Background

The Core Facility Nanobodies offers the customized generation of alpaca or llama variable domains of heavy chain-only antibodies (VHHs), also called nanobodies, against target structures of choice. These highly specific single domain antibodies recognize their targets with affinities comparable to conventional antibodies but are much smaller (ca. 15 kDa), more stable and more versatile for many applications. We can select nanobodies by phage display, produce them in bacteria, or express them in the cytosol of mammalian cells to visualize targets or alter protein function. The ease of modification by genetic fusion, chemical or enzymatic conjugation makes them ideal tools for intracellular perturbation studies, therapeutic applications, microscopy, flow cytometry, mass cytometry, mass spectrometry, or non-invasive imaging methods such as immuno-PET. Given their small and stable structure, nanobodies can be engineered to manifold constructs such as multimers, bispecifics, drug conjugates, CARs, and as fusion proteins to fluorochromes, effector molecules or interaction partners. Nanobodies also facilitate protein crystallization and are widely used in structural biology. We offer the immunization of alpacas or llamas with provided antigen, as well as the identification and validation of specific nanobodies against your desired target. We are happy to discuss and support your nanobody project from the first idea to final application.