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. Binds to transport cargos and is involved in apical cargo transport such as rhodopsin-bearing vesicles in polarized epithelia. Is involved in intracellular targeting of D-type retrovirus gag polyproteins to the cytoplasmic assembly site. May also be a accessory component of axonemal dynein (By similarity). Plays a role in neuronal morphogenesis; the function is independent of cytoplasmic dynein and seems to be coupled to regulation of the actin cytoskeleton by enhancing Rac1 activity. Required for neurite outgrowth. The function in neurogenesis may be regulated by association with a G-protein beta-gamma dimer. May function as a receptor-independent activator of heterotrimeric G-protein signaling; the activation appears to be independent of a nucleotide exchange. Plays a role in regulating neurogenesis; inhibits the genesis of neurons from precursor cells during cortical development presumably by antagonizing ARHGEF2. Unrelated to the role in retrograde microtubule-associated movement may play a role in the dimerization of cytoplasmic proteins/domains such as for ACVR2B. Binds to the cytoplasmic domain of ACVR2B and, in vitro, inhibits ACVR2B signaling (By similarity). Involved in the regulation of mitotic spindle orientation. 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 dynein LCs assemble on the IC dimer. DYNLT1 and DYNLT3 compete for association with dynein IC (DYNC1I1 or DYNC1I2). Self-associates. Interacts with RHO. Interacts with DYNC1I1 and DYNC1I2 (By similarity). Interacts with DOC2A, DOC2B and SCN10A. Interacts with PVR. Interacts with SVIL isoform 2 (By similarity). Interacts with GNB1; the interaction occurs in presence of guanine nucleotide-binding protein G(T) subunit gamma; the interaction diminishes the association of DYNLT1 with dynein IC (DYNC1I1 or DYNC1I2). Interacts with GNB2, GNB3 and GNB5; the interactions occur in presence of guanine nucleotide-binding protein G(T) subunit gamma. Interacts with ACVR2B and ARHGEF2 (By similarity). Interacts with DNAI4 (By similarity). Localizes to mitotic spindles. Phosphorylated by BMPR2. The phosphorylation status is proposed to regulate the association with the cytoplasmic dynein complex and may have role in cytoplasmic dynein cargo release. Belongs to the dynein light chain Tctex-type family.