Acts as one of several non-catalytic accessory components of the cytoplasmic dynein 1 complex that are thought to be involved in linking dynein to cargos and to adapter proteins that regulate dynein function. Cytoplasmic dynein 1 acts as a motor for the intracellular retrograde motility of vesicles and organelles along microtubules (By similarity). Plays a role in the development of anterior brain and cartilaginous structures (PubMed:31079899). Homodimer. The cytoplasmic dynein 1 complex consists of two catalytic heavy chains (HCs) and a number of non-catalytic subunits presented by intermediate chains (ICs), light intermediate chains (LICs) and light chains (LCs); the composition seems to vary in respect to the IC, LIC and LC composition. The heavy chain homodimer serves as a scaffold for the probable homodimeric assembly of the respective non-catalytic subunits. The ICs and LICs bind directly to the HC dimer and the LCs assemble on the IC dimer. Morphant embryos display defective craniofacial patterning, microcephaly, a marked disorganization of axonal patterning in the head, reduced number of axon tracts crossing the dorsal midline, and increased cell death. Belongs to the dynein intermediate chain family.