Serine-threonine kinase 38 (STK38) is a member of the protein kinase A (PKA)/PKG/PKC-like family. In the present study, we investigated the regulatory mechanism of STK38 and assessed its role in the cellular stress response. Among various environmental stresses, STK38 was specifically activated by H₂O₂, and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin or AKT inhibitor IV suppressed this activation. STK38 was also activated by a constitutively active AKT1 or by GSK-3β inhibitor VII. The phosphorylation level of GSK-3β was correlated with the STK38 activity, in response to various stimuli and in different cell lines. Co-immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that GSK-3β physically interacted with STK38 in cells. GSK-3β overexpression inhibited the H₂O₂-stimulated STK38 activity. GSK-3β phosphorylated STK38 on residues S6 and T7 in vitro, depending largely on a PKA-mediated priming phosphorylation of STK38 on residues S10 and S11, respectively. STK38's H₂O₂-stimulated activity was enhanced by alanine substitution at its priming sites and/or at S6 and T7, and it was partially reduced by a phosphomimetic mutation at S6 or T7. STK38 knockdown enhanced the H₂O₂-induced JNK phosphorylation and cell death. Our results indicate that that GSK-3β inhibits STK38's full activation, and suggest that STK38 activation is required to prevent cell death in response to oxidative stress.