I am attempting to extract information from a text file across a number of lines.I can't find the correct regular expression syntax to match when it comes across = or () or '.' or any other non-alphanumeric characters. '.' only seems to match alphanumeric characters.Can anyone help me? ie:

#! /usr/bin/perl

use strict;

my $string = "LOCUS SOY4KDPP 545 bp  PLN 01-FEB-2000
DEFINITION  BIO5 gene complete cds EC=1.7.7.1.
ACCESSION   D17396
VERSION     D17396.1  GI:498167
KEYWORDS    protein; insulin-like protein;
            leginsulin.
//";

if ($string =~ /DEFINITION\s\s([\w\s]+)ACCESSION/){
    
    print "$1\n";
    
}

exit;
[download]