May function as a motor for intraflagellar retrograde transport. Functions in cilia biogenesis. May play a role in transport between endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi or organization of the Golgi in cells (By similarity). 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 (PubMed:8832411). May localize to Golgi apparatus, cytoplasmic vesicle and endoplasmic reticulum (By similarity). Widely expressed both in ciliated and unciliated tissues. Detected in brain and testis (at protein level). Expressed in adult and juvenile brain. Up-regulated during ciliogenesis. Belongs to the dynein heavy chain family.