Abstract: Disclosed herein is a small peptide, LaR2C, corresponding to the C terminus of RRM2 of the human La protein that binds to the IRES element of hepatitis C virus RNA and its derivatives. This invention demonstrates that human La protein interacts with the HCV IRES element both in vitro and in vivo and also shown that this interaction enhances the efficiency of viral RNA translation (Pudi et al, J of Biol Chem, 2003). La protein has three putative RNA recognition motifs (RRM1-3). It has been established that RRM2 binds with high affinity around the GCAC sequence near the initiator AUG and the binding induces a conformational change in the HCV IRES which is critical for the internal initiation of translation (Pudi et al, J of Biol Chem, 2004).