Acts as one of several non-catalytic accessory components of the cytoplasmic dynein 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. May play a role in changing or maintaining the spatial distribution of cytoskeletal structures (By similarity). Also a component of the nuclear pore complex (By similarity). Homodimer. Cytoplasmic dynein consists of two catalytic heavy chains (HCs) and a number of non-catalytic subunits which present intermediate chains (ICs), light intermediate chains (LICs) and light chains (LCs). Component of the nuclear pore complex (NPC). NPC constitutes the exclusive means of nucleocytoplasmic transport. NPCs allow the passive diffusion of ions and small molecules and the active, nuclear transport receptor-mediated bidirectional transport of macromolecules such as proteins, RNAs, ribonucleoparticles (RNPs), and ribosomal subunits across the nuclear envelope. Due to its 8-fold rotational symmetry, all subunits are present with 8 copies or multiples thereof. Belongs to the dynein light chain family.