Overview of PCTK3/CDK18: A Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Involved in Specific Functions in Post-Mitotic Cells.

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) comprise a family of about 20 serine/threonine kinases whose catalytic activity requires a regulatory subunit known as cyclin; these enzymes play several roles in the cell cycle and transcription. PCTAIRE kinases (PCTKs) are a CDK subfamily, characterized by serine to cysteine mutation in the consensus PSTAIRE motif, involved in binding to the cyclin. One member of this class is PCTK3, which has two isoforms (a and b) and is also known as CDK18.