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. The intermediate chains mediate the binding of dynein to dynactin via its 150 kDa component (p150-glued) DCTN1. May play a role in mediating the interaction of cytoplasmic dynein with membranous organelles and kinetochores. Homodimer (By similarity). 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. Interacts with DYNC1H1. Interacts with DYNLT1 and DYNLT3. Interacts with DCTN1 (By similarity). Interacts with DYNLL2. Additional isoforms seem to exist. Belongs to the dynein intermediate chain family.