# Nanobodies against NanoTags now easier to access Antibodies recognizing the VHH05-tag and 127D01-tag epitopes now commercially available July 22, 2026 The nanobodies recognizing the VHH05-tag and 127D01-tag, two short epitope tags developed by our group for use in *Drosophila*, are now available in purified form from Cell Signaling Technology (CST). These "NanoTags" and their corresponding high-affinity nanobodies (NbVHH05 and Nb127D01) were characterized for use in flies, including CRISPR-mediated knock-in tagging of endogenous genes, immunostaining, immunoblotting, and immunoprecipitation (Xu, Kim et al., 2022, *eLife*; Kim, Xu et al., 2022, *Current Protocols*; see also our earlier [Light up your flies!](https://fgr.hms.harvard.edu/news/light-your-flies-reagent-and-protocol-information-application-our-nanotag-system-epitope) post). Because the tags are short linear epitopes, they can be inserted at the N-terminus, C-terminus, or internally in a protein of interest with minimal disruption, and the resulting tagged protein can then be detected using the corresponding nanobody — as a conventional antibody for staining/blotting/IP, or expressed in vivo (e.g., as GFP-fusion "chromobodies") for live imaging and protein manipulation. Researchers interested in using this system can use CRISPR to knock-in either tag into an endogenous *Drosophila* gene, then use the matching nanobody to detect, localize, or manipulate the tagged protein. Tandem use of both NanoTags on a single secreted protein has also enabled sensitive, sandwich-format detection of circulating fly proteins (Han, Xia, Kim et al., 2026, *PNAS*). Access to purified nanobodies was previously a potential barrier to use of this system by individual labs without specialized experience handling nanobodies. So, we wanted to make the community aware that purified nanobodies recognizing VHH05 and 127D01 are now commercially available. - **VHH05-Tag (E5X7B) Alpaca VHH Monoclonal Antibody**, #70643 — [cellsignal.com](https://www.cellsignal.com/products/primary-antibodies/vhh05-tag-e5x7b-alpaca-vhh-monoclonal-antibody/70643) - **127D01-Tag (E8J2W) Llama VHH Monoclonal Antibody**, #44664 — [cellsignal.com](https://www.cellsignal.com/products/primary-antibodies/127d01-tag-e8j2w-llama-vhh-monoclonal-antibody/44664) Additional relevant resources are available at the Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center (BDSC), including these two fly stocks: **References** Xu, Kim et al. (2022) **Protein visualization and manipulation in** ***Drosophila*** **through the use of epitope tags recognized by nanobodies.** *eLife*. [PubMed: 35076390](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35076390/) Kim, Xu et al. (2022) **NanoTag Nanobody Tools for** ***Drosophila*** **In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.** *Current Protocols*. [PubMed: 36571722](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36571722/) Han, Xia, Kim et al. (2026) **Phage display–mediated immuno-PCR to detect low-abundance secreted proteins in** ***Drosophila*****.** *PNAS*. [PubMed: 41941621](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41941621/) Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)