![The HIV-1 immature lattice enriches IP6 into virions to catalyse mature capsid assembly.](https://www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/James_NastStrMolBiol_Reduced-Square-Graphical-Abstract-1-150x150.jpg)
In an international collaboration led by Leo James’ group, researchers have discovered that HIV-1 builds its capsid using a metabolite called IP6 that it captures from cells with a net-like protein lattice. Disabling this capture mechanism prevents capsid construction and renders HIV-1 non-infectious.