Cysteine-rich intestinal protein (CRIP) belongs to the LIM/double zinc finger protein family, members of which include cysteine- and glycine-rich protein-1 (CSRP1), rhombotin-1 (RBTN1), rhombotin-2 (RBTN2), and rhombotin-3 (RBTN3). CRIP may be involved in intestinal zinc transport .

The deduced protein, which the authors called cysteine-rich heart protein (CRHP), is 97% identical to mouse Crip. The 77-amino acid CRHP contains a single LIM motif and a glycine-rich domain. Northern blot analysis detected an approximately 670-bp CRHP mRNA in human fetal heart. Rat Crip was highly expressed in small intestine, with lower levels in adult heart and spleen; the authors found that rat Crip is developmentally regulated in heart.