Enables microtubule binding activity. Acts upstream of or within melanosome transport. Located in cell leading edge and microtubule cytoskeleton. Part of protein-containing complex. Is expressed in brain; embryo; and head. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in Perry syndrome; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis type 1; and distal hereditary motor neuronopathy type 7B. Orthologous to human DCTN1 (dynactin subunit 1). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Apr 2022]