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. May also be a accessory component of axonemal dynein.
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. 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. Involved in the regulation of mitotic spindle orientation (By similarity). 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 .
(Microbial infection) Is involved in intracellular targeting of D-type retrovirus gag polyproteins to the cytoplasmic assembly site.
Subcellular locations: Golgi apparatus, Cytoplasm, Cytoplasm, Cytoskeleton, Spindle
Localizes to mitotic spindles.
Expressed in heart, placenta, skeletal muscle kidney, pancreas, spleen, prostate, testis, ovary, ileum and colon. Expressed in lung endothelial and smooth muscle cells (at protein level).