MCF-2 (DBL) proto-oncogene is a prototype guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) that modulates Rho GTPases such as Rho, Rac, and Cdc42. Although the partial sequence of mouse MCF-2 has been determined, its full-length cDNA and biochemical functions had not been elucidated. We isolated the complete mouse MCF-2 cDNA and obtained recombinant functional protein. Homology between the mouse and human MCF-2 (DBL) cDNAs is 75.08% identity and between the mouse and human amino acid sequences 74.52% identity. Analysis of tissue distribution showed that mouse MCF-2 mRNA is expressed in brain, kidney, intestine, and testis. The brain-specific transcript is an alternatively spliced derivative that omits the 48 bp exon 11. A similar alternatively spliced mRNA product is also found in humans (DBL). Guanine nucleotide exchange activities of the testis-expressed mouse Mcf-2 and human Dbl were analyzed using RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42 as substrates. RhoA and Cdc42 were activated similarly by both gene products, but Rac1 was activated only by the mouse product. The brain-specific Mcf-2 gene product, and its human counterpart, was less active than the respective testis-specific products. This indicates that the element encoded by the 48 bp exon missing in the brain transcripts is necessary for full GEF activity. This report provides fundamental data on the structure of Mcf-2, which regulates a variety of cellular signaling pathways. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.