Acts as one of several non-catalytic accessory components of the cytoplasmic dynein 2 complex (dynein-2 complex), a motor protein complex that drives the movement of cargos along microtubules within cilia and flagella in concert with the intraflagellar transport (IFT) system (PubMed:23910462, PubMed:25205765, PubMed:31451806, PubMed:29742051). DYNC2I1 plays a major role in retrograde ciliary protein trafficking in cilia and flagella (PubMed:29742051, PubMed:30320547, PubMed:30649997). Requires also to maintain a functional transition zone (PubMed:30320547). Intermediate chain of the cytoplasmic dynein complex 2, a multisubunit complex, composed at least of eleven different proteins (PubMed:31451806, PubMed:25205765). The cytoplasmic dynein 2 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). Among them, a heavy chain (DYNC2H1), two intermediate chains (DYNC2I2 and DYNC2I1), a light intermediate chain (DYNC2LI1), and a light chain (DYNLT2B) are unique to the cytoplasmic dynein complex 2, but a subset of the light chains are also shared by dynein-1 and dynein-2 complexes (PubMed:25205765, PubMed:31451806). Interacts with DYNC2I2; their C-terminal domains each bind a copy of the heavy chain, and their extended N-terminal regions are held together by an array of light chain dimers (PubMed:29742051, PubMed:31451806, PubMed:30320547). Interacts with DYNLT2B (PubMed:26044572). Interacts (via the N-terminal half) with DYNLT2B-DYNLT1 dimer or with DYNLT2B-DYNLT3 dimer; this interaction is crucial for retrograde trafficking of ciliary proteins (PubMed:29742051). Located at the base of the primary cilium in serum-starved fibroblasts. Expressed in chondrocytes (at protein level). The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. Fibroblasts from affected individuals exhibit a defect in ciliogenesis and aberrant accumulation of the GLI2 transcription factor at the centrosome or basal body in the absence of an obvious axoneme. Belongs to the dynein light intermediate chain family. Truncated N-terminus.