Monoclonal antibodies to the NS protein of vesicular stomatitis virus inhibit initiation of transcripts in vitro and dissociate leader RNA from mRNA synthesis.

Three monoclonal antibodies directed against the NS protein of vesicular stomatitis virus inhibited homotypic in vitro transcription reactions. One antibody inhibited transcription only moderately while the other two antibodies inhibited total transcription by 90% or greater compared to control reactions. One antibody decreased the synthesis of all transcripts examined, the second antibody virtually abolished the synthesis of all transcripts, and the third antibody prevented mRNA synthesis but not leader RNA synthesis.