CD1B contains 1 Ig-like (immunoglobulin-like) domain and belongs to the CD1 family. CD1 family members are transmembrane glycoproteins, which are structurally related to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins and form heterodimers with beta-2-microglobulin. During protein synthesis and maturation, they bind endogenous lipids that are replaced by lipid or glycolipid antigens when the proteins are internalized and pass through endosomes, before trafficking back to the cell surface. CD1B localizes to late endosomes and lysosomes via a tyrosine-based motif in the cytoplasmic tail, and requires vesicular acidification to bind lipid antigens.. It is expressed on cortical thymocytes, epidermal Langerhans cells, dendritic cells, on certain T-cell leukemias, and in various other tissues. CD1B is an antigen-presenting protein that binds self and non-self lipid and glycolipid antigens and presents them to T-cell receptors on natural killer T-cells.