The main objective of this project is molecular and biochemical characterization of metallophosphoesterase superfamily of enzyme in malaria parasite involved in pre-mRNA processing which requires a transition metal ion for its catalytic activity. A twofold approach was designed to study the enzyme. We have identified such enzyme by comparative genomics from malaria genome. The gene was cloned into a bacterial expression vector to attempt the recombinant expression,which could then be purified and used for in vitro biochemical characterization and also for crystallization/x-ray diffraction structural analysis. The gene was also introduced into a heterologous yeast system in an attempt to integrate the gene into the yeast genome; this strain could then be used for in vivo functional and biochemical assays. This strategy could allow drug-targeting of the malaria parasite specific domain of the enzyme that would be innocuous to the host organism.