The influences of lipid constituents on membrane binding by HIV-1 MA were determined.
NMR results differed from those obtained by non-equilibrium flotation assays.
The structural basis for PI(4,5)P2-dependent membrane targeting was re-examined.
Native PI(4,5)P2 does not bind MA in a predicted “extended lipid” conformation.
MA may bind non-raft regions and recruit raft-like constituents during assembly.