structural protein was characterized by flow cytometry analysis by using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS).