May function as a motor for intraflagellar retrograde transport. Functions in cilia biogenesis. According to PubMed:8666668, it may play a role in transport between endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi or organization of the Golgi in cells. The cytoplasmic dynein complex 2 is probably composed by a heavy chain DYNC2H1 homodimer and a number of DYNC2LI1 light intermediate chains. Localizes to the apical cytoplasm (By similarity). According to PubMed:8666668, it localizes to Golgi apparatus, cytoplasmic vesicle and endoplasmic reticulum (PubMed:8666668). Detected in brain, lung, spleen and kidney (at protein level). Enriched in the ependymal layer lining the lateral ventricles (at protein level). Expressed at 9.5 and 10.5 dpc in the neural tube where it is enriched in rostral part. Mice homozygous for Dync2h1 null alleles die at approximately 12.5 dpc with abnormal brain morphology, frequent heart-looping and occasionally with polysyndactily. Cilia have abnormal morphology. Belongs to the dynein heavy chain family.