This invention provides compositions, organisms and methodologies employing a novel human gene encoding a protein that has sequence homology to a consensus sequence of calcineurin-like phosphoesterase family are disclosed. The novel protein is encoded by a human gene comprising 4 exons. The human gene is localized in the 10p15 locus of human chromosome 10. The sequence similarities between the novel human protein and the consensus sequence of calcineurin-like phosphoesterases indicate that the novel human protein may function as a calcineurin-like protein phosphatase.