Immunogold labelling and in vitro transcription of influenza virus vRNA have been used to analyse the interaction of anti-influenza polymerase antibodies with influenza-ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. The polymerase proteins (P proteins) were localized exclusively at one end of the RNP segments. In the course of transcription the amount of P protein decreased significantly. The in vitro transcriptase activity y of influenza A virus RNP complexes in the presence of anti-polymerase antibodies to the strain A/PR/8/34 was inhibited by 60%. In contrast, RNP transcriptase activity of influenza B virus was not inhibited by these antibodies.