NOK/STYK1 interacts with GSK-3β and mediates Ser9 phosphorylation through activated Akt

► NOK overexpression leads to enhanced phosphorylation of GSK-3β at its Ser9 residue. ► NOK could make complexes with both Akt and GSK-3β. ► NOK could promote Akt phosphorylation at Thr308 but not Ser473. ► Knockdown of Akt disrupted NOK-dependent GSK-3β (Ser9) phosphorylation. ► NOK, p-Akt (Thr308) and p-GSK-3β (Ser9) were positively correlated in vivo.