Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3 beta) is a ubiquitously expressed serine/threonine kinase involved in the regulation of various cellular functions, such as energy homoeostasis, cell growth and developmental processes. More recently, GSK3 beta has been identified as a part of a protein complex involved in the regulation of the CARMA1-BCL10-MALT1 complex (CBM complex) formation, which is a key signalling event upon antigen receptor engagement of B and T cells, required for the activation of the NF-kappa B and JNK pathways. However, conflicting reports have been published regarding the role of GSK3 beta for the activation of the NF-kappa B signalling pathways. Therefore, we aimed to determine the impact of GSK3 beta on the NF-kappa B signalling induced upon T cell activation. Blocking GSK3 beta by either pharmacologic inhibitors (SB216763 and SB415286) or by RNAi caused a reduced proteolysis of the MALT1 targets CYLD1, BCL10 and RelB as well as diminished I kappa B alpha degradation, NF-kappa B DNA binding and NF-kappa B activity. This negative effect on NF-kappa B appears to be due to a diminished CBM complex formation caused by a reduced BCL10 phosphorylation. Taken together, we provide here evidence for a novel regulatory mechanism by which GSK3 beta affects NF-kappa B signalling in activated T cells.