FASTA format description

  • A sequence in FASTA format consists of:
    • One line starting with a ">" sign, followed by a sequence identification code.
      It is optionally be followed by a textual description of the sequence. Since it is not part of the official description of the format, software can choose to ignore this, when it is present.
    • One or more lines containing the sequence itself.
  • A file in FASTA format may comprise more than one sequence.

  • The FASTA format is sometimes also referred to as the "Pearson" format (after the author of the FASTA program and ditto format).

FASTA format example

Use the mouse to cut-and-paste the sequence(s) below into the appropriate input window. 

>BTBSCRYR
tgcaccaaacatgtctaaagctggaaccaaaattactttctttgaagacaaaaactttca
aggccgccactatgacagcgattgcgactgtgcagatttccacatgtacctgagccgctg
caactccatcagagtggaaggaggcacctgggctgtgtatgaaaggcccaattttgctgg
gtacatgtacatcctaccccggggcgagtatcctgagtaccagcactggatgggcctcaa
cgaccgcctcagctcctgcagggctgttcacctgtctagtggaggccagtataagcttca
gatctttgagaaaggggattttaatggtcagatgcatgagaccacggaagactgcccttc
catcatggagcagttccacatgcgggaggtccactcctgtaaggtgctggagggcgcctg
gatcttctatgagctgcccaactaccgaggcaggcagtacctgctggacaagaaggagta
ccggaagcccgtcgactggggtgcagcttccccagctgtccagtctttccgccgcattgt
ggagtgatgatacagatgcggccaaacgctggctggccttgtcatccaaataagcattat
aaataaaacaattggcatgc

>crab_anapl ALPHA CRYSTALLIN B CHAIN (ALPHA(B)-CRYSTALLIN).             
MDITIHNPLIRRPLFSWLAPSRIFDQIFGEHLQESELLPASPSLSPFLMR
SPIFRMPSWLETGLSEMRLEKDKFSVNLDVKHFSPEELKVKVLGDMVEIH
GKHEERQDEHGFIAREFNRKYRIPADVDPLTITSSLSLDGVLTVSAPRKQ
SDVPERSIPITREEKPAIAGAQRK

>crab_anapl ALPHA CRYSTALLIN B CHAIN (ALPHA(B)-CRYSTALLIN).             
MDITIHNPLIRRPLFSWLAPSRIFDQIFGEHLQESELLPASPSLSPFLMR
SPIFRMPSWLETGLSEMRLEKDKFSVNLDVKHFSPEELKVKVLGDMVEIH
GKHEERQDEHGFIAREFNRKYRIPADVDPLTITSSLSLDGVLTVSAPRKQ
SDVPERSIPITREEKPAIAGAQRK
>crab_bovin ALPHA CRYSTALLIN B CHAIN (ALPHA(B)-CRYSTALLIN).             
MDIAIHHPWIRRPFFPFHSPSRLFDQFFGEHLLESDLFPASTSLSPFYLR
PPSFLRAPSWIDTGLSEMRLEKDRFSVNLDVKHFSPEELKVKVLGDVIEV
HGKHEERQDEHGFISREFHRKYRIPADVDPLAITSSLSSDGVLTVNGPRK
QASGPERTIPITREEKPAVTAAPKK
>crab_chick ALPHA CRYSTALLIN B CHAIN (ALPHA(B)-CRYSTALLIN).             
MDITIHNPLVRRPLFSWLTPSRIFDQIFGEHLQESELLPTSPSLSPFLMR
SPFFRMPSWLETGLSEMRLEKDKFSVNLDVKHFSPEELKVKVLGDMIEIH
GKHEERQDEHGFIAREFSRKYRIPADVDPLTITSSLSLDGVLTVSAPRKQ
SDVPERSIPITREEKPAIAGSQRK
>crab_human ALPHA CRYSTALLIN B CHAIN (ALPHA(B)-CRYSTALLIN).
MDIAIHHPWIRRPFFPFHSPSRLFDQFFGEHLLESDLFPTSTSLSPFYLR
PPSFLRAPSWFDTGLSEMRLEKDRFSVNLDVKHFSPEELKVKVLGDVIEV
HGKHEERQDEHGFISREFHRKYRIPADVDPLTITSSLSSDGVLTVNGPRK
QVSGPERTIPITREEKPAVTAAPKK
>crab_mesau ALPHA CRYSTALLIN B CHAIN (ALPHA(B)-CRYSTALLIN).             
MDIAIHHPWIRRPFFPFHSPSRLFDQFFGEHLLESDLFSTATSLSPFYLR
PPSFLRAPSWIDTGLSEMRMEKDRFSVNLDVKHFSPEELKVKVLGDVVEV
HGKHEERQDEHGFISREFHRKYRIPADVDPLTITSSLSSDGVLTVNGPRK
QASGPERTIPITREEKPAVTAAPKK
>crab_mouse ALPHA CRYSTALLIN B CHAIN (ALPHA(B)-CRYSTALLIN) (P23).       
MDIAIHHPWIRRPFFPFHSPSRLFDQFFGEHLLESDLFSTATSLSPFYLR
PPSFLRAPSWIDTGLSEMRLEKDRFSVNLDVKHFSPEELKVKVLGDVIEV
HGKHEERQDEHGFISREFHRKYRIPADVDPLAITSSLSSDGVLTVNGPRK
QVSGPERTIPITREEKPAVAAAPKK
>crab_rabit ALPHA CRYSTALLIN B CHAIN (ALPHA(B)-CRYSTALLIN).             
MDIAIHHPWIRRPFFPFHSPSRLFDQFFGEHLLESDLFPTSTSLSPFYLR
PPSFLRAPSWIDTGLSEMRLEKDRFSVNLDVKHFSPEELKVKVLGDVIEV
HGKHEERQDEHGFISREFHRKYRIPADVDPLTITSSLSSDGVLTVNGPRK
QAPGPERTIPITREEKPAVTAAPKK
>crab_rat ALPHA CRYSTALLIN B CHAIN (ALPHA(B)-CRYSTALLIN).             
MDIAIHHPWIRRPFFPFHSPSRLFDQFFGEHLLESDLFSTATSLSPFYLR
PPSFLRAPSWIDTGLSEMRMEKDRFSVNLDVKHFSPEELKVKVLGDVIEV
HGKHEERQDEHGFISREFHRKYRIPADVDPLTITSSLSSDGVLTVNGPRK
QASGPERTIPITREEKPAVTAAPKK
>crab_squac ALPHA CRYSTALLIN B CHAIN (ALPHA(B)-CRYSTALLIN).             
MDIAIQHPWLRRPLFPSSIFPSRIFDQNFGEHFDPDLFPSFSSMLSPFYW
RMGAPMARMPSWAQTGLSELRLDKDKFAIHLDVKHFTPEELRVKILGDFI
EVQAQHEERQDEHGYVSREFHRKYKVPAGVDPLVITCSLSADGVLTITGP
RKVADVPERSVPISRDEKPAVAGPQQK