The sequence of this synthetic peptide is based on the primary site of cleavage by plasmepsin II (PM II) within hemoglobin (Hb), and numbering of the peptide corresponds to the residue within the α-chain of Hb. Plasmepsins are involved in the early steps of hemoglobin degradation. They are able to recognize intact hemoglobin and make an initial cleavage in the B helix of the hemoglobin α-chain between Phe-33 and Leu-34.