use strict; use warnings; my $str = 'mASVKSSSSSSSSSFISLLLLILLVIVLQSQVIECQPQQSCTASLTGLNVCAPFLVPGSPTASTECCNAVQSINHDCMCNTMRIAAQIPAQCNLPPLSCSANSSS'; $str =~ s/(.{10})/$1 /g; $str =~ s/(S{3,})/$1<\/font>/g; $str =~ s/<\/font> / /g; print $str; __END__ Output is: ---------- mASVKSSSSS SSSSFISLLL LILLVIVLQS QVIECQPQQS CTASLTGLNV CAPFLVPGSP TASTECCNAV QSINHDCMCN TMRIAAQIPA QCNLPPLSCS ANSSS