# 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. However, 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 ](#)