RNA m6A reader IMP2/IGF2BP2 promotes pancreatic β-cell proliferation and insulin secretion by enhancing PDX1 expression

•Specific deletion of IMP2 in mouse pancreatic β-cells leads to reduced compensatory β-cell proliferation and function.•IMP2 directly binds to Pdx1 mRNA and stimulates its translation in a m6A dependent manner.•IMP2 orchestrates IGF2-AKT-GSK3β-PDX1 axis to promote PDX1 polypeptide stability.•In human EndoC-βH1 cells, the expression of IMP2 enhances cell proliferation and insulin secretion.