We have isolated two murine cDNAs designated PCTAIRE-1 and -3 which encode putative serine/threonine-specific protein kinases. The predicted products of PCTAIRE-1 and -3 are 65% homologous and are organized into a core 295-residue kinase domain flanked by unique 161 and 117 amino acid N-terminal and 40 and 39 amino acid C-terminal domains respectively. The kinase domains are approximately 50-55% homologous to members of the cdc2/CDC28 kinase gene family, and each contains a cysteine-for-serine substitution within the conserved PSTAIRE motif. PCTAIRE-1 was ubiquitously expressed as a predominant 3.0-kb transcript and a minor 2.2-kb mRNA resulting from differential polyadenylation. In contrast, PCTAIRE-3 exhibited a more restricted pattern of expression with a single 3.0-kb mRNA detected in brain, kidney and intestine. The PCTAIRE-1 and -3 products produced by in vitro transcription-translation failed to bind to p13suc1 but were precipitated by antibodies directed to Schizosaccharomyces pombe p34cdc2 or to the human PSTAIRE motif. Thus, PCTAIRE-1 and -3 are members of a novel subfamily of cdc2/CDC28-related protein kinases.