The p21 core protein from Hepatitis C virus (HCV) packages viral RNA to form a viral nucleocapsid and promotes virion budding . p21 modulates viral translation initiation and regulates many host cellular activities by interacting with HCV IRES and 40S ribosomal subunit. p21 also regulates host cellular functions that prevent the establishment of cellular antiviral state by blocking the interferon-alpha/beta (IFN-alpha/beta) and IFN-gamma signaling pathways and by inducing human STAT1 degradation. p21 plays an important role in the virus-mediated cell transformation leading to hepatocellular carcinomas.