use warnings; use strict; my $line1; my $line2; while () { if (/^>/) { if ($line1) { print "$line1\n$line2\n"; $line1 = ''; $line2 = ''; } print; } elsif (!/\./) { chomp; $line1 .= $_; } else { chomp; $line2 .= $_; } } print "$line1\n$line2\n" if $line1; __DATA__ > gi|11SB_CUCMA Train|1 21 MARSSLFTFLCLAVFINGCLSQIEQQSPWEFQGS EVWQQHRYQSPRACRLENLRAQDPVRLLLPGFSNAPKLIFV AQGFGIRGIAIPGCAETYQT SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.................... ........................... ................. .......... > gi|1A43_HUMAN Train|1 24 MAVMAPRTLVLLLSGALALTQTWAGSHSMRYFYTSVSRPG RGEPRFIAVGYVDDTQFVRFDSDAASQRMEPRAPWIEQEGPEYWSQTDRANLGTLRGYYNQSEDGSHTIQR MYGCDVGPDGRFLRGYQQDAYDGKDYIALNEDLRSWTAADMAAQITQRKWETAHEAE SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS......................................................................................... ............. ..........................................