Oxysterol binding proteins (OSBPs) and their encoding genes in Arabidopsis and rice

► Oxysterol binding proteins in Arabidopsis and rice are described and classified. ► The fingerprint region “EQVSHHPP” and pleckstrin homology domain is identified. ► mRNA expression of Arabidopsis ORPs is necessarily under environmental control. ► The ORP3C and ORP3B are highly expressed in all developmental stages analyzed. ► The crucial functional role of ORPs is revealed under various stress conditions.